Isaiah 1:18

NASB – “Come now, and let us debate your case,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.

NLT – “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.

VOICE – Come on now, let’s walk and talk; let’s work this out. Your wrongdoings are bloodred, But they can turn as white as snow. Your sins are red like crimson, But they can be made clean against like new wool.

Stains Become Pure

God encourages us to communicate and reconcile our behavior and relationships with Him. To “reason / settle / walk and talk” in Hebrew describes a legal argument or a call to settle a dispute. The invitation for repentance is unique, showing that God wants a relationship from us instead of judgment. Isaiah describes our sins as scarlet. In ancient times, scarlet dye came from the crushing of insects, showing how deep and intense the dye (our sin) would stain. The promise to turn this as “white as snow” shows us a complete purification and forgiveness. We would receive a fresh start, which can only be done through the cleansing power of God. Crimson was another descriptor of our sins, used to talk about the severity and visibility of our sins. Wool, like the snow, describes innocence and purity. 

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: The turning of our sin stains to a pure white being is a transformative image. Imagine trying to get something red out of white clothing, what do you feel in that process to try and make it clean and pure. 

Reason With God

God invites us to reason with Him. That sentence needs to be said again: God invites us to reason with Him. A lot of us were taught that if God says it, that settles it. God invites us to honest wrestling, even when our understandings differ from each other.. God wants us to communicate with him. A lot of people I know tend to process their actions, thoughts, and behaviors verbally. God wants us to verbally communicate with Him to help us turn back to God with honesty, humility, and changed direction, comprehend why our behaviors and mindsets were sinful, and how we can move forward. 

God’s anger is not endless; it is bound to true justice and open to mercy. God’s anger is temporary, much like our anger can be when people don’t listen to our instructions or commands. A lot of Christian leaders will use the parental image of God to comprehend His anger, but I am aware that some of our parent figures were not kind when they were angry. Overall, I want you to think about how you feel when someone that you love and care for deeply ignores your advice and teachings. I want you to think about how you feel when you see them doing what they think is right instead of truly listening to what you were trying to teach them. As a teacher of teens for a decent time, it was frustrating. I knew that I was not their parent nor guardian, but I was an adult that cared deeply about them. I shared from my own knowledge, wisdom and experience how to navigate the tough circumstances of life. I encouraged them in the ways that made sense based on what they had told me and everything like that, but at the end of the day – it’s their choice. Whether it worked out or didn’t – I couldn’t be angry. They had free will. I was frustrated. I was upset. However, I was willing to hear about their experiences and how they felt in those moments. To listen to their highs and lows, and reflect on everything that they experienced. Doing this helps them understand what went right, what went wrong, and how to best progress forward. God wants the same thing for us. He knows we have free will, for He gave it to us. However, there is a path that He wants us to follow. He will not force us now that path into a relationship with Him, because that is not love. He wants us to come willingly and boldly to Him in order to create a meaning and intentional relationship with Him. 

REFLECTION CHECKPOINT: Knowing that God wants us to discuss things with Him, how do you feel about communicating with God?