Isaiah – Page 12 – Be Still…

Isaiah 45:1-13 – Who God Empowers

When God wants something done, he knows exactly what he is looking for in the one he will equip. We can look back through Biblical history and find common, everyday people whom God chose for some focused purpose. Did they ever feel prepared? Probably not! Were they stronger with God? Absolutely!

In today’s reading, God’s chosen one is Cyrus, King of Persia. God knew well in advance who he would employ to bring his people back from exile in Babylon. Interesting to note, this is the only place in the Bible where a Gentile ruler is said to be “anointed.”

Isaiah 44:21-28 – Listen Up!

Read Isaiah 44:21-28

How does this passage start? With these words, “Pay attention O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel.” When God says, “pay attention,” that’s what I do. Even if the message isn’t directed at me, there is bound to be some juicy tidbit I can learn from or be inspired by. What comes next must be extremely important. God doesn’t want to be ignored. His message is to be heard.

Imagine if you were far from God. Life got in the way and you found yourself feeling alone and abandoned. Perhaps you were disillusioned because of what you were surrounded by. Perhaps you were enslaved to something, like work for instance. Does it seem like spending time with God is a distant memory?

Isaiah 44:6-20 – It’s Just a Piece of Wood!

Read Isaiah 44:6-20

When I read passages like this, I just want to scratch my head! I wonder to myself, “what are people thinking?” Then I remember not everyone has the same level of trust in God that I do. Sad as it is, it’s the truth. People are always looking for “things” outside themselves to help them feel good, feel complete.

We hear God say here, “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.” That seems straightforward to me. God was there at the beginning, and he will be there at the end. He is the only God to trust in during all the in between times. So why do we constantly look for help, comfort, instruction, safety, etc. in other places? God IS the real deal, and he’s all of those things!

Isaiah 44:1-5 – Abundance

Read Isaiah 44:1-5

What does abundance mean to you? Is it having more than you need or just enough? Where do you see abundance in your life?

In our reading today, God is assuring the people that he will provide for them. They will have what they need. “For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields.” If you’ve ever been extremely thirsty, like after running a race or when working in the hot sun, you know that sweet sensation that water passing your lips can bring. When your thirst is quenched, you’ve probably even exclaimed, “Ahhhhh!” Am I right?

Isaiah 43:14-28 – What a Relationship!

Read Isaiah 43:14-28

The same God who destroyed the Egyptians so his people could flee from their enslavement promises to cause the Babylonians to flee! This will allow a new generation to return home. It’s highly likely that even though the Israelites had been in captivity, the story of the exodus from Egypt would have been retold often. Just as likely the celebration of Passover would have continued in some fashion, probably in secret. When hearing these words then, the people would surely take note of Isaiah’s message from God!

And what does God say now? “But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.” I don’t think God meant for them to truly “forget.” His point was, “you haven’t seen anything yet!” We can all think of examples of where we have seen God at work in our lives. We simply need to think of Jesus. John 3:16 says, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God came to earth as one of us!