When God is Afflicted

When God is Afflicted

Isaiah 61-66

“In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.”

                  The statement seems unbelievable. We see God as an infinitely powerful being who is so far exalted above the earth that He is beyond our understanding. He is the mighty God who controls the universe and encompasses the totality of infinity. There is no limit to His being, His presence, and His power. It is both shocking and wonderful that He would look upon the affairs of man and notice what happens on this tiny speck in the vastness of the heavens. As we reach the end of the book of Isaiah, in 61:1-9, we find Isaiah empowered to proclaim good news to the afflicted and to bring healing to those with broken hearts. In verse 1, we see that the Holy Spirit has come upon Isaiah. Throughout scripture, the anointing of the Holy Spirit is given with a purpose to accomplish. In verses 1-3, Isaiah is tasked with six responsibilities: 1/ To bring good news to the afflicted; 2/ to bind up the brokenhearted; 3/ to proclaim liberty to captives; 4/ to declare the day of salvation and God’s judgment; 5/ to comfort those who mourn; and 6/ to bring gladness to the mourners. These verses not only describe Isaiah’s ministry but also point us toward the future ministry of Christ. The word “anointed” in verse 1 is the verb form of “Messiah,” signaling that we are to look beyond Isaiah to the coming Messiah. Christ read these words in the synagogue on the Sabbath and then announced that His mission was to bring them to fulfillment (Luke 4:4-21). While Israel had experienced God's judgment, God was now proclaiming a new message: that He would bring salvation and restoration to Israel and all sinners through the New Covenant. This New Covenant was inaugurated at the death of Christ and is currently being fulfilled in the present expansion of Christ’s kingdom.  The full reality of its fulfillment will be realized when Christ returns to create a new heaven and a new earth and establish His kingdom forever (65:17-66:24).   

              This brings us to the great mystery of Scripture: Why would an infinitely powerful God care about us? Why would he stoop from heaven to pay attention to this small speck in space and bring salvation to the very people who have rejected Him? The answer to that question is found in Isaiah 63:9, and it is in this verse that we find a statement that seems mysterious to us. In verse 9, we read, “In all their afflictions He was afflicted.” How could a God who is infinite in power and unsurpassed in authority be affected because of our circumstances? The word “affliction” refers to a strong emotional response that one experiences when facing adversity and suffering. In Jer 48:41, it is used to describe the pain of a woman in labor. God so deeply cares about us that He feels the pain of suffering when we suffer because of our sin. He so deeply cares for us that He feels our pain and sorrow deeply within Him. This stems from His infinite love for us, and it moves Him to bring salvation to us, “In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them” (vs 9b). That the God of the universe would experience the same hurt that we feel internally because of the affliction we face is beyond our ability to grasp.  All we can do is read the words on the page and find comfort in the fact that, in all circumstances in which life seems to be crushing our souls, God also experiences our pain and is moved to bring salvation to us. In the struggles we face, especially in the face of the devastation of sin, God is not silent, and He is not indifferent.  He cares enough to send His son to die for us that we might have salvation.  This is our hope and our confidence in the struggles and pain of a fallen world.