With the image of a forest fire, taking on a life of its own, Isaiah zeroed in on the specific behaviour of Israel’s leaders which made God so angry. While he had wanted them to live lives that would reflect his love to his people, they were utterly absorbed with their own comfort and luxury, passing laws to enrich themselves at the expense of the powerless – the poor, widows and fatherless, and oblivious to the disaster which was about to strike.