Isaiah 1:11 and the Flying Shoes

“As I slept last night, I was given a vision in bright bold letters that read, “Isaiah 1:11”. Next, I saw a pair of shoes stored in a wooden box. The box was about 24 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and 18 inches long. A voice in the dream explained that when someone put the shoes on, they are given the ability to fly. After every flight, the shoes had to be recharged by putting them back in the box. Strangely, the box was filled with ash. There was something special about this ash that gave the shoes their power. The words “righteous indignation” rang in my ears throughout the night.” Rimmel

Isaiah 1:11 reads, “The multitude of your sacrifices—what are they to me?” says the Lord. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.” (NIV)

Clearly this is God’s righteous indignation toward Israel, just like Jesus’ righteous indignation when He turned the money tables over in the temple. The nation of Israel approached the sacrifices as something they just did because of ritual and tradition. It had become a habit, not a heart position. They were just going through the motions to appease God so He wouldn’t smite them. Not only was Israel a sinful nation as a whole, but their corruption ran deep, especially in their judicial system (sounding familiar?). Israel had digressed into a sickened people. They were weak, soft, and desperate need of a cure. God was not pleased with their actions. They were making dutiful sacrifices while remaining equally dutiful to their sins.

Isaiah gets their attention with strong language from God; he addresses them not as Israel but as Sodom and Gomorrah! If God addressed my heart as Sodom and Gomorrah…well…YIKES.

Through Isaiah, God tells the people their sacrifices are no good without a repentant heart and a will to turn away from evil. Their sacrifices were nothing more than wasted energy, a bunch of burned up, meaningless matter. God was willing and able to provide them victory over their enemies and protect their land, but it wasn’t their sacrifices that would move Him; it was the condition of their hearts.

When you read the full chapter of Isaiah 1, you learn the nation looked very much like the church today. We have rebellious kings and their princes who claim to be part of the body of Christ but make friends of thieves to abuse power and wealth (Isaiah 1:23). Unjust inflation is on nearly every good that is bought and sold. The nation of Israel was suffering from a similar problem; their silver had become worthless, and their wine was watered down prior to sale at market (Isaiah 1:22).

Is our US Dollar any different today?

God promised to restore Israel’s judges and counsellors just as in their days of old (Isaiah 1:26). Like Israel, the corruption in our judicial system runs DEEP. People committing violent crimes get away with a hand slap or by cutting a deal, while others who committed non-violent offenses are indefinitely held in prison without the right to legal counsel.

“Israel is an exact representation of what a nation in a moral freefall looks like, and we are no different. We go to church and sing our songs, but we don’t seek transformation. We place some money in the offering bucket just to check it off the “spiritual to-do” list. We drown our faith with the newest TV show while our children wonder aimlessly. I could go on, but the point is this: is the church today so different from the people of Israel?” Rimmel

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That’s a good thing.

Our today is the same as Israel’s yesterday. That’s a bad thing.

We are facing a moment of decision: we can make a course correction and receive the promises God gave to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and realize our traditions will do no good in this hour. What will do us good is a repentant heart and a will to understand the God of the Bible, because clearly, we aren’t getting Him. The result of our humility (teachable spirit) will be the victory the church desperately needs. 

What does any of this have to do with flying shoes that are recharged by ashes? We are so glad you asked. ;) Sacrifices do not empower Believers, just as they did not empower Israel. Sacrifices have no power to force the hand of God to move on our behalf. God was, and is, in no need of our sacrifices or traditions. The sacrifices were made to benefit the one bringing the offering, not the other way around. The one bringing the sacrifice needed a regular and tangible reminder that it was not their own power, might, or strength that would save them.

Ashes symbolize death and repentance. Ashes serve as a reminder of Christ’s death and our subsequent death of the old nature with Him. Our fuel, the thing that makes us soar, is Christ in us, the hope of glory. Our bodies were made from the dust (Genesis 3:19) but because of Jesus, we no longer return to dust. Dust (death) has been conquered and has become the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven for us. Talk about leveraging the enemy!

We have leverage over the evil in our lives and our nation, if we are willing to remember Who gave us that leverage and if we will regularly recharge ourselves with reminders of the reality of Christ in us, the hope of glory.