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Isaiah 8 · a question people ask

"I will wait for the LORD, who hides his face from the house of Jacob" (8:17). Does God hide his face?

In the text

The verse says he does, and it doesn't stop there: the prophet will wait for him, "and I will look for him" (8:17) (tap wait). Isaiah speaks of the hidden face again. Once it gives the reason in the people: "your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear" (Isaiah 59:2). Once the LORD himself says it is for a moment: "In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you" (Isaiah 54:8). Moses had been told of such a day, "I will hide my face from them" (Deuteronomy 31:17). 8:17 itself gives no reason; it tells what the prophet will do. And Isaiah uses 8:17's verb wait of the LORD too: "Therefore the LORD will wait, that he may be gracious to you", and "Blessed are all those who wait for him" (Isaiah 30:18).

The verses

“I will wait for the LORD, who hides his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.”
Isaiah 8:17 · World English Bible
“But your iniquities have separated you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:2 · World English Bible
“In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says the LORD your Redeemer.”
Isaiah 54:8 · World English Bible
“Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall come on them; so that they will say in that day, ‘Haven’t these evils come on us because our God is not among us?’”
Deuteronomy 31:17 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Isaiah 8

Isaiah 8: A sanctuary and a stone

In Hebrew, 8:12's "threats" and 8:13's "fear" are one word: don't fear what this people fears; the LORD of Armies is your fear. And the stone both houses of Israel stumble over in 8:14 is the LORD himself, the same LORD who is a sanctuary.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions