Based on Isaiah 3:8–11
In a world that often feels like it is stumbling in the dark, the ancient words of the prophet Isaiah ring with a startlingly modern relevance. We look around and see a culture where speech and actions frequently stand against God, where rebellion is not hidden but displayed with pride, and where the definitions of good and evil are often swapped.
Isaiah 3:8–11 paints a grim picture of a nation in collapse: “For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen.” Yet, sandwiched between pronouncements of judgment and doom, God inserts a powerful, specific message of hope for His people.
Understanding the “Woe”
To understand the brightness of the hope, we must first understand the darkness of the judgment. Isaiah chapters 3 through 5 are filled with the pronouncement of God’s wrath against wickedness. The prophet repeatedly uses the word “Woe.”
In our modern vernacular, we might see this as a simple warning, but scripturally, it is much heavier. In Hebrew (oy or hoy) and Greek (ouai), “woe” is an interjection of pain, horror, and deep, inconsolable suffering. When used by Isaiah, Jesus (Matthew 23), or in the apocalyptic visions of Revelation, it isn’t a suggestion to change; it is often a declaration that judgment is determined and final.
Isaiah 5 lists a litany of these woes against those who are greedy, those who call evil good and good evil, and those who are wise in their own eyes. The scripture makes it clear: the wicked bring these disasters upon themselves. As Isaiah 3:9 notes, “They display their sin like Sodom; they do not even conceal it… For they have done evil to themselves.”
The Message to the Righteous
However, amidst this thunderous judgment, God pauses to give the prophet a specific command regarding the faithful. Verse 10 says:
“Say to the righteous that it will go well for them, For they will eat the fruit of their actions.”
This is the main idea for every believer living in a chaotic world: God sends a message of assurance to the righteous who live in the midst of the wicked. Even when surrounded by “woes,” the believer is promised wellness.
What does it mean that “it will go well” for you?
1. Wellness in Isolation
You may feel like you stand alone. In a culture that celebrates what God calls sin, righteousness can feel isolating. You may feel like Noah building an ark while neighbors mock, or like Daniel praying while officials plot. But the promise holds true. God is a refuge. As Psalm 37:39–40 reminds us, the Lord rescues the righteous specifically because they take refuge in Him. You are never truly alone when God is your sanctuary.
2. Wellness in Opposition
Living righteously often places you at a disadvantage. You might be excluded, discriminated against, or pass up opportunities because you refuse to compromise your integrity. The world may laugh at a holy lifestyle. Yet, the scripture promises that your righteousness is actually for your ultimate good.
Psalm 37:37 urges us to “Observe the blameless person… for the person of peace will have a future.” While the wicked may seem to prosper momentarily, their future is being cut off. The righteous are being preserved for an inheritance that cannot be taken away.
3. Shining in the Darkness
The darker the night, the brighter the light. God promises that the righteousness of His people will eventually shine “as the noonday” (Psalm 37:6). Both Daniel and Jesus spoke of the end times—days of great tribulation and deception—where the distinction between the wicked and the righteous would become stark.
In Matthew 13:43, Jesus promises, “Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Your current faithfulness is preparing you for future glory.
Eating the Fruit of Your Actions
Isaiah 3:10 uses a fascinating metaphor: “For they will eat the fruit of their actions.”
Just as the wicked are punished by the “work of their hands” (v. 11), the righteous are sustained by their deeds. This relies on the unchangeable principle of sowing and reaping (Galatians 6:7–8). When you sow righteousness, you aren’t just following rules; you are planting a garden that will feed you in times of famine.
The “fruit” of righteousness includes:
- God’s Favor: The Lord surrounds the righteous with favor as with a shield (Psalm 5:12).
- God’s Sustenance: Even when the economy of the world fails, or “in the days of famine,” the righteous will have plenty because the Lord sustains them (Psalm 37:19).
- Peace: Isaiah 48:22 tells us, “There is no peace for the wicked.” They are like a tossing sea that cannot rest. The fruit of righteousness, however, is a peace that surpasses understanding.
Conclusion: Do Not Envy the Wicked
It is easy to look at the world—at the “heroes” of drinking, the corrupt who accept bribes, and the proud who call evil good—and feel envious of their apparent freedom and success.
But the Psalmist warns us: “Do not be envious of wrongdoers. For they will wither quickly like the grass” (Psalm 37:1–2).
If you are a believer, take heart. Get your acts right, because the fruit of those actions will be your bread in the coming days. Your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
And if you find yourself today on the side of the wicked, striving against God’s design, know that the “woe” is not a threat to be taken lightly. But there is still time. Repent, turn to the Lord, and join the righteous who will eat the good fruit of God’s grace.
