Conclusion of Jehovah Will Refine His People

Idolatrous Judeans face something worse than shame, though.  Shifting the illustration, Jehovah now likens the idolater himself to a tree.  "You will become like a big tree the foliage of which is withering, and like a garden that has no water."  (Isaiah 1:30) In the hot dry climate of the Middle East, this illustration is apt.  No tree or garden can last for long without a steady supply of water.  Dried up, such vegetation is especially vulnerable to fire.  Hence, the illustration in verse 31 follows naturally.

"The vigorous man will certainly become tow, and the product of his activity a spark; and both of them will certainly go up in flames at the same time, with no one to do the extinguishing."  (Isaiah 1:31)   Who is this "vigorous man"?  The Hebrew expression conveys the sense of strength and wealth. It likely refers to the prosperous , self-assured follower of false gods.  In Isaiah's day, as in our own, there is no shortage of men who reject Jehovah and his pure worship.  Some even seem successful.  Yet, Jehovah warns that such men will be like "tow," coarse fibers of flax so frail and dry that they tear apart, as it were, at the very smell of fire.  (Judges 16:8, 9)  The product of the idolater's activity-whether his idol-gods, his wealth, or whatever he worships in place of Jehovah-will be like the igniting  "spark."  Both spark and tow will be consumed, wiped out, in a fire that no one can extinguish.  No power in the universe can overturn Jehovah's perfect judgments.

Is this final message compatible with the message of mercy and forgiveness in verse 18? By all means!  Jehovah has such warnings written down and delivered by his servants because he is merciful.  After all, "he does not desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance."  (2 Peter 3:9)  It is the privilege of every true Christians today to proclaim God's warning messages to mankind so that repentant ones may benefit from his generous forgiveness  and live forever.  How kind is it on Jehovah's part to give mankind a chance to "set matters straight" with him before it is too late!

Next time: Jehovah's House Lifted Up

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000