May it please almighty God to bless us together this evening as we meditate in his holy word. Let's turn to the prophecy of Isaiah in chapter 30 and reading verses 20 and 21. The prophecy of Isaiah chapter 30 and reading verses 20 and 21. And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more. But thine eyes shall see thy teachers, and thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. Isaiah was raised up to be a prophet of the Lord and wonderful words of instruction. He was commanded to write and we're thankful that we have his prophecy to be able to read and to refer to and to be encouraged as we read it and directed in the way that you and I should walk and as we've read together this 30th chapter we see how it was needful in that day for Israel to be directed to the right way and how they had indeed turned away and as we read in the beginning of this 30th chapter, that they wanted to go down into Egypt. And so easy it is for us today perhaps to think that something better is away from us and we can take a different route and find a time which is more beneficial to us for our natural life, but we should depend upon the Word of God. the Lord addresses the people through Isaiah and with these solemn words and he says, woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord. And in the previous chapter in the 15th verse it says, woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and their works are in the dark. And they say, who seeth us and who knoweth us? Well, it's a blessing if you and I are blessed with a tender conscience, recognizing that God does see us and God does know not only what we say and do, but everything that we think. And may that be indeed a word of reproof perhaps to us and a word of instruction. But in this 30th chapter, Isaiah tells the people, woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord that take counsel but not of me, and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin. Don't forget, Satan is very subtle, as he always has been, right from the fall in those early verses in Genesis, when he came and convinced Eve that it was all right to disobey God. and to lean to our own understanding. And he still addresses us in the same way and pretends that we can go in our way. And as this continues in this chapter here, that walk to go down into Egypt and have not asked at my mouth to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh and to trust in the shadow of Egypt. You see the way he seemed more attractive to the Israelites to go down into Egypt. Perhaps they'd heard of perhaps more prosperity there and perhaps an easier life and not having to keep all the ceremonial law which Israel had been instructed to do. And yet you see what a sad position it was and therefore The Lord tells them through Isaiah, Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion. We're not to be taken in by what Satan may lay before us, thinking perhaps the grass is greener somewhere else. Where of course if the Lord has caused us to be in a certain area in a certain place we should recognize it is God's dealings and God's direction and as he goes on in this um 30th chapter for his princes were at Zohan and his ambassadors came to Hanes they were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them nor being help nor profit but a shame and also reproach. Well the Lord's very gracious isn't he to leave such statements on record for our encouragement today to realize that the paths that we perhaps see before us and perceive before the nations of the world is no different to what it was years ago and so the Lord says for the Egyptians shall help in vain and to No purpose, therefore have I cried concerning this. Their strength is to sit still. Sometimes we need, we may recognise the relevance of waiting for the Lord. He tells us He waits to be gracious and sometimes we become impatient. We want God to act now. We want God to act in accordance with our time scale. Whereas God's ways are far better than our ways. And God knows the end from the beginning. And God knows what he will do. And you and I don't know what God will do. But what a blessing therefore to wait upon the Lord. And so Isaiah was commanded, now go. write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come, for ever and ever, that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord, which say to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things prophesy deceits well you see the natural mind doesn't want to be stirred up doesn't want to hear those things which go against our plans in our little life but realize here this has occurred in these days and God knew about it and God speaks very clearly to them and directs them to the right way and to recognize therefore what a blessing that we have that same almighty God and as we come down to the 18th verse and he graciously says and therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you you see we become impatient don't we Well, what a mercy that the Lord is gracious and patient toward us. And he waits that he may be gracious unto us. And therefore, when he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you. For the Lord is a God of judgment. Blessed are all they that wait for him. Well, it'll be a good thing if God gives us grace to wait for him. And so the apostle, the prophet, rather, goes on and comes to this 19th verse and tells us, for the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. Thou shalt weep no more. He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry. When he shall hear it, he will Answer thee. So again, the question arises, doesn't it? Are we amongst those who cry and pray to almighty God, or do we just go on day by day in a lukewarm state, in a lukewarm condition? But here we hear what the Lord says