Letter to the Congregations: 22nd February 2025

Our Dear Brethren,

As the prophet Isaiah wrote the words from God, I can’t help but wonder how much he internalized the heavy correction that the nation was receiving. He had been chosen by God at that moment to bring a powerful message to the people. In fact God had given him visions of things to come and inspired Isaiah to write many prophecies of the Savior who would be sent. But there were still doubts in his mind about whether he was worthy to bring such powerful and sobering words to God’s people. He said of himself, “I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips” as he expressed the fact that he was a sinner and felt unworthy to bring such a message from God.

The kings Israel and of Judah had drifted far from God, and most of the nation as a whole had followed their example. God was bringing them a warning which typically came before calamity. Despite Isaiah’s initial hesitations, he was the prophet for that time, and was chosen by God to bring such a message to the people.

“Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1).

Whether they had said it aloud or if it was only said in their hearts, the people blamed God for a lack of intervention. They claimed to have sought Him daily, and even fasted often, denying themselves of food and water and perhaps other pleasures. But their goal was not to seek the will of God. They afflicted their souls through fasting but found pleasure in the process, fasting “for strife and debate, and to strike with the fist of wickedness” with the goal of having their own voices “heard on high” (see Isaiah 58:2-4).

The real purpose of fasting is not to somehow bend God’s will to fit our desires and preferences. Even if we have good intentions in mind when we do bring our requests before Him in prayer. The point of fasting is to remind ourselves how weak we are without God, to bring some humbleness into our hearts and minds, so we might draw closer to God and hear His voice. And when we hear what His will is we hopefully realize that what He has planned for us is far greater than the plans we might have for ourselves!

“Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am’” (Isaiah 58:8-9a).

These warnings and instructions given through the hand of the prophet Isaiah are for all of God’s people all through time. Let’s take them to heart as we prepare our own hearts and minds to draw closer to our God both now and for the rest of our lives.

Lewis VanAusdle

Pastor, United Church of God

NYC, NJ, CT, Malawi, Zimbabwe