11 reasons not to fear the Future

 Read Isaiah 43.

"Thus says the LORD."  Isaiah delivered God's messages primarily to the southern kingdom of Judah.  Increasingly, the warnings look beyond the Assyrian invasion to the Babylonian captivity.  The discipline of the nation was due to their sinful disobedience (vv.22-24).  But along with the predicted judgment came the promise of Israel being regathered, forgiven, and blessed.

The LORD wanted to remind them who He is, what He has done, and what He can do for them.  Twice in this chapter God said, "Fear not."  Here are the reasons why they did not need to fear the future.
1. I created you. (v.1a)
Man is not the result of some cosmic accident.  Creation is not just a Genesis issue.  God claims to have personally brought the universe and life into existence.  He is the Owner of all things (Psalm 24:1)

2. I formed you. (v.1b)
As a potter works the clay for His own design and purposes, so the LORD takes full responsibility for the shaping of this nation and its people.  The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesian 2:10, "We are his workmanship."

3. I redeemed you. (v.1c)
Literally, He bought them out of slavery.  This is an obvious reference to the Exodus.  At great cost, through the shedding of blood during the Passover, the people were freed.  "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" for us (1 Corinthians 5:7).

4. I called you. (v.1d)
In Genesis 12, God called Abraham and subsequently made an unconditional covenant with his descendants.  He called the nation out of Egypt.  This calling of God was in order for them to fulfill His plan.  They were on an assigned mission.

5. You are mine. (v.1e)
Now, they are twice His-by creation and by redemption.

6. I will be with you. (v.2a)
Though they will face difficult days ahead, God's presence will never leave them.  He is and will be right there with them all the way.  "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

7. I will protect you. (v.2b)
There is no need to feel overwhelmed or give up.  He will bring His people through the toughest of circumstances.

8. I am your Savior. (v.3)
The LORD claims exclusivity.  There is no other Savior.  The Apostle Peter proclaimed, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

9. I love you. (v.4)
The God of the Bible is not detached from His creation.  He is a loving God who desires a personal relationship with each of us.

10. I will provide for you. (vv.19-21)
He will make a way for His people when there does not seem to be a way.  He will take care of His own when no resources are in sight.

11. I am he who blots out your transgressions. (v.25)
His promise to forgive and "I will not remember your sins" does not mean God has a memory lapse.  But once we have confessed our sins and He has cleansed us, He will not bring up our past against us.

 

It is a great day for Singing!

 Read Isaiah 42.

The people of Israel, called "my servant" in verse 19, were to have shown the world what a nation under God looks like.  Their obedience to the LORD should have pointed others to Him.  They are His people by creation and covenant (vv.5-7).  That will not change.  However, two things will happen in response.  First, God will deal with their disobedience.  Second, He will send "my servant" (v.1), a person this time, to lead them and the entire world.

We could be at a loss as to this person's identity.  Some have tried to claim him as an historical leader who fulfilled this role.  However, Matthew 12:15-21 quotes these verses, stating that this is no one else but Jesus.  Notice that the details do not fit His earthly ministry 2000 years ago.  So, some try to spiritualize the passage by saying that Jesus is ruling the world from heaven.  But look closely at the details.

What will characterize this international servant-leader?  (vv.1-4)
1. He will be chosen by God.
This will not be a leader by human empowerment, but one sent from the Father on an earthly mission.  "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:14)

2. He will be a delight to the Father.
At the baptism of Jesus, the Father spoke for all to hear.  "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.'" (Mark 1:11)

3. The Spirit of God upon Him.
On one occasion in the synagogue, Jesus read aloud Isaiah 61:1-2: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me."  Then, He said, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

4. He will judge all nations.
This certainly has not taken place yet.  One day, the LORD will exercise His power of ownership over His creation.  See verses 13-17.  Some count God's patience as silence (v.14).  There is coming a rude awakening, especially for those who have put their trust elsewhere (v.17).

5. He will be quiet and gentle.
Isaiah wrote in 40:11, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd.”  Jesus said in John 10:11, "I am the good shepherd."

6. He will be faithful.
In the depiction of the returning Christ in Revelation 19:11, He is called "Faithful and True."

7. He will establish His rule on earth.
The Bible contains more prophecies concerning the second coming of Christ than His first coming.  Revelation 20:1-6 describes the fulfillment of Jesus earthly reign for 1,000 years prior to making a new heaven and a new earth in Revelation 21.

Jesus is coming!  With this hope of the future secured, the instruction in verse 10 is to "Sing to the LORD a new song."  Today is a great day to sing as we await His return.

 

5 statements from God that will sustain You

 Read Isaiah 41.

God is sovereignly in control of nations to do His will, whether they know it or not.  He declared in these opening verses that it was not merely the notions of a great power to invade and conquer.  The LORD "stirred" or raised them up to fulfill His purposes.

Though Israel often failed in their obedience, God said that He would remain faithful to them.  In verses 8-9, He chose them as His own and will "not cast you off."  Though enemies will continue to endeavor to annihilate the Jews, the LORD repeatedly states that all their foes "shall perish" and amount to nothing (vv.11-12).

How have the Jews survived since the time of Abraham?  How are they sustained to this day in their national lack of spiritual awakening and obedience to the LORD?  Even more, how do we survive our personal challenges?  The answer is in verse 10.

1. I am with you.
"Fear not" is not whistling in the dark with positive thoughts.  Our peace comes from knowing that God is personally present with us.  We do not walk through trials alone.  There is no greater Friend.

2. I am your God.
We may become discouraged when our faith in other things or other people have disappointed us.  But God is ever faithful.  The Hebrew word here is Elohim.  He is the supreme ruler and in full control.

3. I will strengthen you.
In a time of Paul's own sense on inability, Jesus spoke to him.  "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

4. I will help you.
Sometimes God resolves issues without us to demonstrate His power and control.  Most often, He wants to show His grace as He enables us to face difficulties.  There is an old saying, "If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it."

5. I will uphold you.
Imagine, the Almighty God of the universe personally supplies His power to us as we have need.  There are no better hands in which we could trust our lives.

God's character does not change.  He cares for His own.  He cares for us.

How big is your God?

 Read Isaiah 40.

After all the pronouncements of coming judgments, the book turns to themes of great encouragement.  Terrible days are ahead.  Assyria will return and put enormous pressure on Judah in every way.  Babylonia will rise as the world power, conquer Judah and take them away captive for 70 years.  But there is hope.

God warned the people through Moses in Deuteronomy 28 that if they did not obey Him they would lose the blessing of being on the land He had given to them.  The national punishment for their sin had come.  In His faithfulness the LORD sent His spokespersons, the prophets.  Those messengers were preaching like voices crying out in the wilderness (v.3).  The people lived in a spiritually dry place, not much growth, and only a few listening to what God had to say.

The message of hope is the King is coming!  Prepare for Him now.  As with all the Old Testament prophets, they often blended the two comings of the Messiah and could not see the time distance between them.  Isaiah described His coming in great glory.  But when Jesus came the first time, all the Gospel writers attributed this passage to John, the Baptist.  He was preparing the nation for the Suffering Savior whom Isaiah describes in chapter 53.

Despite the challenges and rough days they will be facing, the focus of this message is on who God is.  The key question in verses 18 and 25: "To whom then will you liken God...?"
1. He is King of Kings (v.10)
When Jesus returns, as depicted in Revelation 19, He will rule the entire world.

2. He is like a Shepherd. (v.11)
Jesus called Himself the Good Shepherd who cares, and even lays down His life, for His sheep.

3. He is all knowing. (vv.12-14)
There are five questions that have to do with the origins of knowledge and information.  The God of the Bible is the source of all wisdom and knowledge.

4. He is a living Being. (vv.19-20)
Following Christ is not a religion.  It is a relationship with a real Person.  Every religion is based upon a dead hero and/or a made up system of good works.  As an alternative, people worship inanimate objects of nature or idols crafted by humans.  Our Savior is alive!

5. He is the Creator of all things. (vv.21-26)
God is not an invention of man's ideas.  He not only owns the universe, but He superintends it as well.  Anyone reading this section would have known that the earth is not flat.

6. He is the eternal God. (vv.27-31)
With no beginning and no ending, the LORD is not a cultural whim or a belief of only a particular group. 
His endurance is unending.
His understanding is unsearchable.
His power is unlimited.
And, He freely offers His strength to us by His grace (v.31).

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." (v.8)

 

Guarding personal character when under Pressure

 Read Isaiah 39.

Under threat from the Assyrians, any words of kindness would have been more than welcomed by Hezekiah.  History reports that the King of Babylon rebelled against Sennacherib and was actually deposed by him.  With the stated pretense of checking on Hezekiah's health, the Babylonians may have been looking for an ally.  Flattered by such attention, Hezekiah wanted to impress these visitors.  It is obvious that instead of giving God the glory for all His blessings, Hezekiah took credit.  Whatever the motive of the Babylonians, they now knew of all Judah's treasures.

The LORD sent Isaiah to confront Hezekiah concerning his pride and lack of discernment.  Indeed, the Babylonians later overthrew Assyria and then returned to conquer Judah.  One cannot read Hezekiah's response to the prophecy without sensing his self-focus.  

1. Beware of flattery.
This is especially so when it comes from those whom you do not know.  Receive the kind words at surface value with a "thank you" and then move on.  The admitted downfall of so many well-known people came when they began believing the flattering words others were saying about them.

2. Beware of a lust for kindness.
When people are under great pressure or in pain, there can be a lustful longing for any encouragement from nearly any source.  The emotions desire a pleasurable escape, even if temporary.  The devil knows how to provide the wrong sort of such escapes.

