His Ways Are Not Our Ways

INTRODUCTION- Mary & Oshea’s Story

The depth of mercy & forgiveness displayed in this true story is beyond what we usually hear about in this world, because it extends from the very heart of God- a God whose depth of mercy & forgiveness surpasses all human .

TEARING DOWN OUR PRECONCIEVED NTIONS OF ISAIAH 55:1-16

Our text from Isaiah 55 is often misinterpreted as a passage about providence… Instead, it is drawing a distinction between our thoughts, desires, purposes & plans & God’s .

BREAKING DOWN ISAIAH 55- OUR THOUGHTS VS. GOD’S HEART

Verse 1- If you want it, you have to earn it vs. God’s , unconditional heart.

Verse 2- Spend our lives amassing what does not satisfy vs. God giving us the one thing that .

Verses 3 to 5- Our promises are fleeting, our commitments temporary vs. God’s promises which are .

Verses 6 to 7- Our tolerance & ability to forgive has limits vs. God’s ability to forgive which has .

Verse 8 to 9- The central theme of the passage = God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not .

Verse 10 to 13- Further hit this point home by showing us a heaven & earth transformed according to God’s .

WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE

1st. We can’t put God in a box, limiting who He is & what He does to our limited understanding of Him. Instead we are called to our perception of Him to match what He revealed about Himself in His Word.

2nd. We can’t expect or force God to follow our plans & perceptions of the world. instead we need to our purposes & plans to Him.

3rd. We need to come to Him in complete understanding of His generous, compassionate & forgiving heart, knowing that He will pardon. And we need to invite others to do the same.

Additional Notes (a place to reflect on what God has laid on your heart from this Passage):