Bible Study

March-April 2006

The Breaking of God
By Ryan Shaw

God is the One who breaks his human creation with the strict purpose in mind of using this breaking to bring subsequent healing and salvation (v. 22). Isaiah 19 illustrates this powerfully. God breaks a nation (in Is. 19 the nation is Egypt) and then renews it and draws it to Himself in a way that surpasses any promise to a Gentile (non-Jewish) nation in the Old Testament. Egypt is seen in this passage in two primary aspects. First, as the worldly power which Israel consistently looked to for help and protection and second as part of God’s world, which He loves, and has a place made for in His kingdom which knows no partiality or rank.

Why God Does This?
This concept of the breaking of God for the sake of rebuilding and renewing can be seen across the board. He does it in individuals, in churches, in communities, in families, and in ministries. His intention is to drive out of us that which hinders us from fully loving Him and fully being about His purposes in the world. He wants to put to death all that is of the flesh, of the world, and of the enemy which we are so easily tantalized by and succumb to. His motivation in breaking is pure love and a deep commitment to that which is best for us. He knows that allowing anything that we depend upon, other than Him, to prevail in our midst will lead ultimately to our becoming comfortable and cold in Him.

The Egyptians were a people that were turned completely against God and yet in His mercy and love for this Gentile people group, He unleashes multitudes of circumstances in order to ultimately bring them to Himself. An important, yet often controversial, principle to grasp here is that it is God who brings these painful circumstances. Many of us have been taught for so long that God can only do “good” and that all negative experiences in our lives are ultimately from the enemy. This is not a Biblical truth. God, often, is the One behind these circumstances with one purpose and desire in mind – breaking us to rid us of reliance upon anything but Him and then building us upon the foundation of Himself.

This is a concept that many passages and Scriptures and even entire books (Joel) in the Bible advocate. God, as the book of Hebrews tells us, is incredibly jealous for our affections and our entire devotion. He is also very aware of the peril of sin in our lives and its destructive force and will do all that is necessary (even bringing upon us pain and hardship) for the sake of seeing us freed to rightfully pursue Him. Some might say that God allows these circumstances, but that they are not from Him. Isaiah 19 and numerous other passages would argue with you. There are times when God does allow the enemy to do certain things, mostly in order to test us. Then there are other times when God Himself brings the situation forth in order to rid us of any unholy dependency, affection, or focus.

Isaiah 19 – A Blueprint of God’s Breaking Process
In vs. 1-15 of Isaiah 19 we see God’s breaking activity upon this sinful Gentile nation which He absolutely loved. In vs. 16-25 we find God’s renewal and salvation coming upon them after they are stripped of all else that would compete with His love.

In vs. 1-15 every asset and strength of Egypt (which they prided themselves in) is seen to fail. Her spiritual resources are the first arena which God breaks (vs.1). The idols are said to “tremble at His presence”. The people’s unity is then focused upon (vs. 2) as the people fight with one another. Third, the worldly wisdom which had always been an Egyptian characteristic now was taken from them (vs.3). Next her very freedom was stripped (vs. 4) as a “hard master” had this people delivered unto them. Fifthly, the physical lifeline of this proud people was struck, the Nile (vs.5). So many industries of Egypt relied upon this source and each of them withered away. Lastly, we find that this nation, known for its top of the line schooling and preparation of its officials, finds itself in helpless anarchy (vs.11-15). The Scripture clearly implies that it was God who did all these things.

Praise God, however, that He does not break a people and leave them there. This is what the enemy does and is one sure sign that your experience has not been from God but a spiritual attack from the evil one. In vs. 15-25, God draws this people to Himself. Vs. 16 states, “On that day….”. This reference is to the Day of the Lord. In this passage Isaiah sees the conversion of the Gentile peoples through the representation of Israel’s greatest and most notorious oppressor and seducer. The process of transformation and eventual salvation of Egypt goes through 5 stages. First we find fear (vs. 16-17) leading to submission to God (vs.18). Then the people experience God-given access to the people to the altars and sacrifices unto God (vs.19-22) which leads to fellowship with God (vs.23) and finally to full acceptance (vs.24-25) before God and a place in His kingdom with Israel itself. In vs. 24 we are told that the Gentiles will have full inclusion into the kingdom with the Jews. Even those like Egypt, who historically and Biblically have stood defiantly against God will be broken by the Lord and many brought into His kingdom as a result of the breaking. These Gentile believers will dwell in harmony with the Jews in His kingdom, though they have been cruel enemies historically.

Implications for Global Proclamation
What extraordinary implications this has for us who are involved in Global Proclamation. There is no people group, no religious bloc, no ethnic heritage that can ultimately stand against God. When God purposes in His heart to reveal Himself to a people He will most often do it through the means of breaking them. Again, He does this with the purest love and intentions behind it as it is His deepest desire to draw them unto Himself in the process.

Is God Doing This Today?
I believe that this process is taking place in some of the hardest corners of the world today. God is bringing situations and circumstances to bear upon people for the sake of breaking them, so that they can turn to Him. This process can be a lengthy one and so we must develop the spiritual fruit of long-suffering and perseverance as we work as Jesus’ hands and feet among these groups. A temptation is to allow despair to enter in as we see people groups and individuals going through very difficult situations. Despair is one of the direst sins we can fall into as laborers in advancing His global kingdom. We must keep our hearts guarded against it as it immobilizes us from action. It is for the very purpose of being there during people’s darkest times that we are among them, to proclaim the good news of Jesus and to live out this good news in all we do as a model to them. God will meet them, if these turn to Him and cling to Him and like the Egyptians of old He will turn their brokenness into joy and salvation.