No More Hiding – Isaiah 30:18-23

The Child Development Institute says playing hide and seek is good for kids.  They list several benefits, like developing imagination, problem-solving skills, social skills, and even muscle development. I sure enjoyed it as a kid.  When God hides, however, it is because of rebelliousness in His children.

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.  For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

For a people shall dwell in Zion, in Jerusalem; you shall weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. As soon as he hears it, he answers you. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. Then you will defile your carved idols overlaid with silver and your gold-plated metal images. You will scatter them as unclean things. You will say to them, “Be gone!”

And he will give rain for the seed with which you sow the ground, and bread, the produce of the ground, which will be rich and plenteous. (Isaiah 30:18-23 ESV)

“Therefore” (because God has had to bring judgment on Israel for turning to Egypt for help) Yahweh waits to be gracious to Israel.  Judgment is God’s “alien” work, what He has to do to bring us back into allegiance to Him.  And when we return and rest in Him He eagerly, after patient waiting, “exalts himself” to show us mercy and bless us.

And so for Israel there is the promise that her capital city, Jerusalem, will be filled with her people once more and instead of eating adversity and affliction there will be rich and plenteous bread.  And God their Teacher will no longer hide His face from them but gently guide them every step of their way in righteousness.  Idols will be considered refuse to be thrown away.

God may discipline us but it is because He longs to embrace us in His love as those who look to Him for everything we need.

Discussion Questions

1. What was your favorite hide-and-seek game growing up?
2. Why does God say He was hiding from Israel?
3. Have you ever experienced a time when God did not answer your prayers because you were under His discipline or judgment?
4. How do you feel about God characterizing Himself as your Teacher?
5. What used to hold value to you that you now see as useless in light of your relationship to God?
6. Is there anything you currently hold as valuable that needs to be dumped?