Naked Obedience

Bible reading: Isaiah 20

Focus Verse: "Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”  Philippians 2:14-16

Isaiah was a humble prophet as well as a poet whose very name means “Yahweh Is Salvation” and he worked tirelessly to turn the people back to God.  He was a true servant of the Lord and had a connection with God that sparked during an encounter with the Lord at the Temple where he received an anointing in chapter 6.  Ministry should always start with a personal relationship with God and not from our own ideas and efforts because we are utterly inadequate without Him.  His ministry is characterized by his willingness to present God’s messages obediently.  We see in Isaiah 5 that he boldly announces God’s judgement on the nation Judah, that although God cared for it as a Father, the people were following their own ways and faced judgement.  Surely, he was not popular for announcing that message.  By chapter 20, God had even asked Isaiah to remove the sackcloth from his body and the sandals from his feet and to remain naked and barefoot for three years as a sign of the fate that awaited Egypt at the hands of Assyrians.  God brought this to pass that the Egyptians were taken away in shame, naked and barefoot, into exile and captivity. 

Isaiah was willing to be obedient unto the Lord God even unto nakedness, for the glory of His Lord.  Some of us are not even bold enough to obey the simple things that God asks of us.  It takes effort to make changes in our life in order to walk in obedience.  Many in the world will not understand when we love our enemy, read our Bibles, pray with others, give to our neighbors, share the Gospel of Hope, go to church, abstain from evil activities and care for the things that God cares for.  How many of us face the opportunity to be bold enough to obey God when the world doesn’t understand and even reject us?  He is not likely to ask you to be naked for 3 years, but maybe there is something that He is asking of you?

Isaiah’s ministry ends with the message of the hope of restoration and the coming of the Messiah (Jesus).  God is giving you a way back to Him because He has a heart for you and a heart for the world.  He made a way through Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life to walk in obedience.  Where do you need to unashamedly walk in obedience?

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries