In our last visit we began looking at what Isaiah and Jesus had to say about fasting. God is concerned first with our heart attitude. God knows what prompts our decision to fast. He also knows our heart better than we know our own heart. Don’t try to impress Him or persuade Him by your fasting. Let your fast be a means of humbling yourself before God and letting Him know you are totally dependent on Him.
In Isaiah 58 the prophet castigates the Israelites for arrogantly questioning God. “Why have we fasted,” they say, “and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves and you have not noticed?” They were thinking that going through the ritual of fasting impresses God and fulfills their religious obligation before Him.
The reason Isaiah castigated the Israelites is stated clearly in verse 3, “Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please.” When you fast you should be concerned about what pleases God, not what pleases you.
While they fasted they were doing their own thing, exploiting their workers, quarreling and striking each other with wicked fists.” God doesn’t just see your fasting. He sees your behavior and the heart attitude that prompts your behavior. So Isaiah says, “You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high” (verse 4).
What God is looking for is a life of compassion for the hurting and underprivileged. He wants us to live righteously in all our dealings with others. If we fast as a way of humbly calling out to God to make us that kind of person God is pleased, and our fast will be effectual.
