What would Jesus do?

I often read the bible and think about the obstinacy of the Lord’s people. They seem to continually make bonehead decisions.

How do the Hebrews see all of the plagues that befall Egypt & the mighty power to withdraw the water at the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, yet they, with the help of Aaron, build a golden calf to worship?

The same thing goes for priests, scribes, and Pharisees. These fellows are some truly hard cases. They see Jesus, heal all kinds of illnesses and raise folks from the grave, but then say, “Give us a sign that we might believe.”

Dah! Hello! Is anyone thinking?

I am sure that my perspective is skewed because of context, but still, it seems tough to understand.
But, what do you do with a situation such as the following?

Isaiah 20

20 In the year when King Sargon of Assyria captured the Philistine city of Ashdod, ² the Lord told Isaiah son of Amoz, “Take off all your clothes, including your sandals.” Isaiah did as he was told and walked around naked and barefoot.

³ Then the Lord said, “My servant Isaiah has been walking around naked and barefoot for the last three years. This is a sign—a symbol of the terrible troubles I will bring upon Egypt and Ethiopia. ⁴ For the king of Assyria will take away the Egyptians and Ethiopians as prisoners. He will make them walk naked and barefoot, both young and old, their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. ⁵ How dismayed will be the Philistines, who counted on the power of Ethiopia and boasted of their allies in Egypt! ⁶ They will say, ‘If this can happen to Egypt, what chance do we have? For we counted on Egypt to protect us from the king of Assyria.’ ”

Okay, now you get the picture. Isaiah is naked for three years.

How would I respond to this episode?

If your local “servant of God” or preacher were to pull a stunt like this how far do you think he would make it?

I don’t believe that too many folks in his congregation would follow him. But, what if they did? What then?

I pray for God to use me for Jesus’ glory. But, from where I’m sitting I can’t even imagine being called upon to do what Isaiah did.

God, ask me to do something that makes sense to me.

Give me a mission that won’t involve public humiliation.

Give me a mission that is logical and reasonable.

God, why don’t you let me ‘call the shots’ for a while, because the plan that you’ve laid out is not going to be easy?

Well what would Jesus do?

DSM