Isaiah 43:22-28
22 “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! 23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. 24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. 25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. 26 Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right. 27 Your first father sinned, and your mediators transgressed against me. 28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary, and deliver Jacob to utter destruction and Israel to reviling.
Why does God forgive us? Is it because we make up for our sin by doing something really good? Is it because God is an absent-minded old fool that doesn't catch all our mistakes? Is it because we don't really do anything wrong so there's nothing to forgive us for? Is it because God is such a nice guy that He doesn't really care what we do? Isaiah argues that none of these answers are right. The truth is that we do not make up for our sins by offering sacrifices (verses 23-24), God does know all of our sins (verse 24), God says we do indeed sin (verse 27), and God will punish us for our sins (verse 28). So why does God forgive us? The answer is in verse 25: “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake". God forgives us not because we deserve it but because He wants to. It is His choice and His pleasure, that His creation might praise Him (verse 21).
Thank you God for wanting to forgive me.
22 “Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of me, O Israel! 23 You have not brought me your sheep for burnt offerings, or honored me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings, or wearied you with frankincense. 24 You have not bought me sweet cane with money, or satisfied me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened me with your sins; you have wearied me with your iniquities. 25 “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. 26 Put me in remembrance; let us argue together; set forth your case, that you may be proved right. 27 Your first father sinned, and your mediators transgressed against me. 28 Therefore I will profane the princes of the sanctuary, and deliver Jacob to utter destruction and Israel to reviling.
Why does God forgive us? Is it because we make up for our sin by doing something really good? Is it because God is an absent-minded old fool that doesn't catch all our mistakes? Is it because we don't really do anything wrong so there's nothing to forgive us for? Is it because God is such a nice guy that He doesn't really care what we do? Isaiah argues that none of these answers are right. The truth is that we do not make up for our sins by offering sacrifices (verses 23-24), God does know all of our sins (verse 24), God says we do indeed sin (verse 27), and God will punish us for our sins (verse 28). So why does God forgive us? The answer is in verse 25: “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake". God forgives us not because we deserve it but because He wants to. It is His choice and His pleasure, that His creation might praise Him (verse 21).
Thank you God for wanting to forgive me.