Isaiah 63:16 – “For you are our father, though Abraham does not know us and Israel does not recognize us. You, O Lord, are our father, our redeemer from of old is your name.” God stopped me as I read this verse. I’m not Jewish, and I don’t know about the rest of you non-Jewish believers but sometimes as I read the Bible I feel like I’m on the outside looking in. The stories of the patriarchs, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David and his mighty men, Daniel, and so many others that I read about and heard about in Bible classes are thrilling and exciting but it sometimes seems like God’s doing stuff for a whole different class of people than me. I didn’t see the Red Sea split, or the pillar of fire, or God appear on Mt. Sinai. I didn’t see David kill Goliath or witness what happened in the ... Read More about We are not God’s Stepchildren
When You Feel Forgotten, Remember Whose You Are
Isaiah 51:15-16 – “I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the Lord of hosts is his name. I have put my words in your mouth and covered you in the shadow of my hand, establishing the heavens and laying the foundations of the earth, and saying to Zion, ‘You are my people.’ A lot of the book of Isaiah is taken up with God exposing the wickedness of Israel and promising wrath and punishment. Chapter 51 is God’s future response to His people when they have finally turned back to Him (See Isaiah 51:1). God reminds them that He never left them. He’s still there…the same God. He reminds them of Abraham and Sarah, He reminds them of the Law He gave specifically to them, He reminds them of how He delivered them from slavery in Egypt. If you read the chapter carefully ... Read More about When You Feel Forgotten, Remember Whose You Are
What If You’re Hearing God… But Not Listening?
Isaiah 48:1 – “Hear this O house of Jacob, called by the name Israel, who came from the waters of Judah, who swear by the name of the Lord and confess the God of Israel, but not in truth or right. I think it’s interesting that God’s people are named Jacob, which means “supplanter, or to circumvent” and Israel, which means “one who wrestles with God”. Seeing the repeated failures of the Jews in the Old Testament, give those names deeper significance. But if we will be honest, those names would apply to “God’s people” today. We are often wrestling with God about His will for us. We are frequently trying to circumvent some humbling work of God in our lives. God’s way is the way of brokenness, submission, and humility. None of us would choose that path on our own. We prefer the way of ... Read More about What If You’re Hearing God… But Not Listening?
When You Have Nothing Left, God Still Has Strength
Isaiah 40: 30-31 – “Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young man shall fall exhausted; but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” The fortieth chapter of Isaiah marks a dramatic change in the prophets writings. Before this almost everything Isaiah says is declaring judgment and wrath on Israel and the surrounding nations because of their wickedness. It’s like God feels like they need a break, so to comfort the readers God prophecies the coming of John the Baptist as the forerunner of the Christ in verses 3-8. Then God spends the rest of the chapter declaring to the readers the most wonderful and beautiful thing He knows—Himself. God’s command is “Behold your God!” Stop what you’re doing and look at God! He has all power, but He is also tender and ... Read More about When You Have Nothing Left, God Still Has Strength
The Worship God Rejects… and the Worship That Changes Everything
Isaiah 29:13-14 – “And the Lord said: ‘Because this people draw ear with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men…the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.’” This passage is quoted by Jesus both in Matthew 15:8-9 and in Mark 7:6-7, where Jesus said people who match this description are practicing ‘vain worship’ that neither He nor the Father in heaven want. Anything that’s vain is self-focused, worthless and of no use to God. Both here in Isaiah and in Jesus’ day the ‘people of God’ had become vain in their worship. Isaiah also says that their fear of God isn’t real. What they call ‘the fear of God’ is just something they make themselves ... Read More about The Worship God Rejects… and the Worship That Changes Everything
The Voice You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Isaiah 28:23 – “Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech.” The first twenty-two verses of Isaiah chapter 28 is spent confessing the sins of God’s people. In verse five Isaiah prophecies that a day is coming when ‘The Lord of hosts will be a crown of glory, a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of His people’. That was what was supposed to be happening, but in verses1 through 4 we find that some of God’s ‘chosen people’ had given themselves to worldly pleasures instead of finding their glory and delight in God their Father. Their glory was in how much alcohol they could drink rather than in who God is and what He was saying to them. Their problem, and maybe ours, is that they aren’t listening to God. And when the word of God is read or spoken it is like hearing ... Read More about The Voice You Can’t Afford to Ignore