Oh Ariel
After some deliberation, consideration and meditation, I’ve been told to start todays piece with “I’m a sensitive person”. You’ll understand why.
A childhood friend from US is back on holiday and I had the pleasure of meeting with him for some local sweets at a neighborhood eatery. We got to catching up, and I started sharing how & why I’ve started this project, and that I’m already half way through and already physically and mentally drained from the late nights.
He responded by saying “Maybe you should skip a day”.
I responded with “I don’t think that is part of His plan”.
He looked at me and said “If you say so”.
I instantly played 21 question & answer rapid fire in my head. “Is he doubting me”, ”Does he not think I’m doing the right thing”, “Does he think I’m making this up”, “Perhaps he’s just worried about my health”, “Maybe he doesn’t like this new me”, “Is my breath ok?”….
He’s an academic in psychology and works in a Christian university, and I was hoping to have him on my side to help validate and perhaps contribute a hot topic that I might have some thoughts on. But he’s also here on holiday and just wants to relax. The old me would’ve continued thinking about that interaction throughout the day, but I managed to let it go. Progress.
The reason why I had to seek inspiration through deliberation, consideration and meditation for tonight’s piece is because when I was starting this project, I prayed for a sign and opened the Bible randomly, like plenty of Christians do, and I landed on Isaiah 29.
Yikes!, I thought after reading a few lines. A little too heavy for 3am and I went to sleep. I wanted a sign and I got a passage on the prophecy on the destruction of Jerusalem.
It’s a story of double meaning, from the very beginning, directed to both believers and Jerusalem. Ah Ariel, Ariel. The tone of disappointment by the prophet Isaiah. Despite foretelling disaster, Isaiah sweetens the blow through poetry. But it doesn’t get sweet till a little past halfway.
When I read it initially, all I could think of is my duality. How God will punish me for being hypocritical, physically and rationally, for being lazy, and how I’ve not been true to Him but clung to Him in the past. I wish I could control my mind, and I wish I could adhere to His Word and not be constantly repenting. The rapid fire questions kept coming as I tried to understand this chapter.
It’s very difficult to live as a Christian, I’m still not a true one, but I love the challenge thus far.
It is funny that even Jerusalem, known as “Lion of God” and “Hearth of God”, was brought to its knees by God. Kind of reminds you of nations that use God as their reasons for foreign interference doesn’t it? Was Isaiah 29 shown to me for this reason? I wonder. I hope ‘they’ will also receive the same deliverance God showed Jerusalem. It is because of ‘them’ I am doing what I’m trying to do.
Get Pee Dee is Imperfect’s stories in your inbox
Join Medium for free to get updates from this writer.
The part that spoke to me the most are verses 7-8. I’ve mentioned before how there is a possibility in the future that we may become backseat drivers of our bodies, through upcoming technologies like Neuralink and Organoid Intelligence. What I’m trying to do is the antithesis of it.
7* And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, all that fight against her and her stronghold and distress her, shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.
8* As when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he is eating and awakes with his hunger not satisfied, or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he is drinking and awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched, so shall the multitude of all the nations be that fight against Mount Zion.
9* Astonish yourselves and be astonished; blind yourselves and be blind! Be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not with strong drink!
10* For the Lord has poured out upon you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes (the prophets), and covered your heads (the seers).
I love an anime called Naruto and at the very end of it, the entire world is trapped in an illusion. It’s called the Infinite Tsukuyomi. It traps your mind in a dream state while something called the tree of life, saps your life force. Verses 7–8 reminded me of it.
Sorry Lord for likening your Word to an anime and telling the world about it. But at least now they know why Isaiah 29 is extra special to me.
Verse 9 tells you not to be ignorant or morally lost, and to never lose your spirituality with God. Basically a sarcastic don’t do list. Verse 10 mentions a spirit of deep sleep to all those who are too worldly and have debased God, actuated by God. Why? To wake people up to the Truth.
Just like present day Lebanon, who has been going through a spiritual awakening and perhaps this is the sign we need. Perhaps within desperate times, God is showing miracles are afoot, and all we need to do is look towards Him.
So now we’re left to look to God for counsel and guidance. We cannot depend on our own wisdom but solely rely on only His. The God of Abraham & Israel is real and there’s more than sufficient history to prove it right, even outside the Bible. I personally like archaeological evidence, find yours.
God also promises restoration and hope to His people. I joked with my friend today. I told him that all I want to try and do is postpose Jesus’ coming for a much later date. I told him “I just want Jesus to chill for a bit more”. And that is truly my intention.
The key take away for me to share today is this.
Isaiah 29:10 reveals that the spiritual apathy and confusion of Jerusalem are not accidental; they are a direct, judicial consequence from God, a “deep sleep” sent upon a people who refused to wake up to His truth.
So shall we wake up? I think it’s time.
Let us all stop being hypocrites and centre Him in our lives. I’m going to try my best. I am also very familiar with His punishment and would not want any more.
This is part of a series under “Project Kuchiku”, a project designed to help Fix the Future through Platform Building.
Please help this imperfect soul try to perfect this project by contributing $1/month here and share this idea of a better future with potential futurists. Arigato =)
