This morning I was looking randomly through my bible wondering what to read, and my eyes fell on this chapter of Isaiah. As I read, some sentences just stood out to me. (those in bold)
Isaiah 46
3 “Listen to me....................you whom I have upheld since your birth,
and have carried since you were born.
4 Even to your old age and grey hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
6 Some pour out gold from their bags
and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,
and they bow down and worship it.
7 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;
they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
From that spot it cannot move.
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;
it cannot save them from their troubles.
8 “Remember this, keep it in mind,
take it to heart, you rebels.
9 Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
10 I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My *purpose will stand, *(my bible says ‘councel’ Here)
and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfil my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
what I have planned, that I will do.
12 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,
you who are now far from my righteousness.
13 I am bringing my righteousness near,
it is not far away;
and my salvation will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,
my splendour to Israel.
Isaiah is talking to the Israelites who have been taken captive into Babylon. He is reminding them of their history with God and comforting them with God’s promise to crush all those who come against Israel, and to bring salvation to them.
It is amazing that even though the Israelites keep forgetting God, He never forgets them, nor his promise to look after them. (Exodus 6:7) He will Accomplish everything he has planned.
Revelations sets out everything that is going to happen and calls for us to be strong and stay faithful, because he will indeed accomplish his purposes. And, even though the times may be extremely difficult, as it was in Babylon, our God will sustain those who turn to him. It did only apply to the Jews, but since Jesus’ atonement for the sins of all, he has granted us the same Salvation. We are all part of his family if we choose to be.
This is how I understand my God.
Read for yourself, see what you think.
Notes:
Verses 6 & 7 warn about making gold & silver, (or money), their God, because in the end, it cannot save them. Only God can save them.
Verse 13 is talking about the one the Jews were waiting for, (Matthew 11:2-4), and is Jesus Christ. I think he is the Redeemer mentioned in chapter 47:4
* Purpose means; 1. The reason for which something is done or created, or for which something exists.
*Councel (Not to be confused with council) means; Advice, especially that given formally/A Lawyer conducting a case. (In other words, an adviser).