“The Lord spoke to me again: “Because this people has refused the waters of Shiloah that flow gently, and rejoice over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks,” Isaiah 8:5-7 ESV
Reflection: what does it mean to “refuse” or “reject” God?
Perhaps we can simplify mankind into three groups. First, those who actively pursue a relationship with God, and desire to do His will; Second, those who are hypocritical or lukewarm, perhaps even religious claiming God, but desire a relationship with the world; Third, those who actively refuse and reject God. Now, “God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3b-4 ESV, which means God is pursuing all people, to come to the knowledge of truth, of what we were created for. The meaning of life, if you will. As Jesus said, the entire purpose simplified is “to love God, and our neighbor as ourselves”. So why is this so difficult for many, perhaps even most people, to understand?
Paul wrote something very interesting as he opened the letter to the Romans “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:18-21 ESV
As we see reflected in the poetic words written by Isaiah today, which by the way is a dictation coming directly from the LORD (Jehovah), He offered His people “waters of Shiloah that flow gently”, which is reminiscent of references to the river of life, such as found in Ezekiel 47:1-12, as well as in Revelations 22. Jesus calls himself the living water, “Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”” John 4:13-14 ESV. And “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”” John 7:38 ESV
So we see this picture of God calling himself “waters of Shiloah that flow gently”. He is gentle, as He calls us to be like Him “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”Matthew 11:29 ESV. But many refuse and reject the LORD. How? Bible commentator MacLaren wrote “In what does rejection consist? 1) In not trusting in His power to help and deliver. 2) In seeking help from other sources. This rejection is often unconscious on the part of men who are guilty of it.” And this was exactly the situation that Isaiah wrote about with God’s people. They had rejected God and instead made alliances with the kingdom of Assyria which didn’t end well. Let’s read again what happened,
“therefore, behold, the Lord is bringing up against them the waters of the River, mighty and many, the king of Assyria and all his glory. And it will rise over all its channels and go over all its banks,” Isaiah 8:7 ESV
Notice the phrase “the Lord is bringing up”. We see here imagery of how God instructed the armies of this supposed “ally” of Assyria to overwhelm and overtake Judah; all because of their refusal of God’s love, His will and His ways. They knew His ways, yet they chose to go their own way. As MacLaren said, they didn’t 1) trust in His power to help and deliver. Instead, they were 2) seeking help from other sources. God desires all people to come to the knowledge of Him, to recognize Him.
God has given each person free will, to choose to believe in Him, to recognize and honor Him alone as God and Creator of all, to be in a relationship and communion with Him, to trust in Him alone. We read the old proverbs “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV.