Isaiah 30 - Israel Rejected the Seers

In whose wisdom did the children of Israel trust? The children of Israel always seemed to go in cycles. They would trust the Lord and then quickly turn from Him. They trusted in the flesh and in their own abilities and strengths. Giving no thought to where such blessings came from. They were also very caught up in the evils of the world. Money, pleasure, and greed are just to name a few. They created their own gods. They believed in the Pharaoh and his ways over that which they had been taught.

Who were they rejecting? Anytime we rely on our own strength or that of the worlds, we reject the Father. We reject the very core of who we are as children of God and our Savior’s atonement. Particularly in this case they were rejecting the prophets and anyone the Lord would send to them.

Describe the attitude that permeated the children of Israel at this time. They were extremely prideful and stubborn.

What did the people mean when they told the prophets to speak “smooth things”? They wanted the prophets to tell that they what they were doing was just and right. They wanted to feel comforted in their sins and to believe that their actions had no consequence. They didn’t want to hear what they were doing wrong. They didn’t want to feel guilt or shame.

What do these verses teach us about accepting and following the words of prophets? I think this reminds us of the importance of the messages that are given to us from the prophets. These men are called by the Lord and stand in His place as if He were here. If we reject them we are rejecting the Lord.

What principles in these verses would you use to help a friend understand why he or she should follow the living prophet today? I often try and remind others that the prophets called are not called specifically for the Church but for the entire world. We are all God’s children and the Lord intends for all God’s children to hear and learn of the gospel so that we can accept or reject those teachings. The words spoken by the prophets are for our day. They teach us what we need to know for today, in companion to the scriptures and revelation previously given, along with personal revelation. The prophets are hear to help encourage, teach, and warn us so that we can be adequately prepared for the return of the Lord.