“Come now, and Let us reason together ….”
This tender invitation which opens a beautiful verse
by Isaiah, is one among those often misunderstood and misinterpreted by
a good many. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though
your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they
are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18, RSV).
The expression “… let’s reason together” has no
meaning in terms of a give-and-take discussion between two
counterparts. It does not refer to bilateral negotiations where both
sides make concessions to come with an agreement. Not at all. We do
believe God is merciful and sympathetic; His capacity for forgiveness
is unmatched. He alone can take away His people’s sins that are “as
scarlet” and wash them clean, “white like snow”. No human efforts,
sacrifices or prayers can wash sin away; only God’s forgiveness can
remove the stain of sin. He grants such forgiveness for genuine,
heartfelt repentance. Note since it was repeated, the importance of:
“red like crimson” sins will become like undyed “wool”. “Come now,
let’s reason together” is a compassionate and pitiful plea whereby God
makes it plain to those who call upon Him in spirit and in truth, that
He is the forgiver of sins, no matter how bad the sins are, as long as
He finds the sinner really repentant.
Consider the example of King David who sinned horribly:
i. He coveted Uriah’s wife (2 Samuel 11:2,3) thus breaking the tenth commandment
ii. He had sex with that woman (2 Samuel 11:4), a breach of the seventh commandment
iii. He ordered
that Uriah be sent to the frontline of the fiercest battle so as to
have him struck down (2 Samuel 11:14), an infringement of the sixth
commandment.
Though he committed such tremendous sins, yet he
repented (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalms 51:1-17) and was forgiven. In the
same way, God reminds us that no matter how far we might have strayed,
it’s never too late to set matters straight with Him, by coming back to
Him with a contrite, remorseful, repentant heart. Therefore, God has
never finished with forgiving His people’s sins as far as “He desires
all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy
2:3,4).
Bro Innocent Baruani E’engele
