Approaching Isaiah

In Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Alice finds herself coming to a crossroads with two paths before her, each stretching onward but in opposite directions. She is confronted by the Cheshire Cat, of whom she asks, “Which path shall I take?”

The cat answers: “That depends where you want to go. If you do not know where you want to go, it doesn’t really matter which path you take!”^{1  (Crossroads, President Thomas S. Monson, Liahonna, April, 2004)}

This quote has recently been one thread weaving around my mind in connection to this story:

“A young man came to Socrates one time and said, ‘Mr. Socrates, I have come 1,600 miles to talk to you about wisdom and learning.’ He said, ‘You are a man of wisdom and learning, … and I would like to have you teach me how to be a man of wisdom and learning.’ Socrates said, ‘Come follow me,’ and he led the way down to the seashore. They waded out into the water up to their waists, and then Socrates turned on his friend and held his head under the water. His friend struggled and kicked and bucked and tried to get away, but Socrates held him down. … And after this man had stopped struggling, Socrates laid him out on the bank to dry, and he went back to the market place.

“After the young man had dried out a little bit, he came back to Socrates to find the reason for this rather unusual behavior. Socrates said to him, ‘When your head was under the water what was the one thing you wanted more than anything else?’ And the man said, ‘More than anything else, I wanted air.’ Socrates said, ‘All right, when you want wisdom and learning like you wanted air, you won’t have to ask anybody to give it to you.’” (Elder Sterling W. Still,“The Five Fingers of Leadership Success,” in Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [9 Feb. 1965], 9).

What common thread made these two quotes weave together in my mind?  I think it is what author Steven Covey calls the 90/10 principle – that only 10% of how life unfolds for us is determined by things outside of our control.  The other 90% depends on what we decide to do with what we are given- our approach to surprises, thwarted plans, and difficulties.  I am not sure the percentages are exact, but I have seen study after study confirm the underlying principle.  (For example one released in 2010, which followed 60,000 Germans for 40 years and concluded that happiness came through consistently putting a high priority on relationships and altruistic goals.  Material wealth and ease of lifestyle did matter- those who put the highest priority on those goals were consistently unhappy. ( http://www.theage.com.au/lifestyle/life/happiness-is-a-matter-of-choice-study-finds-20101004-164b3.html))

But I digress, because the center thread to these weaving thoughts is, believe it or not, Isaiah.  Yes, Isaiah.  I recently had a chance to teach only two short lessons on the large block of Isaiah quoted in the Book of Mormon.  I had a wonderful time preparing, though I admit I knew much of what I was having fun doing would not make it into the Sunday discussion.  My husband came into the office one day as I was exploring and asked what I was doing.  I replied “Having fun with Isaiah. Want to join me?”  He left and a while later my son came in asking the same thing and receiving the same answer.  The looks on their faces were similar, and reminded me of a comment I once heard regarding Isaiah- that his writings were among the things the Lord was thinking of when he said we must “endure to the end.” 

At the time I heard that comment, I was comforted by it because I did find reading the words of Isaiah to be difficult and rather pointless.  But I obviously don’t feel that way anymore.  (In fact this post came about because my recent lesson preparation ignited within me a desire to study the whole Book of Isaiah again and that coincided with a dear friend letting me know she was beginning to focus her personal study around Isaiah- and so we decided to do it together, along with anyone who would like to join in-hint hint.) 

So how did I get from feeling the words of Isaiah were a difficult burden, to finding them an endless source of spiritual treasure I really enjoy exploring?   I don’t deny there was an investment of time and some research on the life and times of Isaiah involved, but I really don’t think either of those are the most important thing.  I think it is a gradual ongoing process that started when my approach to scripture study became, as I wrote here to envision (my)self first and foremost as a student, with complete confidence in (my) instructor, at the Savior's feet. Think about what a priceless treasure it is to have the opportunity to learn from the master of all creation, a Being of perfect eternal perspective, and a Being who infinitely treasures and loves you. Then open the scriptures daily, even if for only a few moments, and listen. It works.(Perspective, 10-14-09)

This brings me to the significant title the Lord uses for Himself in the opening words of the Book of Isaiah: The Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 1:4)  Nor is this an isolated occurrence.  That title is used 34 times in the Old Testament, 29 of which are found in the words of Isaiah.   And in the Book of Mormon, in the chapters of 1 and 2 Nephi where 19 chapters of Isaiah are quoted from- and we are offered key information for understanding those quotes-that title is used 38 times.  It was the Nephite prophets’ repeated emphasis that caused me to stop and ponder on it, and what I discovered felt like … well, “being encircled… in the arms of his love.” (2 Nephi 1:15)

I first reviewed in my mind what I knew of what the word “Israel” means.  Literally it means “One who prevails with God.”  It breaks down into two root words: “El”- Which means ‘strength’ or “mighty one” and in its proper form is a title for God; and “sar-ah”- which, yes, did become the name of Abraham’s wife, and does, in the feminine form mean “princess,” as in “one who rules ” or my favorite “one who ‘turns the head’ of others in a particular direction.” The same root is used in words meaning ‘’chastise” “correct” “instruct” ”taught” and “to bind.” 

As I thought about what the word means, I came to realize how significant it is to remember that before Israel was a nation, it was a name given by the Lord to an individual -an individual who was already a grandson of Abraham and heir to the birthright.  I used to wonder why Jacob was given that name instead of Abraham or Isaac.  To me, one reason is that he, in the midst of a very difficult time, outcast from his family, and uncertain of his future, went personally to the Lord.  Not because of who his biological father was, but because of his personal choice, he became individually what our Heavenly Father wants each of us to become- One who prevails (learns, grows, is instructed, strengthened and enabled) with and through the incomparable strength of the Lord.  If we leave Jacob/Israel and follow the term Israel through the scriptures we are taught that “in another sense Israel means the true believer in Christ, regardless of their lineage or geographical location.”(Bible Dictionary, p708)  In short, what I came to realize is that I am “Israel” on just as individual and personal basis as Jacob was Israel. 

This means that as I explore the words of Isaiah, I am hearing the Lord’s side of a very personal conversation with me, a latter-day Israel.   A conversation in which he identifies and addresses all the fears, concerns and desires that might “turn (my) head” in a direction that leads away from Him.  I can hear him clearly explaining the choices before me, and giving me insight into the eternal consequences of those choices. “Come” he invites “let us reason together that ye may understand.”  (Isaiah 1:18, D&C 50:10)  And through his reasoning with me, using the magnificent symbolic pictures given through Isaiah, I am beginning understand ever more deeply his infinite power, wisdom, love, strength, and above all, sacrifice for His children -for me.  How can I not love spending time in the words of Isaiah?