I’ve only read to chapter 6 in Isaiah’s message, but there seem to be two things that the God of the desert-wanderers doesn’t like:

1. When you forget him.

2. When you convince other (poorer) people that He’s forgotten them.

It seems as though Isaiah 2 is about the first one, and it’s a specific kind of forgetting. This is the kind where we choose to forget the God who provides everything we need and gave us all the ability we’ll ever know, all in lieu of remembering ourselves, our needs, and our abilities.

And let’s not pretend that this isn’t one of the easiest things for us to do. I think it is. When I forget God, I am successfully deceived into believing that my existence is disconnected to joyful generosity, and that I need to care for myself. And this is huge for me. So much has happened to me that has taught me that generosity doesn’t actually exist, and how to live accordingly. And the more I’ve reflected on that kind of living, the more I know that it’s awful. It’s poison. It’s shit (Paul’s word, not mine).

And check out God’s response. Only God can be perfectly frightening and perfectly loving all at the same time. ”I will be exalted, and you will be brought low.” This is scary: can you imagine falling from the heights of your self-created arrogance? But it’s also wonderful: Can you imagine the Holy Spirit bringing the revelation of God’s generosity into every part of your life and restoring the humility our “creaturely-ness” and the glory of His “creator-ness”?

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if you want to be safe
more than you want to be mine,
then you should hide.
if you love what you’ve made
more than He who made you,
then I don’t know you.

for you will be undone, humbled by my glory
you will be made low; I alone will be exalted

On that day, you shall see:
Zion will be lifted over all.

All the world will proclaim:
“God of Jacob, teach us of your way.”

Justice will be on display,
As weapons of destruction are made new.

Sons, draw near; daughters, come;
The presence of our God
The brightness of our King will be our home.