A Prophetic Warning About Boredom

I didn't plan to write today, but God had other plans

“Why did I decide to read Isaiah straight through?!” I said to myself early this morning.

It’s been pages and pages of repetitive judgments against ancient cities for the last week. They really do seem completely irrelevant to life today.

Save for some Messianic prophecy sprinkled about, some poetic language that feels worth memorizing, Isaiah 13-27 is a tough read.

That was the posture of my heart this morning as I opened up to Isaiah 28.

In fact, I even said (out loud) — “Okay God, I’m going to go read another repetitive oracle now.”

I’m cringing because of what I’m about to tell you. But I said that OUT LOUD.

I began reading and when I came to verses 9 and 10.

To whom will he teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those who are weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is: ‘Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”

—Isaiah 28:9-10

I thought to myself, Oh this is nice. This is how the Lord reveals His word to us.

😂

Then I finished reading and started to do my ChatGPT questions and analysis. I focused in on verses 9-10 to see if there’s commentary on how this verse could be used to reveal how God teaches.

My exact comment to ChatGPT about this verse that stood out to me.

And Chat responds with the following:

It sounds like a wise, methodical way to learn. And many people today quote it that way.

But in context—it’s actually sarcasm. Isaiah is quoting the scoffers in Judah who criticize the Prophets.

“Ugh, all they ever say is the same stuff over and over… precept upon precept, line upon line, blah blah blah!”

They’re tired of hearing God’s word and find it boring.

At that moment, I felt the presence of God in the room so intensely I got out of my chair, closed my laptop, and went onto my knees on the floor.

All I whispered was, “Forgive me”. I had literally said the exact thing TO GOD about His word moments before and then right there, in Isaiah 28 - I found myself. Scoffing and bored at repetitive judgment language that felt totally irrelevant to me.

This is what He said back to me.*

*I’m open to being wrong, but this felt like a prophetic warning to me, but also to others.

“Julie, throughout all of history, the ancient prophets and leaders have LONGED to have the depth of revelation you have available to you now.

You have my Word, you have the Holy Spirit, you have the advantage of living in an age where much of My prophecy has been fulfilled. You have thousands of years of great thinkers and commentary. You have the Internet that has cataloged it all. And now you have a tool that can find, summarize, and analyze in seconds.

What took Bible scholars months of study is handed to you freely and abundantly.

You must be careful to guard your heart against boredom. Against taking for granted the depth and breadth of the revelation available to you at any time. Every single word I’ve spoken is Holy, True, and worth studying… no matter when it was spoken.

I have perfect timing and know exactly what you need when you need it. Do not scoff at what you cannot yet understand. I will show you in time.”

This word I heard brought both sharp rebuke and a sense of deep deep love.

To think… the God of the universe answered me mere moments after I spoke, even when I wasn’t expecting a response.

As I get ready to celebrate July 4th with family and friends, I keep hearing Luke 12:48 in my head.

“Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” - Luke 12:48 (ESV)

We are standing in a time period where we have more than all of history combined. It’s a sobering thought.