16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
If you were to ask people why they fast they would give you these implied reasons: I fast so that God will listen to my prayers. It is so I can seek out God. It is so we as a people might humble ourselves before God by not eating food so we can show our sincerity in our love, faith and worship to Him. It is to get God’s blessings.
In Matthew 6 Jesus is telling the disciples about how the hypocrites love to fast regularly. They paint themselves with pale paint and ashes and sackcloth so people will see how religious they appear before others. They look gaunt and thin to gain notice from others for their piety.
The deception of fasting is basically two fold. It is to get the attention of God to get my prayers answered or it is getting attention of other people so they will think we are righteous and holy. Take your pick. The problem with deception is that it also has some truth in it. It looks good, but in the further examination it is not. What looks good is seeking God. There is nothing wrong with seeking the face of God. What looks good is denying ourselves the physical food so we can concentrate on the spiritual food. Nothing wrong with that!
Most fasts include physical benefits. Apparently as we take in various toxins, processed foods, medicines and so forth, we hold a certain amount of poisons in our cells. When we fast many of those things are flushed out of our bodies. It does benefit us physically and can benefit us spiritually.
This is not the case with the Israelites in Isaiah 58. They were deceived in thinking that an outward ritual changes the mind of God who looks into the heart. We are deceiving ourselves by thinking that by fasting our church will be blessed simply because we do not eat certain foods or we spend more minutes in prayer if nothing changes within our hearts. What is deceiving is that we can go through religious exercise and not change our character, actions or spirit. It is a tool, not an end in and of itself. Take Marti Gras for instance. Before they begin to fast, their hearts are revealed for what they really are - extreme pleasure, eating, drinking, sex and nudity.
We are deceived if we think fasting can manipulate God. Israel was living wickedly. When they didn’t get answers to their prayers, they were angry with God. Instead of looking inward, they were looking upward with disdain.
We deceive ourselves if we think we are more spiritual or loved by God by fasting than those who do not. If
Fasting is meant to change our circumstances and to change us, not to change God! So, if we fast, knowing we have sin in our lives, we’re defeating the whole purpose.
Fasting does not inspire or provoke God to love you. It does not, in any way cause Him to love you in a greater way. Fasting doesn’t make God enjoy you anymore. God already enjoys you. He delights in you! In Zeph 3:17 God says that He exalts over us with shouts of joy!
Application: Click here to see what God says about fasting in Isaiah 58 NIV - True Fasting - “Shout it aloud, do - Bible Gateway
Prayer: Lord, I desire the fast You declare to walk out my faith in those ministries.
