Isaiah 17:6-8 tells about God’s mercy in the midst of judgment. Though Jacob was brought low because of sin, God still loved His people. He would not destroy them utterly but would cause them to look to Him.
When God brought judgment upon Israel, He would leave a small remnant and just enough food and resources for them to have their needs supplied. “Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.” (Isaiah 17:6)
When the land is brought to desolation and only the remnant remains, the people will look to the Lord. Verse seven says, “At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.” (verse seven)
The idols in which Israel had come to trust will no longer be worshipped. No reverence will be paid to them, and the people will no longer trust in the works of their own hands. “And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images.”
When there is trouble all around, the things we had spent so much time accumulating, the pleasures we pursued, the works of our hands in which we had begun to trust, will all come crumbling down. We should trust only in the Lord God whether we be in good times or in bad. Sometimes, though, God allows the bad times to come upon us to remind us that we cannot do anything without Him. Our sustenance and safety come only from His hand. When all else is stripped away, this causes us to remember that we are nothing without Him anyway.
Let us keep our eyes upon Jesus and our focus upon heavenly things. “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2) Why should our affections be set on heavenly things? Because we are not our own. We belong to Jesus, and one day heaven will be our home, and we have the hope of appearing with Christ in glory. “3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:3,4)