Obstinate

Passage: Isaiah 30:1-18

One of my kids’ favorite movies, Cars, introduces Lightning McQueen, a hot-shot race car. At the beginning of his story, McQueen is an up-and-coming champion who has raised himself up by his lug nuts and won’t take any guff – or advice – from anyone. A self-professed “one-man show”, McQueen tunes out an older veteran of the racing circuit who takes him aside to caution him about the values of friendship and humility. The young race car reaps the consequences of his know-it-all pride when, in an off-road showdown with racing legend Doc Hudson, McQueen is advised, “Turn right to go left.” True to form, McQueen says, “What do you know? I’ll do it my way, thank you very much.” McQueen’s obstinacy culminates in a precipitous drop into a cactus patch.

The Old Testament tells the story of a young, upstart nation intent on going its own way. God’s chosen people, the Israelites, receive fair warning. God tells them repeatedly, “Do things my way. I know what I’m talking about.” His people refuse, insisting instead on going it alone. In fact, they get irritated when God’s prophets intervene to try to set them straight. Isaiah records the response God’s people give him every time he opens his mouth:
"Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!” In other words, "Let out of our way so we can take this path to our deaths."

Isaiah expresses the frustration and sadness of a God who only wants to spare his beloved people pain.
Isaiah tells his people to listen to reason and turn around. He says,
“In repentance and rest is your salvation; in quietness and trust is your strength… Everything you need is right here. Just stop running. Turn around – repent. Take God at his word.”

When we are intent on a course of action, we tend to disregard the advice of anyone who doesn’t affirm us. Like Isaiah’s audience we are tempted to say, “Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things…” We want to go our own way. God’s word confronts us with a way of life that is a change of direction. We’re not sure we want to alter our course away from what we’ve set our sights on. We are, however, fairly warned. If the way to the thing you want steers you away from God, it can only lead one place: death. Don’t cling to that way. Don’t be obstinate. Turn around.