3. Beware of a lack of discretion.
At all times, we need to guard our thoughts and our words.  We need God's wisdom to discern daily interactions with other people.  Being prudent and careful about our behaviors is an indication of personal character.

 

6 insights on praying through Pain

 Read Isaiah 38.

In what he felt was the "middle" of his life (v.10), good King Hezekiah became severely ill.  The LORD sent Isaiah to inform the king that he would die.  It is obvious from the king's prayer that this sickness was not because he had done anything wrong.  Indeed, with quite a degree of confidence he was able to say to God that he had been faithful (v.3).

God heard his prayer and extended the king's life for fifteen more years.  The prophecy came with a miraculous sign (vv.7-8).  As it turned out, this episode was a test of Hezekiah's faith.  How would he respond under this threat?  Would he blame God or thank God?  Would he curse or pray?  Hezekiah made an A on the test.

What do we learn from this story?
1. Not all sickness is the result of sin or wrongdoing.
This was a faithful, godly man.  Passing this personal, life-threatening stress prepared him to trust God even more during the national threat.  God's tests are designed to strengthen us spiritually.

2. All healing is temporal.
Sooner or later, everyone will die.  Even Lazarus died again.  Hezekiah's healing simply gave him fifteen more years to serve the nation in a time of great need.  God answered his prayer in order for the LORD to fulfill His plan.  God was not through with him.  With 15 years of added life, history records that Hezekiah died in 686 B.C.  That places this stressful time in 701 B.C., the same year the Assyrians invaded.

3. It was for his welfare.
In verse 17, Hezekiah could see how this turned out for his benefit.  The Apostle Paul wrote: "All things work together for good" (Romans 8:28), but we have to look for and trust God for the purpose in pain.  This is a difficult task when it does not make sense to us.  The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:71: "It was good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes."

4. It is the mercy of God that we do not receive what we deserve.
High stress causes all our impurities to rise to the surface.  The king was grateful in verse 17 that the LORD "cast all my sins behind your back."  Acknowledging one's sins and receiving God’s forgiveness helps us understand His compassion on us.  It is also the basis for us to understand the sin of others and our ability to forgive them.  Those who know the mercy of God become merciful people.

5. Trust God and take your medicine.
Isaiah came with a treatment for the boil that cured the illness.  This was not a lack of faith on Hezekiah's part but thankfully receiving God's provision for him.

6. There is a promise for every pain.
God gave Hezekiah two promises in verses 5 and 6.  His life was extended, and his people would be protected from this enemy.  How crucial it is for our well-being and spiritual growth to know the word of God!  His written promises sustain us, come what may.

 

Will you trust Him when things get Worse?

 Read Isaiah 37.

The Assyrians surrounded Jerusalem with an overwhelming show of force.  They not only demanded immediate surrender, but they mocked the LORD saying that trust in Him was vain.  King Hezekiah said, "This is a day of distress, or rebuke, and of disgrace" (v.3).

The test of faith was on.  The question: Whom do you trust?  Judah did not have the resources to fight and win.  God had promised to protect them.  He even said through Isaiah that the Assyrians would be defeated and go home.  How could that possibly happen?  There was no answer but to cast their total dependence on the faithful LORD who had promised.

What did Hezekiah do?
1. He asked for prayer. (v.4)
The king first turned to his number one prayer warrior to ask for God's help.

2. He sought godly counsel. (vv.5-7)
In those days, the word of God was delivered through the prophets.  Isaiah provided advice straight from the LORD.  First, "Do not be afraid."  Fear is the opposite of faith.  Confidence in God pleases Him.  Second, God has a plan to fulfill His promise.  Most often He uses us in His plan, but, as in this case, He does not need us.  He is in total control

After those two major steps in the process, things became worse!  That is not an uncommon experience.  We think if we pray and do what is right, everything will be fine.  The reality is that the test of our faith may become harder.  When God acts in an impossible situation no one else can take the credit.  It also provides an unprecedented opportunity for personal spiritual growth.

What did Hezekiah do when things got worse?
3. He "spread it out before the LORD." (v.14)
Having received Sennacherib's threatening letter, the king physically laid the letter down in front of him as he prayed for God to intervene.  The Assyrians' biggest mistake was to assume that the God of Israel was just like all the man-made gods of other nations.  This had become a spiritual war.  The motive of Hezekiah's prayer was "that the kingdoms of the earth may know that you alone are the LORD." (v.20)

In verse 28, God said He heard every word.  God saw the complacency of some toward Him and the outright rage of others.  185,000 Assyrian soldiers died without one arrow having been shot from Jerusalem.  Sennacherib went home in disgrace and was assassinated by his own sons.

This actual, historically verified account cannot be dismissed by any naysayer.  Our God is all-powerful.  Our God is faithful to fulfill His every word.  Do not be afraid.  Spread it out before the LORD in prayer and trust Him.