True Fasting

Isaiah chapter 58 speaks of God's people fasting. Fasting is a practice to which God calls His people from time to time. Most times it refers to abstaining from food for a time. It can be a time for seeking Him in prayer and Bible study as well. In this passage, however, it seems that God's people were not really attempting to draw near to God or to seek Him but to put on a show so He would reward their sacrifice. Verses1-3 say,“Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet.Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins. 2 For day after day they seek me out;they seem eager to know my ways,as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God.They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.‘Why have we fasted,’ they say‘and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves,and you have not noticed?’ The passage goes on to say that their fasting resulted in exploiting others and in strife. So what was the problem? Their focus was wrong. God calls His people to something much different. Verses 6-9 say,“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,and your healing will quickly appear;then your righteousness will go Before you,and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I." God calls His people to focus on others, to take their cross and follow Him, to be His ministers to a needy world. Then He is our sufficiency. It can be easy to just go through the motions of spiritual disciplines and expect that we are pleasing to Him but let's think about what He really calls us to do. There is great reward, the very presence of God.