365 Reflections

Isaiah 41 ends with Isaiah asking (for the Lord) that the idols if Israel show themselves true by declaring what is to come.  Isaiah 41:22–23 (ESV)  Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. 23 Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. Idols fail us. That is the great lesson of the Bible. We make something created into something it cannot do. And when they fail, we suffer. So it should be no wonder that God has determined for Himself who will be the representation of His voice in the land. His chosen servant. Isaiah 42:1 (ESV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations. Then the text describes the servant God has chosen.  Isaiah 42:2 (ESV)...

Isaiah 41 is a chapter of grace. It reminds God's people that their God is in charge of the chaos around them. But there's an interesting word in verse 14 that Isaiah uses to refer to God's chosen people. See for yourself.  Isaiah 41:14 (ESV) Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. God calls them a worm. Now that's funny to me because this is not exactly one of the commonly used descriptors of God's people and yet it shows up elsewhere in scripture.  David in the Messianic Psalm says,  Psalm 22:6 (ESV) But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. What benefit do we gain by identifying ourselves as such lowly creatures? We get a true understanding of our powerlessness and our need for the all-powerful One.  Notice the NIV's second title given to the people of God in this verse: Isaiah 41:14 (NIV) Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little ...

Isaiah 41:1–4 (ESV) Listen to me in silence, O coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength; let them approach, then let them speak; let us together draw near for judgment. 2 Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step?  He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. 3 He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod. 4 Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he.  God is speaking and we need to listen in silence. What does He say here? He reminds Israel that everything that has happened on the international stage - even the things that have threatened them - have been orchestrated by Him all along.  You consider the Old Testament narrative of Israel in comparison to the legend stories of other cultures. Israel is portrayed in a most unflattering p...

We move on in Isaiah 40 to find more interesting aspects of God’s character that comfort us.  Isaiah 40:25-26 (ESV)  To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One. 26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing. For the second time in the chapter, God speaks of His creative power over all things. Remember earlier in the chapter, He spoke thus: Isaiah 40:21 (ESV) Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? After mocking the idol makers Isaiah reminds the people of God that their God is THE CREATOR of all things. He doesn’t create statues and minarets, He created all that has ever been. He established boundaries and names the stars. He makes sure everything is in its proper place.  That means...

If I was to ask you what about God you think brings comfort to your distress, what would your answer be? I’m guessing His love, compassion, grace, mercy and patience. But Isaiah shares with us something we would not normally expect as an aspect of Gods person that brings us comfort in Isaiah 40. ‭‭ Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭14‬ (‭ESV‬‬) “Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?” The characteristics here listed in Isaiah 40 are unexpected sources of our comfort. First, we know that God knows better than us. So we are comforted to know that what we don’t understand, He does. What we can’t comprehend or figure out, He already has mastered at every turn! The lives of God’s people are never without answers because the One with all of the answers is guiding them through all of life’s ups and downs.  Moving on… Isaiah 40:15-17 (ESV) Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and ar...

On the heels of Hezekiah's self-preservation moment in Isaiah 39, the whole book takes a decidedly positive turn. How can it be? Because when national leaders fail us and look out only for themselves, the selfless One enters the scene and reminds us once again that He is the truth KING we need. Isaiah 40:9 (ESV) Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Now verse 9 here is the concluding salvo to the opening of this incredible chapter and we should take time in it as many beautiful words from this chapter are often quoted but without context. God is reminding us to look at Him, not worldly leaders. And so the chapter opens with what comes with His presence. Isaiah 40:1–2 (ESV) Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she ...

One of the great sins in scripture that does not get a lot of press is the sin of caring only about your time and generation. The movement of Jesus is meant to pass on from one generation to another. Jesus only ministered for 3 years and left the movement in the hands of His disciples. We get only 6 chapters in before we see people other than the disciples ministering powerfully in Jesus' Name (See Stephen and Philip). We see Paul take the main stage in Acts 13 and we read the rest of the New Testament remembering how important those who came after him were important to him and the movement of Jesus. So when we read about what happens in Isaiah 39 when Babylon emissaries come to see Hezekiah, the event is particularly jawing in light of the rest of Scripture's record. This prayer-warrior king who was duly saved both professionally and personally through prayer seemed not to care when a Word from God revealed the dark future of those who would follow him.  Isaiah 39:1 (ESV) At t...

Isaiah 38:1 (ESV) In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him, and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: Set your house in order, for you shall die, you shall not recover.” The words, "in those days" remind us that as Hezekiah faced international threats from the Assyrians he was also facing personal threats against his health. When it rains it pours. And God's Word was simple, this is the end, get ready to die.  Could you imagine this position? Hezekiah could have a strong case for "Why me?" But the truth about life is that oftentimes, we are fighting more than one battle. In those seasons we may be tempted to think, "why pray" or "why me?" as it seems God is simply out to get us.  But Hezekiah prevails once more in prayer - this time for his own person. Isaiah 38:2–3 (ESV) Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 and said, “Please, O LORD, rememb...

Hezekiah models a wonderful prayer for us in the first part of Isiah 37. When the enemies came in with power and intimidation, Hezekiah laid it out before the Lord and called on the One he knew was really in charge of all things. The resultant words and events proved his prayer was on point.  Isaiah 37:21–22 (ESV) Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word that the LORD has spoken concerning him:... Notice the phrase from God. "Because you have prayed to me". Israel had begun to turn to Egypt for help. The temptation was to trust the powers of politics. But sometimes God lets the enemy do something we know our earthly ambitions have no power against and we are left with prayer. It is then we learn that prayer is what we should have been practicing all along. Let us note also that the WORD of the Lord comes after Isaiah prays! God is now...