Chapter 40 of Isaiah has a lot to say about God as Ruler of all nations and the heavens! The image Isaiah is presenting is one of God who is the preeminent ruler of all creation whether He is acknowledged by the Israelites or even us. He is in control of all things showing His sovereignty. The Sovereignty of God is defined as: God is the one who is in control of all things. There is nothing outside of God’s wise control, even the exact time and place for each person to live. No one tells God what to do or how things are to happen. God plans are set by Him and no event, natural disaster, person, not even Satan can stop God’s plans. When God permits evil we can trust that He has planned to use it for our good and His glory. God planned the time for His son, Jesus, to come into the world and He determines when the time is right for Jesus to return. God will accomplish His plan because He alone has the power to do it.

Isaiah begins this portion of the Chapter 40 with a few rhetorical questions. He does not expect the people to answer Him but to know that the answers should be obvious to them. Isaiah 40:12-14 sets the stage for God’s comments about the earth, its rulers and inhabitants as they are seen by Him.

Who else has held the oceans in his hand?
    Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers?
Who else knows the weight of the earth
    or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?
¹³ Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord?
    Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
¹⁴ Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice?
    Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
    or show him the path of justice?

Isaiah 40:15 “No, for all the nations of the world
    are but a drop in the bucket.
They are nothing more
    than dust on the scales.
He picks up the whole earth
    as though it were a grain of sand. God’s answer to the questions is there is no one, no nation under heaven and on earth that can give Him advice, teach Him or show Him the pathway of justice.

Isaiah 40:17 “The nations of the world are worth nothing to him.
    In his eyes they count for less than nothing—
    mere emptiness and froth.” The nations of the world are temporary and their own splendor is limited.

Isaiah 40:40:22 “God sits above the circle of the earth.
    The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain
    and makes his tent from them.” God looks down from heaven over all His created beings and provides for them.

Isaiah 40:23 ““He judges the great people of the world
    and brings them all to nothing.” God can and will judge all people. Their own lofty purposes will count for nothing.

God concludes this reminder of who He is and who we are with 2 more questions in verses 25-26.

“To whom will you compare me?
    Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One. ²⁶ Look up into the heavens.
    Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another,
    calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength,
    not a single one is missing.

I love the conclusion God reaches. As we gaze at the stars in the heavens and look at the majestic beauty of God’s creation, we are faced with the realization that there has to be an all-powerful, sovereign God guiding all of this. Not man, his nations or governments can create and sustain the things of God. Today send a few minutes in prayer thanking God for who He is and the beauty and power of His creation. Be comforted that God is in control and we do not need to fear the governments of man as God is Sovereign and will bring about all things that are for our good and His glory! Praise God!

Linda