Isaiah 8:6,7
Author: Steve Amato
Keywords: bible study,bible, isaiah,gentleness

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## Gentleness or Floodwaters?

> Isaiah 8:6,7 "Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoices over Rezin and the son of Remaliah, therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the River—the king of Assyria with all his pomp."

This is a theme also mentioned later in Isaiah 30:15 This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it." The waters of Shiloah were the same mentioned John 9 as the Pool of Siloam where the blind man received his sight. They were gentle flowing waters coming from subterranean caverns and not even flowing every day but from time to time. In contrast to floodwaters one is also reminded of Elijah's experience on Mount Horeb in 1Kings 19 that God was not in the powerful wind, nor the earthquake, nor the fire, but in a gentle whisper. This speaks also of Jesus' rule over the church where he says in Matthew 11:29 "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." And Matthew 21:5 "Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’" God prefers to rule over us in a gentle, humble manner and communicate as with a soft whisper. But for this to be the case we must be cooperative. Else he will rule with an iron rod and the gentle waters will become a flood. Perhaps by challenging God and refusing to cooperate some hope to gain God's attention, much like rebellious children. But given such an attitude the kind of attention God will give them is not necessarily going to be pleasant. Rejecting what God has provided is a rather dangerous thing.Rom 1:21,24 "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ... Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts" resulting in a flood of perversion and corruption. And we should be careful not to take his kindness for granted. Rom 2:4,5 "Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed."

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