SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 66
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. [Isaiah 66:4]
The hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes. [Isaiah 66:14]
This final chapter highlights God’s grace, Israel’s rebellion, God’s justice and mercy, and the eventual fulfillment of His kingdom purpose – a new heaven and a new earth populated by anyone who humbly submits to Him.
God is giving us – and everyone – many opportunities to come to our senses, but if we will not listen, if we do not respond, then we forfeit all the good that He has in mind for us.
But His plan will not fail, even if His people fail; He will go out into the highways and byways to find those who will come… from every tribe and nation.
And I, because of their actions and their imaginations, am about to come and gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see my glory. [Isaiah 66:18]

In Matthew 21 Jesus tells a parable of tenants in a vineyard who rebel against the landowner.
Jesus repeats what Isaiah says, that because of their actions, He will look elsewhere.
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. [Matthew 21:43]
In other words, even if God’s missionary people fail Him, and do not live as His servants, He will find new servants, and His kingdom – the new heaven and new earth – will be given to them.
This is the sad state of affairs when Jesus comes – the people of the Messiah reject the Messiah, therefore God turns to the Gentiles.

Paul talks about this in Romans 11, where he grieves the fall of his own people, even as he rejoices in the salvation of the Gentiles.
But he is also hopeful that the fact that the Gentiles are saved may impact the Jews, that they too may repent and be saved.
Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. [Romans 11:30-31]
God does not want anyone to perish, but He will give people what they want, if they persist in rejecting Him.
God wants to give everyone a place in His eternal kingdom, but if people refuse it…

“As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. [Isaiah 66:22-23]
Do I want a place in this eternal kingdom?
Am I willing to bow down to Him (i.e. submit my life to Him), to be humble and contrite in spirit, and tremble at His word? [Isaiah 66:2]

PRAYER:
Lord, I have a place in Your kingdom by Your grace alone. May I not refuse to listen when You call, may I not neglect Your amazing grace and miss out on Your gracious offer.