How often do we point the finger and place the blame on others for the situations that arise in our lives? Yet every struggle and challenge we face in life always provides an opportunity to reflect and look inward at what we have done. Perhaps we ourselves play a significant role in the problems that arise. 

This is precisely what happened to Judah. They felt that amidst the hardships and difficulties they were facing, They felt that God’s hand was not long enough to reach them and that God’s ear could not hear Judah’s cries for help. It was then that Isaiah called on the people to look back at their own actions. It was precisely their wicked deeds and sins that caused all this to happen, so that they were unable to see God’s grace. “Their feet are swift to do evil; they hasten to shed the blood of the innocent,” thus the sins and transgressions of Judah are made clear. In contrast to God’s plan, which is goodness and peace, their plan is wickedness and destruction. Truth, goodness and justice are virtues that are entirely absent in Judah. 

However, what has happened to Judah is not the final word. There is always room for change and improvement. It all begins with the realisation that we must repent and turn back to God. When that happens, God will make Judah a source of eternal pride and joy for generations to come (v. 15). Restoration takes place and begins with ourselves, pushing the boundaries of change and transformation. Therefore, when problems and challenges arise, let us begin by taking a moment to reflect on our lives and start doing good things to make amends for the mistakes we have made.