Bottom line up front: The devil loves distraction.

The enemy of truth loves to distract people. That way, forces of evil more easily slither in to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). It’s easy to forget the most important truths. Therefore, let God’s people be those who remember accurately.

Historical context: I was studying Isaiah 22. It’s an “oracle” passage. Oracle in theological realms means a pronouncement/announcement from God. Today’s generation might think of computer software when they hear the term “oracle.” Readers may think of Delphi in Athens, Greece. But an oracle in Scripture denotes a pronouncement/announcement from God. Oracles divide into two types: oracles of weal/blessing and oracles of woe/judgment.

Isaiah 22 is an oracle concerning Jerusalem in the 700s B.C. Guess what it was about? You guessed it. The people had forgotten God. They suppressed the truth of God. They took the blessings of water and prosperity as evidence of their importance, their name, their abilities. But God spoke an oracle to call them not to be distracted by the trappings of perceived blessing. He called them via his oracle to remember the fount of all blessing: God.

The oracle reads this way: “You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him [God] who did it, or see him who planned it long ago” (Isaiah 22:11, ESV).

Encouragement/takeaway: It would be hard to think of a time when people can be so easily distracted. There’s seemingly no end to scrolling, memes, videos, etc. Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman remains a classic read for a reason. The devil loves distraction. Why? Because people can so easily default to self-worship, self-centeredness rather than the worship of God, God-centeredness, and selfless service.

God spoke via an oracle through his servant Isaiah to remind his people: Don’t fall for the distractions. Focus on God. Cut through the pretenders. Love good and hate evil. As Paul phrases it in the New Testament, “Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9b, ESV). Don’t fall for the distractions; discern the true and enduring.