Begin by making a contrast. To make the contrast, you will need to do some reading in Isaiah.
In this lesson it is essential the student make the contrast for himself or herself. Each needs to "see for self" the contrast.
First, read Isaiah 1:4-17. Pay careful attention to the way Isaiah illustrates how horrible the wickedness of Judah (Jerusalem) was. They were a sinful nation who abandoned and despised God. They were a sick body so full of sores that there is no place on the body without sores. They were a desolate land with burned cities, produce eaten by people who were not Jews, and temporary buildings. They were like the people who were (and still are) the symbol of rebellion against God. They went through religious motions and deeds, but their religious acts insulted the God they thought they honored.
Perhaps have one of the students read. Make sure everyone focuses on the main illustrations: the sinful nation; the sick body; the desolate land; the worship that insults. Focus on what made each illustration a symbol of wickedness.
Read Isaiah 1:21-23. They were like a prostitute. They were full of injustice, murdering, drinking, and stealing. They were a people who loved bribes and took advantage of the helpless.
Again, have a student read the text. Note the acts that caused them to treat God as though they were prostitutes. Note how often acts of indulgence of self are acts of rejection of God.
Read 3:16-4:1. The women were addicted to a luxurious lifestyle. They attracted attention by the using their head attire and their feet (their ways of being physically sensual). God would exchange their physical beauty for visible sickness. They would become poor captive people who mourned. Instead of being the popularly pursued, they would become pursuers. So many men would die that women would beg the remaining men to marry them--they would share a husband and promise to support themselves if only they could be married.
Again, have a student read the text. Provocative sexual acts are cultural. What is very sensual in one culture is not in another. In fact, what is seen as sensual in one culture may not even be regarded as sensual in another culture. Isaiah was speaking of indulgence, accentuating physical attractiveness, and making oneself sexually desirable. He discussed going from the indulgent lifestyle to the unthinkably deprived lifestyle--which the women of Judah would experience.
Now, the contrast. God gave hope to the people who horribly offended Him. Read our text, Isaiah 55:6-11. It will do good to seek God. Repentance will accomplish the seemingly impossible. God will show compassion and abundantly pardon.
Again, have a student read the text. Focus on the hope given. Focus on the compassion and the abundant pardon for those who repent. Stress this could happen because God is different from humans in the way He thinks and acts.
Is that the way humans who do not know God do things? Could a person ignorant of God be so horribly offended and wish to provide the offenders hope? Would people ignorant of God and so wicked think and act that way? To be honest, not many people claiming knowledge of God have those thoughts and actions!
Stress this is not the way humans (who are not influenced by God's character) act. When humans are horribly offended they become increasingly less likely to be compassionate.
The God responsible for their consequences assured them that their repentance would be effective! He Who could no longer endure their rebelliousness brought consequences on them because (1) He wished to redirect their lives and (2) He wished to achieve His purpose. His ultimate purpose had not changed (Genesis 12:3c). The people of Judah changed, but God and His purpose had not changed. God Who wanted to rescue people still wanted to rescue people even though Judah was horribly wicked and a terribly disappointment.
Stress God can be the God of consequences (accountability) and remain the God who compassionately responds to forgiveness. Stress the two reasons God wanted repentance. Stress God's purpose had not changed.
God would achieve His purpose with or without them, but He preferred to achieve His purpose with them. However, it was their choice. Their repentance (turning) must be genuine, but they could repent (turn) in the assurance that God would accept their repentance (turning). They could help God achieve His purpose rather than being a part of forces that opposed God's purpose. It was their choice. God chose them, but would they choose God?
The issue is not whether God will achieve His purpose--He will! The issue is whether we personally will choose to help God achieve His purpose.
Please remember God's point. God does not think like humans do. God does not act like humans do. Too often in people who are not influenced by God's character and values, mercy engenders arrogance. Being compassionate elevates and focuses on self. "Look what I did for you! You ungrateful person, it is time you now showed me some appreciation. I hope you never forget how indebted to me you are! You owe me, and I hope you never forget it!"
We make a huge mistake when we reduce God's thoughts and acts to the level of human logic. God is not a human. What is central to humanity may not at all be central to God. God is not our puppet to be manipulated to our purposes.
By human reasoning, it was too late for repentance (of any kind--genuine or not) to do any good. By God's reasoning, it was not too late for genuine repentance to "do good." Why? It was not too late because of God's character. The existence of horrible wickedness in the life of a person does not alter God's character. Horrible wickedness does not eliminate compassion and mercy from God's character. Genuine repentance results in divine forgiveness even in the lives of the horribly wicked.
God's acts are consistently related to God's character. Genuine repentance is always meaningful to God because of His character. Human wickedness does not alter God's character. That is not intended to declare there are no consequences to wickedness, but is to say God is moved with compassion when humans redirect their lives to Him.
As we continue our study, the issue is not, "Would I do that?" The issue is not, "Would people who do not know God's values do that?" Nor is the issue, "Would people who claim to know God do that?" There is only one issue: "Would God, true to His character, do that?"
Focus on the real issue.
When you are tempted to say, "I certainly would not think and act that way!" refuse to justify yourself. Remember, "My ways are not your ways, and My thoughts are not your thoughts."
We have to make an effort to remember when times of temptation assault us. Temptation distorts our priorities and makes us forgetful.
For Thought and Discussion
You are urged to make a contrast.
They were a sinful nation (which they denied when they contrasted themselves to godless people); a sick body; a desolate land; a symbol of rebellion against God; a people of insulting worship.
They were full of injustice, murder, drunkenness, stealing, bribery, and exploitation.
They were addicted to a luxurious lifestyle.
He gave them hope by urging them to repent and assuring them God would respond compassionately with abundant pardon.
In the discussion, make sure everyone remembers (1) Judah's sin was real and (2) God's pardon was real.
He assured them their repentance was effective.
He wanted to redirect their lives. He wished to achieve His purpose.
God and His purpose had not changed.
He continued to want to rescue people from sin.
He would achieve His purpose with or without them, but He preferred to achieve it with them.
He assured them He would accept their repentance.
The question was, "Would they choose God?"
God does not think or act as humans do.
It often leads to arrogance.
In human reasoning, it can be too late to repent. In God's reasoning, it is never too late to repent.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 4