Isaiah 59

This chapter touches on one of the greatest theological questions of our time: how can there be an all-loving, all-powerful God when there is so much suffering in the world? For, certainly, if we had the power to end the suffering of someone we loved, wouldn’t we do it? That’s how many people come to the conclusion that (a) God must not be all-powerful and, thus, cannot do anything about our suffering or (b) God must either not love us or not exist at all.

Isaiah presents a third option: “Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” (vs 1-2) Apparently, there is absolutely nothing wrong with God’s power, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with His love. There is nothing wrong with Him. There is something wrong with us. That something is sin, and it has separated us from Him.

So, how does sin separate us from God? We know from Scripture that it doesn’t necessarily separate us from His presence, because there is nowhere we can go to outrun Him. Even in our sinful state, He is with us (Ps 139:7). Even Satan himself can have a conversation with God (Job 1:6)! And Paul wrote that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 5:8).

But sin can still separate us from God in many ways. It’s easier to think about this in terms of the Parable of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15. When the son decided to rebel against his father, he left home. He put distance and separation between himself and the father who loved him.

His rebellion separated him from fellowship with his father. As long as he stayed away from home, he couldn’t enjoy the company and companionship of his father. When we deliberately indulge in sin (as Isaiah said the Israelites were doing), we no longer think like God. In a mental sense, we cease to fellowship with Him.

The Prodigal Son’s rebellion separated him from the blessing of his father. When he was living in the pig sty, he began to think about just how good the servants had it back at his house! But as long as he stayed away from home, he couldn’t receive any of those blessings. The father still loved him, but the son couldn’t experience the benefits of that love while he remained separated from his father. The same is true for us. God will always love us—no matter what. But cherished sin separates us from some of the blessings of that love.

Sin also separates us in many ways from God’s protection. This is not because God withdraws His protection out of petty anger. Actually, it’s for our best good. God allows trials to come our way in order to discipline us. The Prodigal Son was allowed to feel the embarrassment and humiliation of living in the pig sty, not to mention the physical hunger of starvation! These dire consequences helped him come to this senses and head back home. In the same way, God allows us to go through trials and hardships that will help to correct our thinking.

Sometimes, it’s not easy to think that God would allow us to suffer. Many people would rather believe that God’s hands are tied by Satan—that He can’t act, rather than that He chooses not to. Many people would rather believe that there is something about our situation in this world that makes God impotent.

But Isaiah doesn’t really leave us that option. He says there’s nothing wrong with God’s strength. He says there’s nothing wrong with God’s hearing. God, Isaiah says, is not powerless to act. He knows what He’s doing. We may not necessarily like what He’s doing—but then again, that’s likely part of what’s wrong with us!