REND THE HEAVENS

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before you.  Isaiah 64:1  (NIV)

One year while in Mexicali, my college sweetheart (now husband), and I were with over three thousand high schoolers, youth pastors, and others to serve and minister to the churches in that region of Baja California.  For one week, we lived in tents, used bottled water, had minimal showers, and ate cafeteria style food out in the open field.

It was beautiful.  Because it was about the people and serving God.

However, because it is in the desert, Mexicali is very hot and can get very windy.  This one year, the winds were powerful, lifting tents and their contents all through “Tent City”, while the youth with their pastors were in the various villages doing vacation Bible school, service projects and the like. 

Those of us on the tent crew could only watch as the tents flew past.  Sand and dust were flying everywhere, stinging our eyes and coating our teeth with grime.  Torn tents, misplaced belongings, and shocked campers reigned that night in camp.  Because the teams would usually returned late at night, tired, hungry and in desperate need of a shower (but not getting one that day, or for many days previous or afterwards), the sight which met them was most unwelcome.

Setting things to right, repairing tents, finding belongings, and getting settled for the night, with a good attitude, was paramount.  And amazingly, it did happen.  Sure, there were a few complaints, but for the most part, folks took it in stride.

A rending is a tearing.  A ripping.  Intentional or not, it is a separation of one object into two.  Usually a tearing leaves ragged edges (and for this seamstress, not the easiest to repair). 

A ripping is done because stress is placed upon the object which could no longer hold itself together.  A water balloon filled to the breaking point, breaks, water splattering everywhere.  Fun for water balloons, but not always fun for other objects. 

Like matters of the heart.

Or, in times of pain, hurt, affliction, struggles, and more.  When our pain gets too intense, relief is cried for, begged for and uppermost on our minds.  The prophet Isaiah was crying out for God to rend the heavens.  Rip them open, God, he was saying.  Do something.  Break into our world.

What’s interesting is what he said previously in Isaiah 63:15 – he asked God to look.  But he moved past that to the desperate cry for a rending.  He did not want just a glance, a look or God’s attention.  He wanted, yes, desired and demanded, God’s action.  Rend the barrier between God and man.  And to him the barrier was heaven.

And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.  Luke 2:6  (NLT)

God did indeed rip apart the heavens, on purpose.  With purpose.  For us.  For His planned course of action for His people.  He stepped into our neighborhood (John 1:14) with the cry of a baby.  He split the divide.  He tore the veil between His glory and our sin.  He did it.  We did not.  Nor could we.

He heard the cry of Isaiah and answered. 

Does He still do this, many thousands of years later?  When we cry out for Him to rend the heavens, does He still engage?  Does God care enough to be in our lives or does He just look down upon us?

I would say a resounding yes!  Looking around would draw this same conclusion, but at times it could be perceived as cloudy or obscured because of the vast suffering, brokenness, and obvious lawlessness.

It’s when we ask the old timers, the pastors, the new believers, we see the calm assurance God is indeed for us.  Sometimes, we who have been walking with Jesus for a bit, get lost, discouraged, or tainted. 

Let us shout the battle cry, “Oh, that You would rend the heavens and come down!!!!”  And let us believe, without a shadow of doubt God will.  Even if it is not immediate, God does answer.  He does hear because He is not deaf.  He is not disinterested, He is not put off, He is not unapproachable.  He is for us. 

He is with us – because He did rend the heavens and walked here on this earth.  And when Jesus went to heaven, He left behind His Spirit for us to be filled with – filled to bursting.  Filled to overflowing.  Let us hold onto this and bask in His goodness.  Let us not lose hope.  Let us endure, abide, and remain in the everlasting arms of the Father.

PRAYER

Oh God, rip the heavens to come to this hurting, and sometimes stubborn, heart.  I need You.  I need to know You are in my neighborhood, in my life and that You are for me, concerned about my pain.  I need You.  I admit my wanderings and ask forgiveness.  I submit to You and Your hand of love.  I find my comfort and solace in You.  Thank You for being holy and calling me to holiness as You come down and actually call me higher.  AMEN