Isaiah 24:17-20: Whoever flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit; whoever climbs out of t

Isaiah 24:17-20 New International Version 17 Terror and pit and snare await you, people of the earth. 18 Whoever flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit; whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare. The floodgates of the heavens are opened, the foundations of the earth shake. 19 The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is violently shaken. 20 The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls—never to rise again.

The Lord says “Terror and pit, and snare await you”. The Lord is speaking to the inhabitants of the earth during the time of His judgement upon the earth. The time of His mercy is now past and it is time for the full measure of His wrath to be poured out. This is known as the day of the Lord will God will rightly deal with the wickedness of man upon the earth.

Those who flee will flee at the sound of terror. Many in this generation think the concept of God is a foolish thing. They often look at the bible as a bunch of fairy tales that were created from the foolish mind of man. What they fail to understand is that the God of Heaven desires a relationship with Him. In their arrogance they reject Him and His ways. He desires to heal their brokenness and use their lives for His glory. But they reject it because they love this world more than they desire Him.

There will be no escape when the judgement of the Lord begins. The Lord says those who flee in terror will fall into a pit. those who climb out of the pit, will then be caught in a snare. There will be no escape. It is a picture of someone running from the judgement of God with terror filling their heart. They fall into a pit and believe once they have climbed out that they will indeed be safe. But there is no escape. The only way of escape is repentance and humbling oneself before the Living God. Now is the time of escape, but sadly so many reject God and His ways. May we diligently pray for the lost that their hearts and minds be open to the truth. May we diligently pray for our loved ones who do not know the Lord.

The floodgates of heaven being opened is a picture of the judgement of Noah’s day. When judgement came during Noah’s day the floodgates opened and the earth was completely flooded. It was God’s judgement poured out. God has promised never to flood the earth again with water, but as the Lord speaks of the flood gates being opened it speaks of the full measure of God’s wrath being poured out.

The judgement of God will be so powerful that the very foundations of the earth will shake. The Lord says the earth is broken up, it is split asunder, it is violently shaken. It is a picture of a mighty earthquake in which all that can be shaken, will be shaken. Man is nothing compared to the Living God. God in His grace and mercy has provided a way for our salvation. But when God rightly deals with the wickedness of man there will be no escape. It will not touch those who live upon the earth at this time, but it will touch all of creation itself. God is making it clear that there will be no place to run and no place to hide.

The picture of the earth reeling like a drunkard and swaying like a hut in the wind is a picture of the raw power of God touching all creation when judgement comes. We must remember that God’s power is without limit. There will come a day when God will make a new heaven and a new earth (Revelation 21). The earth as we know it will be completely destroyed. Whenever we face anything in this life and we feel overwhelmed we must turn our hearts to scripture. We must build our perspective and understanding on the truth of God’s word. Almighty God is awesome. There is nothing that compares to Him. Yes in this world we will have trouble, but we have nothing to fear because He has overcome the world.

The Lord says so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls, never to rise again. The judgement of God has come because of the wickedness of man. A person reaps what they sow. When humanity becomes engrossed in wickedness and sin the only rightful action by God is to bring correction. The judgement of God is a picture of God’s correction. It is actually driven by His love. To allow humanity to continue in blatant and unrestrained sin would simply lead to its utter destruction. But God always allows things to a measure only He knows and understands. When it reaches that point is when judgement shall come.

But the call to repentance and the message of God’s mercy is always presented before the Lord moves in judgement and correction. But those who reject His word and reject His drawing will in the end bring the judgement of God upon themselves. The key in our relationship with Almighty God is simply surrender. Surrendering all that we are to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Choosing to live for Him and not for ourselves.