Unusual and Unorthodox!
"at the same time the Lord spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot." Isaiah 20:2
In ancient times, conquering nations would often shame their captives by leading them away stripped and barefoot. In a similar way, Isaiah became a living illustration of the coming humiliation and downfall of Egypt and Ethiopia. Unusual and unorthodox, to say the least.
I often wonder if Isaiah wrestled with obedience in this moment. Scripture doesn't tell us, and I'm not trying to add to it. I simply wonder what it was like to receive a command that seemed so strange and difficult, yet obey anyway.
As we grow in Christ, we should desire to obey Him even when His leading doesn't make sense to us. But before we can trust Him with the unusual, we must first obey Him in the ordinary. The small acts of obedience today prepare our hearts for deeper obedience tomorrow.
So here's the question: Am I obeying Christ's leading in the areas He has already made clear?
Many of us want extraordinary direction while neglecting ordinary obedience.
Wherever reflection reveals disobedience, there is always an invitation to come afresh to Jesus, trust Him again, and walk in step with His leading.
-To Know Jesus. To Live on Mission.