White as Snow

Midweek Meditation with Pastor Edith
January 28, 2026
Isaiah 1:18

My journal reading for reflection today comes from the prophet Isaiah who was known to be the “Messianic Prophet”, Dr. Henry Halley writes; ”He believed that his nation would be a nation through whom one day a great and wonderful blessing would come from God to all nations, and he was continually dreaming of the day when that great and wonderful work would be done” (Halley’s Bible Handbook 1965 edition, pg.285). We now know that great and wonderful blessing is Jesus Christ our Savior, our Messiah.

Within the context of a time (700’s BC) the Assyrian army had destroyed the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and had invaded the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Halley explains; “The grand achievement of Isaiah’s life was the deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrians. It was through prayer, and by his advice to king Hezekiah, and by direct miraculous intervention of God that the Assyrian army was stopped before the walls of Jerusalem…the dread Assyrian tornado was drawing ever closer and closer, but it made no difference. On with the dance. The diseased nation, instead of cleansing itself only gave more meticulous attention to the camouflage of devotion to religious services…only genuine repentance and obedience would save them” (HBH pgs. 287-289).

After admonishing the people to “Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong” (Isaiah 1:16), we come to this wonderful invitation from the Lord; “Come now, let us settle the matter, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

My neighborhood is currently under a deep blanket of pure white snow. I can’t think that today’s journal reading, which was probably published quite a while ago, is no mistake. That I should see a visible and tangible witness of God’s washing everything white as snow, and now am reminded by the Prophet Isaiah that repentance is the way to the washing.

I know there are many people who need to know how much God loves them, and that they don’t have to be scared to come to Him in prayer and repentance, none of us need to be hesitant. I hear God speaking even now these same words; “Come now, let us settle the matter”. I have an old chorus in my mind and am singing it as I type it, I pray it encourages you as it does me; “Lord, lay some soul upon my heart and love that soul thro’ me; And may I always do my part to win that soul for Thee”.

AMEN and Pray on!