“The lofty looks of man shall be humbled and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that Day.”
Isaiah 2:11
He is not one among many; He is the only One.
Perplexity and despair. Suffering and sorrow. Trials and troubles.
These are but a few of the maladies we grapple with during our sojourn on this earth. We look at man’s inhumanity to man and we cry, “Why do they do that?” Or, we look in the mirror, realizing our own sins and shortcomings and we groan, “Why do I do that?” Or, we see the suffering and injustice around us and we ask, “Why does God allow that?”
Such is life here on terra firma.
Some respond with rage and try to right the wrongs—taking the law into their own hands. Others adopt a stoical approach, where they seek to be unfazed by anything that happens, good or bad. Still others live in quiet desperation. . .a “que sere, sere” attitude of passive resignation to their circumstances. . .wishing that things would change. . .but inwardly feeling like nothing ever will.
It’s into this myriad of responses that today’s Manna comes, reminding us that the way things are is not the way they will always be. Hallelujah!!
Although written some 700+ years before the time of Christ, Isaiah’s book is like a miniature Bible—with the first 39 chapters dealing with sin and punishment, while the last 27 chapters talk about forgiveness and restoration.
Thankfully, interspersed within the “woe” sayings of chs. 1-39 are “gems of Grace” like our Manna. The Lord God was sick of “sham-worship,” where folks were simply going through the motions (1:11-14). Even today such rote rituals sicken Him and He calls us to repentance.
He also reminds us that one of these days “the lofty looks of man shall be humbled (Heb. ‘shaphel’—‘to sink, humiliate, press down, debase, bring low, etc.’) and the haughtiness (Heb. ‘ruwm’—‘elevation, elation, raise up, exalt, extol, raise up on high, etc.’) of men shall be bowed down.”
We should not think this will take place without a fight or suffering—for willful pride dies slowly and usually only after much humiliation. It’s not an accident that the same root word for “humility” (Latin: “humilis”) is the same root word for “humiliation.” So often it takes losing everything one’s got before he/she admits his need of anything or anyone.
But, take heart, weary Pilgrim.
“In that Day” the King of kings and Lord of lords will make His appearance and there’ll be no mistaking that He is the “Great I Am.” On that Day, his most vocal and vehement critics will bow their knees in guilt and shame, saying “Jesus is Lord.” For now we must suffer the contempt, condemnation and callused treatment of the world’s wicked. But, one of these days, Jesus will say “Enough!” and part the eastern sky as the Trumpet sounds. Yes, it’s “Him and Him alone,” Pilgrim. Never forget it—and never stop living in hopeful anticipation.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated October 19, 2009
