The Epitome of Hopelessness

Meditations for Seeking the Life in Christ

Daily Thoughts 

February 4, 2025

The Epitome of Hopelessness

 

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

    I will make them as white as snow.

Though they are red like crimson,

    I will make them as white as wool.

Isaiah 1:18

Read: Isaiah 1: 2-6

“Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth! This is what the Lord says: “The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me. Even an ox knows its owner, and a donkey recognizes its master’s care— but Israel doesn’t know its master. My people don’t recognize my care for them.” Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the Lord. They have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him. Why do you continue to invite punishment? Must you rebel forever? Your head is injured, and your heart is sick.

You are battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages.” (Isaiah 1:2-6)

Now, read again verse 18 quoted above.

Consider the condition of God’s people, Israel. They had turned their backs to God. They despised the Holy One. Their heads were injured, and their hearts were sick. They were battered from head to foot—covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—without any soothing ointments or bandages. The epitome of hopelessness.

Now, read again verse 18 quoted above.

What does it say about the nature of God, that after being despised by his people, He would make their sins, which are like scarlet, as white as snow? What does it say about the nature of God, that he would make their sins, which were red like crimson, as white as wool?

My Takeaway: I find it quite challenging to try and plumb the depths of God’s divine nature. I will go deeper into this tomorrow when we look at how God accomplished His mission to transform His people into pillars of righteousness.

Sē’lah

My book on prayer,

First Think, Then Pray

is now available on Amazon Kindle.

 

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2025 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.