for the people, shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. Thou shalt weep no more. You will be very gracious. unto thee by the voice of thy Christ. So what an encouraging direction this is. When he shall hear it, he will answer thee. Let us not give up hope. Let us not give up prayer. Let us continue to pray, to pray earnestly. And therefore we come down to these 20 and 21st verses which direct us. And though the Lord give you Let's note that statement, the Lord gives not always what we expect. And here he says, though the Lord give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction. We may think, well, I didn't pray for that and I didn't expect that. But perhaps in our spiritual life, it was needful. Because the Lord knows exactly where we are in our spiritual life. Sometimes we come to a wrong conclusion. We look at ourselves and we think it's all right, and we think everybody else is wrong. Yet, shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more? But thine eyes shall see thy teachers, and thine eyes shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way. Walk ye in it. when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. So what a blessing to be submissive to the will and direction of Almighty God, realizing that our God never makes a mistake. You and I, my friends, often make mistakes. We often come to a wrong conclusion. We don't come with a right attitude. We might think we do. The right attitude isn't it that we come with that desire that in whatever path the Lord sees fit to direct us and lead us, it will be for his honour and for his glory. When God brings us to that position to sit at his feet and be content with such things as we have, because he said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Then to recognize that when the Lord brings us into these things and gives us, gives us the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, that means spiritual food and drink, not what we expected, but that which is needful. You see, God knows what is needful. in our spiritual life, to bring us into a healthy state. It's not therefore to be found drinking those things which are superfluous to us, but those things which bring us nearer to God. You see, spiritual adversity, spiritual affliction, to the true believer, doesn't drive us away from God, it brings us nearer to God. It brings us to spiritual reality. And when it brings us to spiritual reality, we can rejoice in God's goodness and God's mercy toward us in not dealing with us as our sins deserve. I wonder sometimes if we consider God's hand upon us and God's dealings with us, and if we sit, perhaps, and ponder what it means. You know, when David was in a difficult situation on one occasion, what did he do? He came and sat before the Lord. He came and sat before the Lord. That's a good thing, isn't it? It's a good thing to come and sit before the Lord and to ponder what God is doing with us and ponder the reason he's doing it for us. And so to recognise then that as God comes and gives us perhaps this bread of affliction and water of adversity and water of affliction, It is for our good. It is for our instruction. And it is to realise that God sends us, yet shall not thy teachers be removed? No, we may perhaps think they have been removed, but no, they're still there. Perhaps we don't always like what we're taught and what we're told through his word. What a mercy it is to recognise the truth of God's gracious words, to realise that He will be very gracious, very gracious. And yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers. So we have here the Lord directing us with spiritual eyes, and then also spiritual ears. And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way. Walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. We may perhaps think we've mistaken the way. Perhaps we think this can't be the way. Well, we have to trace out, don't we? God's hand upon his ancient people. And we see now the Lord graciously brought them into times of adversity and times of affliction to instruct them and to teach them and to encourage them. And that's why David was able to write those glorious words in the 107th Psalm. He, Almighty God, led them forth by the right way and the purpose that they might go to a city of habitation. Of course, in their case, naturally, it was to arrive safely in Canaan and to the Church of God it is to bring us at last safely to glory at last. May it really be our desired haven. What a great blessing that is. If God does come and lead and direct us and causes us to be directed by the word that he may speak to us and that we might hear. Therefore, how often we read, don't we, especially in the Revelation, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear. We don't want deaf ears, do we, to the word of God. We don't want deaf ears to his instruction. when things appear to go contrary to that which perhaps we think. To bow down before God and to commit our way to Him and say, let Him do what He thinks best. Submission to God's love and purpose toward us. And it's wonderful to be brought to that condition and realise it's His wonderful love towards and unworthy people that he deals with and brings them into that condition so that we do hear his voice and we rejoice in it. Well, what a mercy when we hear his voice and when we do indeed rejoice in it. You know, Isaiah was wonderfully blessed and wonderfully used of Almighty God in his prophecies to come and to direct us and to bless us. And we're told in the 48th chapter of Isaiah, he says, come ye near unto me. Hear ye this, I have not spoken in secret from the beginning, from the time that it was there, am I? And now the Lord of God and his Spirit has sent me. Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, I am the Lord, thy God, which teacheth thee to profit. which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. This is the great God that we have to deal with. This is the great merciful God that we have to deal with. This is the God of compassion, who looks upon us in our lowest state, who realises where we are in our sinful path, and yet brings to us such gracious and glorious words Remember, this is not the word of man, it's not the word of the Prophet, although the Prophet was used to write it. He comes and says, thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer. Isn't that wonderful? To think that Almighty God, who redeems our soul, speaks, thus saith the Lord, Thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Do we not have to come and say how condescending of Almighty God to such an unworthy and rebellious sinner. I am the Lord. I am the Lord. He is the Lord, graciously. Thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. I am the Lord. thy God isn't that kind of God to write such words to confirm that although we've perhaps been fed with those things which are difficult yet they've been used by God to bring us back to him brought us to realize where we got to in our spiritual life and now because of his wonderful love remember he deals with his church in love to their souls it's very humbling that it should be to realize that unworthy as we are the great God the ruler of all things condescends to look upon us as individuals and comes and speaks to us and says, I am the Lord thy God, which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee in the way that thou shouldest go. Well, it's a great blessing for us today if we can realize God's hand is upon us for good. He hasn't left us to wander off We may feel we've been left, but God knows where we are. He knows what he's doing for us. He's knowing how he's leading us and how he's teaching us. And that's why, how good it is to be brought into this situation and to realise his gracious hand is upon us. And therefore, to not be rebellious, but to realise that The path He's leading us in is needful for our eternal good. We're hastening through our little life, aren't we? We don't want to find when we get to the end of the road that we're lacking, that we don't possess that great certificate of entrance in to the Kingdom of God, and we find we're cast out. We want to hear those glorious words come in. Now, blessed of my Father, wherefore standest thou without? And to have that heavenly certificate, to know that the blessed Saviour has died upon that cross at Calvary to redeem our souls. And if we are blessed with that, as you and I have journeyed through life, we won't be an alien, will be part of the family of God. And that means you and I will know something of union and communion with the Lord Jesus Christ. That's why we're told he led them forth by the right way. Yes, to bring us nearer to himself and give us that true hunger and thirst after righteousness you know when we're lukewarm we don't possess that we're not hungry and thirsty after righteousness we're content with the poor things of this life and if we're not careful we get taken up with them and we spend our time in them what a mercy therefore if our kind and gracious God looks upon us comes and touches our heart, puts his hand upon us, and restrains the devil and all his cunning work, and keeps him away, so that we enjoy, as the Apostle Paul so gloriously says, enjoys fellowship with his sufferings. Naturally you and I wouldn't think that was true. But it is true, and it's a good place to be, and it's a place that God brings us into. We don't bring ourselves there. We don't have any desire to be there. But God is love toward us. Grant us, therefore, an experience like this, where we recognise that the Lord gives us the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, to bring us nearer to himself. Then you will come and recognize as David said, it is good that I have been afflicted. We don't then rebel against God's dealings with us. We recognize his grace. We recognize his love. We recognize his mercy. What a kind and gracious God we have. And you know, you may remember, when Moses was taken from the Israelites and Joshua was raised up to take his place and it was a tremendous position, wasn't it? There Moses had been the leader for so many years and God had been with him and now the mantle had fallen upon Joshua. But God came to him and gave him such encouraging words. And he says, Thou shalt not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life, as I was with Moses. So I will be with thee. I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. Was that fulfilled? Yes, it was. And he then tells him, Be strong and of a good courage, for unto this people shall thou divide for an inheritance of land, which I swear unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded thee turn not from it to the right hand or to the left that thou mayest prosper and withersoever thou goest good direction wasn't it good words for Joshua and he was given that grace to be able to follow those words and therefore to continue to be the leader of Israel and at last to bring them safely into that land of Canaan. You see how good and kind and gracious God is now. The goodness and kindness of God hasn't diminished. And now it's our turn to walk upon the earth. What a blessing it is to realize that that God is still the same today. that God who was with Adam and Eve all those years ago who didn't cut them off as they deserved and all the children of Israel down through all their vicissitudes and wrongness and evil was kind and gracious to them and he comes to all down through the ages and right up to the present day and he will be right down to the end of time he will be with his