Chapter 40 of Isaiah has been a treasure trove of insights into the character of God. The last attribute of God is mentioned in several verses. God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 proclaims this fact about God, “ In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” God existed before anything was created and there was never a time when God did not exist. He existed before time. No one made God. God as creator made everything from the smallest particle to the expanse of the galaxy. All that we see and experience- the heavens, the angels, the whole spiritual realm, all earth what is inside and on it were made by God alone. Genesis tells us that God spoke things into existence. Genesis 1:3 “And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” By the power of His Word He created all things. God alone brought something out of nothing. He is an amazing God!
Isaiah wants to remind us of God’s power and His ability as Creator God.
Isaiah 40:22 “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.”
Isaiah 40:26 “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing.”
Isaiah 40:28 “Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.“
In each verse we see a tender aspect of Creator God. Isaiah 40:25 speaks of God stretching out the heavens like a covering to provide us a place to live. God created our home with us in mind. He knew what we needed- water, air, sunlight, shelter, means to grow food, places of beauty to take in his grandeur. I am reminded of the verse in Romans about everyone knowing that God exists because of His marvelous creation. Romans 1:19-20 “ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”
Isaiah 40:25 talks about the expanse of the heavens that is filled with stars. God named each one when He made them. He watches over all creation and no stars go missing just like no sheep go missing either. The good shepherd, Jesus will seek us out. John 10: 14-15 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Finally, Isaiah 40:28 explain the tirelessness of God. He never ceases to work for His creation. He has as long as it takes as He is eternal and filled with endless energy. His ways are beyond our understanding as His ways are not our ways. He is incomprehensible. There is no way we can totally understand our infinite God. Thank goodness, Jesus knew we would not be able to totally comprehend God so He made provision for us. John 1:18 “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.” John 14:7 “If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Knowing Jesus we can know the Father. Jesus will reveal the Father to us though the power of His Holy Spirit. Thank you Jesus.
What a wonderful picture Isaiah paints for us in Isaiah 40, a treasure to be cherished, studied, prayed over and praised!
Linda