We know that Israel had forsaken God. They were morally corrupt and morally bankrupt and immorality and violence were rampant. Where did all this start? Did the land become like this in one day? Or did they drift away from God over time?
Romans chapter one shows that open wickedness and immorality and rejection of God as the true God has its roots in a very common sin – unthankfulness. Unthankfulness leads to vain thoughts and a dark, foolish heart. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21) When a people become dissatisfied with what God has given them and become discontent, they soon drift away from God and walk in dark paths because they try to walk after the imaginations of their own heart. Let us take a look at Israel. What did God say about them? How does a nation stray from the one true God?
1. They looked to heathen nations to supply their goods and services.
“Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east.” (Isaiah 2:6a)
God had blessed Israel. One of the blessings that He had promised if they remained faithful to Him was the supply of all their needs. “For the LORD thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee.” (Deuteronomy 15:6)
Israel forgot this promise and became dissatisfied with what God had provided. They wanted more and better and looked to other nations to provide it.
2. They did not believe God’s word and looked to other sources to meet their spiritual needs.
“… and are soothsayers like the Philistines.” (Isaiah 2:6b)
Instead of trusting God’s word, the Israelites became soothsayers. They were diviners or sorcerers, looking to the spirit world for wisdom and knowledge of what would be in the future. They were enchanters that practiced witchcraft.
3. They intermarried with the heathen.
“…and they please themselves in the children of strangers.” (Isaiah 2:6c)
This also resulted from discontentment. The children of their own people were not good enough, so they lusted after those in the nations around them. As a result, they formed alliances with other nations and entered into marriages with their people.
4. They were covetous and pleasure seekers. They lived for what they could get and what they could enjoy.
“Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.” (Isaiah 2:7)
It is not wrong to have things. There are many godly men and women who have been greatly blessed by God materially and financially. However, Jesus warned, “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” (Luke 12:15) There were times in the apostle Paul’s life when he had things and times when things were taken away from him. Sometimes he abounded in things; other times he had very little. He learned to be content in both circumstances. “11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” (Philippians 4:11,12) The problem comes when the pursuit of pleasure and treasures is the goal of one’s life. It is not wrong to have things, but it is wrong for things to have you.
5. Both the people in high places and the common people followed other gods and worshiped idols.
“8) Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made: 9) And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.” (Isaiah 2:8,9)
What solemn thoughts are contained in these verses. They certainly paint a picture of sinful hearts and a sinful nation. They illustrate the truth of this verse, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) There is one that can know the heart. God says, “I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.” (Jeremiah 17:10)
What is the remedy for a people such as this, for a nation that is in this condition? Those that forsake the Lord are in deep trouble and will soon find themselves in dire circumstances, “O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.” (Jeremiah 17:13) But all hope is not lost. The remedy is found in the very next verse. The remedy is the Lord, the fountain of living waters, the One from whom flows the healing stream of life. “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)