people and he will cause them to walk in this way I believe this is very right and very typical of the whole Church of God, not to just an isolated few. You and I attempt sometimes to think, well, of course, I won't have to walk that way. That's just for some people, but I can avoid that. Well, I don't believe we can. I believe this is typical of the Church of God and we shouldn't therefore be surprised at how the Lord deals with us. but to recognise that he's dealing with us in love to our souls, that we might be healthy in the things of God and bring us into a wealthy place. And a wealthy place is to enjoy fellowship with the sufferings of the great and glorious Saviour. And to recognise that the Lord Jesus Christ was willing to suffer and to bleed and to die on our behalf, to take away all our sins so that we should be redeemed, that we should be a people loved and a people that by its grace should one day inherit the kingdom. reserved for us from the foundation of the earth. It's amazing isn't it to think that God should reserve a place in glory for unworthy sinners and so to rejoice then in this great truth to recognize that yes God is looking upon us and although we have this adversity and affliction yet our teachers will not be removed, we shall still see them. And we shall hear that word behind us saying, this is the way. Walk in it. When you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left. We're sometimes tempted, aren't we, to try and go in a different way, our way. To turn this way, we think, oh, well, perhaps if I followed that place or went there, it would be easier and better. Well, we're told here that this is the way, walking in it when we are tempted to turn to the right hand and when we turn to the left. God leads in the right way and he brings us at last home to that eternal habitation. What a mercy it is and what a blessing it is to have such a kind and gracious God. And He knows what you and I need. My friends, if you and I were to pan out our own life, to plan it out, we would never plan it this way. But God knows what is good for us. And God knows what will turn us. You see, the Word of God tells us, turn me and I shall be turned. And we need God to turn us more and more to Himself and away from all the vanities of time. We're told, aren't we, very clearly by Solomon in the Ecclesiastes what those things are as Solomon tried in vain to find happiness in this life. Now God gives us many things to enjoy in this life and we should be grateful for them. But we should also recognize as Hosea says, this is not your rest, it is polluted. And it's good when the Holy Spirit shows to us that great truth. And to be able to say, yes, we have no abiding city here. but we seek one to come. And sometimes we need to be reminded of that. And sometimes we need even to be redirected to that situation, to realise that we're not here forever. What a blessing if we are looking forward to that eternal city of glory. and that we're brought safely there through the blessed work of the Spirit of God. The Lord fits us for it. We wouldn't fit ourselves. We might think we might, but we never fit ourselves. But my friends, God knows how to fit us and how to prepare us for that eternal place of heaven and joy and peace and to enjoy God forever and ever. What a wonderful prospect that is. So as we press on day by day to not be surprised, therefore, if God's loving hand is upon us to, as he gives us the bread of diversity and the water of affliction to realize he's leading us in that right way. And it's to bring us nearer to him. It's a good place, my friends. It's not a bad place. It's because of God's love toward us. And to recognize it's all part of God's eternal pathway for us. Here we are on this earth. What are we on this earth? By God's grace being prepared for our eternal kingdom. Our life on this earth. is not to prepare us for our life on this earth, it's to prepare us for our eternal kingdom. And so God has graciously given us many words to encourage us and to direct us and to show us the way that we can expect And when we are walking in it, to thank God for it, that he's not dealing with us as our sins deserve. If he did, we'd be cast out, we'd be left, we'd be forsaken. But how humbling it is to think that great truth, which he has said and left on record, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Therefore we may gladly say, The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man should do unto me. Yes, we have an opposition. The devil uses people sometimes to endeavor to turn us away from the things of God. But may we look beyond man, to look to God and to realize his gracious love and mercy toward us. And as we journey on, his hand is upon us for good. to teach us and to instruct us and to bring us at last to that place of glory. So here we have in these words before us this evening, you know, God's wonderful mercy. For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem. Thou shalt weep no more. He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry when he shall hear it He will answer thee. What a thing, isn't it? It's true, isn't it? God's very gracious unto each one of us. We have that good hope in His mercy. Very gracious. We didn't bring ourselves there. We didn't deserve it. And though the Lord therefore give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more. No, we'll see them. We'll observe them. We'll know. the teaching of God. But thine eyes shall see thy teachers and thine ears, you see, eyes and ears, united together in the pathway of life. Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand and when ye turn to the left. May we be able to truly come and praise God from whom all blessings flow, because of his amazing goodness and mercy toward us. Amen.