God's Chosen Fast

"Hunger strikes" can be employed as non-violent protests to raise awareness of perceived injustice or as a means to achieve a desired purpose.  Youth at our church have participated in World Vision's "40-hour Famine" to raise funds for the hungry or displaced refugees.  Those who deny themselves food or the convenience of furniture or technology for 40 hours receive funds from willing supporters to pass on to people in need.  It is good to bring awareness to the needs of others, but we too can have pressing needs which seem unmet - despite or best efforts or sacrifices.

Based upon Isaiah 58, it seems the children of Israel made fasting and wearing sackcloth a practice as they sought God.  They thrived on seeking after God by observing His ordinances.  But after afflicting themselves - kind of like people on a hunger strike - it didn't seem like God was listening to their prayers.  They weren't receiving the response or reward they felt their sacrifices warranted.  So they ramped up the duration and intensity of their fasts, almost like the prophets of Ba'al who cried out louder the longer their god remained silent.  Then suddenly, above the din of man's misguided expectations and zeal, the God of heaven spoke to His people:

"Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? ⁶ "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? ⁷ Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? ⁸ Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. ⁹ Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, ¹⁰ if you extend your soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul, then your light shall dawn in the darkness, and your darkness shall be as the noonday. ¹¹ The LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and strengthen your bones; you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:5-11)

God questioned the people concerning their self-imposed fasts.  They fasted from eating food He had provided them when they would have been better served fasting from their sin.  What were they doing with the food they weren't eating?  What about the clothes they had laid aside to wear scratchy sackcloth?  Were they giving their extra food and clothes to people in need or just hoarding it for themselves?  They put themselves under bondage to fast and afflict themselves to gain God's favour when they should have released the oppressed and broken the heavy yoke of slavery.  God saw everything His people did and said and He saw the motives of their heart.  If they would put as much effort into speaking truth and extending grace to others rather than accusing fingers as they did in their observance of traditions and law, they would be better served - because then they would actually be serving God, not themselves.

See the promises and gracious rewards God gladly offered to those who trust and obey Him, not looking to their own works to justify them before God!  Light would shine in their darkness and healing would come speedily.  Righteousness would go before them and God's glory would be their rear guard.  God would answer their cry - not because of their self-imposed affliction - but because they honoured Him by doing good.  They would be guided, guarded, and satisfied with good things even in difficult and dry times.  God has Living Water for all who repent and trust in Jesus.  He has promises for us by grace which are far greater than the Law could ever supply.  Let us remember the fast God has chosen:  to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo heavy burdens, to release the oppressed, and break every yoke.