November 20th, 2024
by Kathy Wood
by Kathy Wood
Growing up in the Wood family, I would awaken most mornings to the chime of "Rise and Shine." While my mother's voice was sweet and certainly better than an alarm clock, it was still a rude awakening. I mean, who wants to leave a cozy bed when it's still dark outside? The idea of school or work just didn't seem inviting, even if it was of great benefit to me.
If I was not up and moving within 10 minutes, that same beckoning call would come again. Only this time, Mom’s tone would shift to stern and emphatic. For added incentive, like a woman on a mission, she would turn on the lights! This left no other choice but to arise and shine for the day to begin.
Awakening is disruptive. Whether it is something trivial like wanting to sleep longer or from sin that can pull us ever further from God, awakening is necessary. The flesh knows what it wants and is insistent in its pursuit. Our desires are rarely tempered by gentle nudges alone but rather through an element of agitation. My mother's disruptive strategy was to call out “rise and shine” and introduce light into a dark situation. This strategy is not only an effective form of awakening but also one deeply rooted in the Holy Scriptures.
By God’s divine design, awakening is a foundational element woven into the very fabric of our story from the beginning.
“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”
Genesis 1:3-4 ESV
On day one of creation, God introduced His Light into the world. This is what pierced the darkness. The sun, moon, and stars weren’t created until day four. Darkness would eventually return through the sin of man, revealing a broken and fallen world in need of this Light–in need of awakening.
As we journeyed through the Old Covenant (Testament), we saw a repeated pattern of the chosen Hebrew people, the nation of Israel, turning away from Yahweh and towards sin–pride, rebellion, idolatry, and disobedience to name a few. And in response, Yahweh faithfully attempts to awaken His people out of their destructive slumber. Much like my mother, I imagine Him calling out tenderly at first and finally with intensity and admonition for Israel to arise and shine and return to Him as a covenant-endowed people.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
It's as if God was looking for a divine light switch to turn on and ultimately awaken a nation.
Fortunate for us, this quest for light unfolds in the seventeen Books of the Prophets (Isaiah-Malachi). Through the prophets, we are given insight and understanding into God's heart, mind, and strategy for redemption. Each of these faithful, bold prophets espouses God's message of redemptive reformation, a plea to awaken a nation to their sin so they would return to God.
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Isaiah 55:7 ESV
“Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever.”
Jeremiah 3:12 ESV
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”
Joel 2:12-13 ESV
Israel would not choose wisely and would ultimately come under God's judgment. But I want to encourage you to choose differently. Respond to the Holy Spirit’s gentle or not-so-gentle proddings to turn from sin and walk in the light. As God’s beloved and chosen people, choose to arise and shine, stepping out of the darkness and standing boldly in the light.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you."
Isaiah 60:1-2 ESV
If I was not up and moving within 10 minutes, that same beckoning call would come again. Only this time, Mom’s tone would shift to stern and emphatic. For added incentive, like a woman on a mission, she would turn on the lights! This left no other choice but to arise and shine for the day to begin.
Awakening is disruptive. Whether it is something trivial like wanting to sleep longer or from sin that can pull us ever further from God, awakening is necessary. The flesh knows what it wants and is insistent in its pursuit. Our desires are rarely tempered by gentle nudges alone but rather through an element of agitation. My mother's disruptive strategy was to call out “rise and shine” and introduce light into a dark situation. This strategy is not only an effective form of awakening but also one deeply rooted in the Holy Scriptures.
By God’s divine design, awakening is a foundational element woven into the very fabric of our story from the beginning.
“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”
Genesis 1:3-4 ESV
On day one of creation, God introduced His Light into the world. This is what pierced the darkness. The sun, moon, and stars weren’t created until day four. Darkness would eventually return through the sin of man, revealing a broken and fallen world in need of this Light–in need of awakening.
As we journeyed through the Old Covenant (Testament), we saw a repeated pattern of the chosen Hebrew people, the nation of Israel, turning away from Yahweh and towards sin–pride, rebellion, idolatry, and disobedience to name a few. And in response, Yahweh faithfully attempts to awaken His people out of their destructive slumber. Much like my mother, I imagine Him calling out tenderly at first and finally with intensity and admonition for Israel to arise and shine and return to Him as a covenant-endowed people.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
It's as if God was looking for a divine light switch to turn on and ultimately awaken a nation.
Fortunate for us, this quest for light unfolds in the seventeen Books of the Prophets (Isaiah-Malachi). Through the prophets, we are given insight and understanding into God's heart, mind, and strategy for redemption. Each of these faithful, bold prophets espouses God's message of redemptive reformation, a plea to awaken a nation to their sin so they would return to God.
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
Isaiah 55:7 ESV
“Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, “‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever.”
Jeremiah 3:12 ESV
“Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.”
Joel 2:12-13 ESV
Israel would not choose wisely and would ultimately come under God's judgment. But I want to encourage you to choose differently. Respond to the Holy Spirit’s gentle or not-so-gentle proddings to turn from sin and walk in the light. As God’s beloved and chosen people, choose to arise and shine, stepping out of the darkness and standing boldly in the light.
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you."
Isaiah 60:1-2 ESV
Posted in The Bible reading Plan
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