God Speaks
The LORD, the God of Israel, Declares His Superiority Over the “gods” of Wood, Stone or Precious Metals
Verse of the Day: But Israel will be saved by the LORD with everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting. For this is what the LORD says–He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited–He says: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:17-18 NIV 2011)
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Watch TBR Day 208
We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Isaiah 44-48:
1. What does this chapter tell me about God?
2. What does this chapter tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Isaiah 44
1. God chooses and provides for people who turn to Him in faith.
2. People who know, love, and obey the LORD (YHWH) will be witnesses that there is no other God but Him.
Isaiah 45
1. God says to Cyrus (who hadn’t even been born yet), “I am the LORD; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know Me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the LORD, am the one who does these things.”
2. At times God chooses people like Cyrus, who do not know or believe in Him, to accomplish His purposes.
Isaiah 46
1. God promises His chosen people, “I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born, I will be your God throughout your lifetime–until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
2. People worship heavy idols that weigh them down. God says, “Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together.”
Isaiah 47
1. God will deal with those who mistreat His people, those who proclaim, “Our Redeemer, whose name is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, is the Holy One of Israel.”
2. People like the Babylonians are merciless oppressors, having no regard for the needs of others or knowledge of God.
Isaiah 48
1. God is patient and kind, but He will not tolerate arrogance, pride, and rebellion in His people forever. For the sake of His own reputation and glory, He will use suffering to get them to repent.
2. God’s chosen people (Israel), are self-centered and haughty, thinking that God owes them because they follow the rituals He has prescribed; their heart is not in it. It’s only for show or out of habit or tradition.
Prayer:
3. How might I pray regarding Isaiah 44-48?
Dear LORD God, thank You for choosing me from the womb. Thank You for superintending me throughout my life. I do not need to be afraid of anything except for fearing (holding in extreme awe and wonder) You, LORD. Thank You that I belong to You. I will be Your witness to everyone around me. With the Holy Spirit’s help, I will cling to the Rock (Jesus) and tear down the idols I have depended on in the past. Help me to remember that I am Your servant; You are not mine. You formed me for Yourself just as You formed the heavens and the earth and all the creatures on the land, in the water and in the air. You have chosen me, just as You chose Cyrus before he was born, to carry out Your plans and purposes. LORD, please forgive me for quarreling with You over how You have made me (my mind and body). LORD Almighty, You have raised me up to walk in paths of righteousness and to set the captives free. You are calling Your people together to turn to You continually and be saved. Help us to recognize that You have carried us from before we were born and will sustain us when we are old and white-haired. No so called “god,” philosophy, ideology, human being, or group can save us from our many troubles–only You, LORD. There is no other Rescuer or Savior. Help us to truly listen to, trust and obey You, not just go through the motions that make us seem like we are, but not really doing it wholeheartedly. When we really do listen to and carry out Your commands, we will see righteousness rolling over us like waves in the ocean, and those who turn to You will be as numberless as the grains of sand in the whole world. As any good Father would, You will provide all that we need. Then we will gladly sing Your praises and bring You glory, LORD. AMEN.
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
4. What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Isaiah 44-48? With the help of God’s Holy Spirit:
- I will proclaim to anyone who will listen, “The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is my God and Father, Jesus is my Savior, and the Holy Spirit is my Helper.”
- I will thank the LORD that He is kind and patient but that He does not tolerate sin; He urges and enables me to repent and turn back to Him whenever I stray into sin and rebellion.
- I will ask the Holy Spirit to help me to search out and eliminate “idols” in my life.
- I will intentionally listen to and obey the LORD, demonstrating that I have a healthy, holy fear of Him.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.