Finding God's Will

[Neto]

I sometimes find a PCB Extra Advertising Supplement (Plain Communities Business Exchange) in the trash at the PO, and the March issue has an article about making decisions according to God's will in it. (Choosing Wisely, by Aaron Troyer, a reprint from The TrailHead. - Never heard of it.)

Anyway, he quotes IS 30:21 (NKJV), and comments:

... I envision a shepherd walking behind me and whispering in my ear, "Turn to the right, turn to the left. STOP! Now go ahead!"

When I read that, I checked some other translations, because I would have taken that to refer to an injunction to Keep on the Straight and Narrow; in other words, the turning to the right or left are things to AVOID.

The NIV, NET, and some others are actually rather ambiguous, while the TEV, NCV, REB, & NRSV read like I had thought it was - a directive to not leave the true path. A translation resource created by Wycliffe Bible Translators (Translation Notes on Isaiah) gives three possible interpretations, the third which is like my own thinking. (As exegetical commentaries, these resources do not argue for any one interpretation, they just present the possible understandings.) I also looked at some other commentaries, and Young's Commentary on Isaiah also takes this third interpretation.

There are some other interesting comments Aaron Troyer makes in this short 2 page article, like

Young man, God does not have a specific marriage partner picked out for you.

I have probably said something similar, but I personally didn't consider anyone who was not aiming toward missionary work, and there was also an older girl in our youth group that felt a call to be a pastor's wife, and she broke off with a guy she had been special friends with for some years, because he did not intend to pursue the pastoral ministry. Of course I realize that in Amish-derived Mennonite groups no one is ever supposed to say that they have a call from God for the ministry - this is viewed with great suspicion of pride, and such a man will never be put in the lot. But the MB church, right from the first statement of faith, stated a recognition of these two ways in which God calls a man to ministry, through the lot, and through personal conviction. After all, Paul was chosen in this way, by a personal and fairly private call. ('Private' in that no one else understood what the voice said to him.)

Here I am already chasing other 'bunnies'.... Back to IS 30:21. How do you all understand this verse, in it's full context. (That's why I didn't quote the verse. Context, Context, Context.)

[MaxPC]

Excellent topic, Neto.
After reading the entire chapter, it is my understanding that verse 21 is a guide in how to listen to the direction of God. It is preceded by verses 12-15 that compare submission and obedience to God’s Will vs trying to force outcomes through one’s own will.

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,
“Because you despise this word,
and trust in oppression and perverseness,
and rely on them;
13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you
like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse,
whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant;
14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel
which is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a sherd is found
with which to take fire from the hearth,
or to dip up water out of the cistern.”
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

This chapter strikes me as one of the theological foundation stones for the practice of gelassenheit.

[Neto]

Excellent topic, Neto.
After reading the entire chapter, it is my understanding that verse 21 is a guide in how to listen to the direction of God. It is preceded by verses 12-15 that compare submission and obedience to God’s Will vs trying to force outcomes through one’s own will.

12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel,
“Because you despise this word,
and trust in oppression and perverseness,
and rely on them;
13 therefore this iniquity shall be to you
like a break in a high wall, bulging out, and about to collapse,
whose crash comes suddenly, in an instant;
14 and its breaking is like that of a potter’s vessel
which is smashed so ruthlessly
that among its fragments not a sherd is found
with which to take fire from the hearth,
or to dip up water out of the cistern.”
15 For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”

This chapter strikes me as one of the theological foundation stones for the practice of gelassenheit.

Question: Would you understand it to be referring to a specific direction of God for an individual's unique path, or is it talking about a universal instruction for all of God's people, to follow the moral law?
(For the sake of openness - no "trickery" - I understand it to be the latter.)

[MaxPC]

Question: Would you understand it to be referring to a specific direction of God for an individual's unique path, or is it talking about a universal instruction for all of God's people, to follow the moral law?
(For the sake of openness - no "trickery" - I understand it to be the latter.)

At the risk of sounding "vague" I have a view that it is "both/and".
My view is:
It is indeed instruction for all of God's people to follow the moral law.
It is also a guide to individuals, who, as members of God's people/disciples must function within that community of believers; to discern his unique and individual gifts that can help the body of Christ in the discipleship walk.

Example: You have a fellowship who seeks to bring Christ to a mission in a remote village. The team of missionaries may be comprised of a midwife; a language expert; and an agricultural specialist. The team discerns God's will for their fellowship; the individuals discern how they can best serve that will with their skill sets and gifts.

I hope that explanation is a bit clearer than mud but then my coffee has yet to activate my brain fully this morning.
YMMV.

[Sudsy]

My understanding of this verse has been that God will guide His people by His Spirit but we are to have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us. When we wander, as sheep are prone to do, the shepherd would guide them back unto the right track. And we should not be off going down a path of our own understandings but rather trust in God's direction in our lives. We are to acknowledge God as our guide, in the person of the Holy Spirit. I think this ties in well with Proverbs 3:5,6 - 'Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.' Straight in the sense that He will make plain the way we should go to not wander off into sin.

I believe this applies to every Christian but the direction we receive to get us back on that right path is personal. I might be attracted to things off the right path that is different from what is causing another believer to wander. The Holy Spirit within each believer is our guide to show us when we are wandering and to guide us back to the right path. The path of being guided and following the Holy Spirit's direction.

p.s. So, nice to have a topic actually about following Jesus.