Month: August 2019

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Seek God Early

Isaiah 55  The tenderness of Isaiah the prophet to his people rings forth in this passage. As they struggle between what is right and what is evil they need to have a fresh perspective on who God is and why they need to turn to Him. Isaiah says “seek the Lord while He may be found…” God reveals Himself to man but not always do they accept His presence. There is a warning here: God may not always be found. Beware of rejecting Him.

Jesus came as a babe and the world rejoiced but when He became a man and began to do miracles they asked: “We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where He is from.” [Jn 9] When He performed miracles they scoffed and refused to believe. But Jesus quietly refused to retaliate. He knew men’s hearts were hard and Isaiah saw this same hardness setting in so he warned them: seek God early, call unto Him while he is nearby.

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Where are you? Are you seeking God? He is waiting for you to call to Him that He may enter and abide with you. He is knocking at the door of your heart. He promises that if you hear his voice and open the door He will come in and abide with you.

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Every Parent’s Dream

Isaiah 54:13 is every parent’s dream.

“All your children will be followers of the Lord, and your children will enjoy great prosperity (peace)”

Parents bring children into this world amidst oohs and ahhs and oh how cute. But, then the reality hits, babies not only desire but command attention 24/7. They want to be fed, changed and loved. They need this to grow and feel secure. Isaiah writes this promise to Israel and it applies to us as well.

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But just because God puts a promise in His word does not negate our responsibility to help that child achieve that promise. Helping children to become Jesus’ follower’s or disciple means we as parents need to not just love them but teach them His Word and what it means to be a follower or a disciple. It means we teach them to obey us. We spend time reading and teaching God’s Word to them and model meditating and memorizing that Word as well. Deut 6 says to use every opportunity to teach and speak of God’s Word.  Just as Jesus’ earthly parents went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover we must take our children to church—not send them but go with them. We just choose to “raise them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” [Eph 6] If you dream that your child be a Christ-follower then you as the parent must hunger and thirst for His Word. (Matt 5)

God has given a promise; will we claim it?

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God is My Protector

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Isaiah 30, 43 to 45 Over and over God reminds his children, and in turn, us as well, that He alone is God. It is because He is God, He will and can protect us. Whether it is fire or water, God is there. The children of Israel, upon leaving Egypt saw the wall of water which protected them from the advancing army of the Egyptians.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were protected in the blazing furnace into which Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown. But, it isn’t just fire or water; wherever we are God is there and as Rahab came to understand He is “El Roi” the God who sees me. Each saw and experienced the loving hand of God protecting them in one way or another.

Has the enemy come to frighten you and to demoralize you? These examples should be in your memory arsenal as you remind him that the Holy One of Israel is by your side protecting you. You are never alone as you trod this earthly land; God is with you and He promises: you will hear a word spoken behind you; this is the way, walk in it, whether you are heading to the right or left. [Is 30:21]

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The Riches of God!

Isaiah 40 – 42  Job and Isaiah offer the same questions from God: Can anyone compare to Me? Does any idol resemble me in form or attributes? The answer should be a resounding NO! In fact, Paul wrote to the Romans: For since the creation of the world his invisible attributes – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, because they are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse.

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Therefore the obvious question laid at the feet of men is this: Why do you say that the Lord is unaware of what is happening to you, to the world? In fact, the psalmist wrote that when men question His authority He just laughs in disgust. Truly there is no idol or person that can equal or rival Him. One tried and was tossed from heaven!

That is why Isaiah’s words from the Holy One are so comforting: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you –yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!  And again in ch 42: I am the Lord! That is my name! I will not share my glory with anyone else, or the praise due me with idols.

God is the Holy One; for that give Him praise! He is due each and every word we can offer in praise and thanksgiving.

 

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Check-Mate

isaiah 36 37 ckmate2ajpgIsaiah 36-37 In the 30’s Al Capone ruled Chicago. He taunted those who did not want to pay him for protection and if they didn’t, he took note and sent his thugs to “take care of the problem.” Sennacherib was the Capone Hezekiah faced.  His thugs were Rabshakeh and his contingent. They mocked God and repeated “Capone/Sennacherib’s” words: “what is your source of confidence….in whom are you trusting.”  They surmised that Hezekiah would then be shaking in his boots and succumb to their threats. Hezekiah’s advisors Eliakim and Hilkiah indeed returned to Hezekiah with their clothes torn as a sign they were demoralized just as Rabshekah had hoped.  But, instead of compromising and yielding to their demands, as he had done before, Hezekiah took the letter with its demands to the Lord in the Temple. Isaiah the prophet told him because this time he sought God’s help,  He would bless him. God would put hooks in the jaws of this “Capone” and send him packing back to his home country but not before God would provide evidence that He alone was God.

God gave Hezekiah three principles that teach us truths about how to live in a “Capone” world. Vs 31: remain steadfast—Paul said much the same in 1Cor 15: 58. Secondly, take root where you are; Col 2:7 firm in your faith and thirdly bear fruit; Matt 3:8 that proves your repentance.

Checkmate: God will have the last move.

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