“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
— Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)
We are living in a time when Isaiah’s warning echoes louder than ever. What was once shameful is now celebrated. What was once honored is now mocked. Truth is twisted, morality is blurred, and righteousness is ridiculed. The prophet Isaiah, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, warned of a day when people would reverse the definitions of good and evil — and that day is clearly upon us.
A Culture in Rebellion
Look around at the world today. Sins that once brought conviction now bring applause. Abortion is called “healthcare,” sexual immorality is called “love,” and godlessness is called “freedom.” Meanwhile, those who stand for biblical truth are labeled hateful, intolerant, or old-fashioned. Society has flipped the moral compass upside down, exchanging God’s standards for human opinions.
This is not new, but it is accelerating. Isaiah’s words were directed at the nation of Judah, which had turned its back on God’s law. Today, the same spirit of rebellion continues to deceive people into believing that sin is harmless, even virtuous. The lines between right and wrong have been deliberately blurred, and the world embraces the lie.
The Consequences of Inversion
Isaiah doesn’t simply say, “Watch out” — he says, “Woe.” This is a word of judgment, not just warning. To call evil good is not a small mistake. It invites the judgment of a holy God. When a society celebrates wickedness and suppresses truth, it is not progressing — it is decaying. Romans 1 tells us that when people reject God and worship the creation over the Creator, God gives them over to their own depraved minds (Romans 1:28).
Calling evil good is not only dishonest — it’s dangerous. It blinds people to their need for repentance. It dulls the conscience. It hardens the heart. And ultimately, it leads to destruction. What God calls sin, we cannot redefine. His truth is eternal.
Holding Fast to the Light
As believers, we are called to be salt and light in a world growing darker. We must not compromise. We must not remain silent. We must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), no matter how unpopular that truth may be.
Jesus said in John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” The world doesn’t reject truth because it isn’t clear — it rejects it because it conflicts with sinful desires. But we who have been redeemed are not to follow the world. We follow Christ, who is the Light of the world.
Final Thoughts
Isaiah 5:20 is more than a sobering verse — it is a spiritual mirror. It forces us to examine our culture, our churches, and our own hearts. Are we tolerating what God calls sin? Are we more influenced by the world’s standards or God’s Word?
Let us pray for discernment. Let us cling to the truth. And let us never be found among those who call evil good and good evil. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and in a time of moral confusion, we need that wisdom more than ever.
“Woe unto them…” is not just a phrase — it is a plea from heaven: return to the truth, before it’s too late.