God’s Lessons are Eternally True

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Isaiah Chapters 1-35 are filled with chastisement from God over the sinfulness of Judah and the surrounding nations. In addition to warnings from God there are multiple prophesies about the coming Savior, Messiah, and reasons from God as to why the people should have Hope in Him, the Holy One of Israel. Chapters 36-39 provide an interlude and present us with current happenings in the life of Isaiah the prophet and the job God called him to do it is Isaiah in action so to speak. I love the story in Chapter 36 and 37 which focuses on King Hezekiah and the impending attack by Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. The story can also be found in 2 Kings 18 and 19.

The commander of the Assyrian army came to Jerusalem and delivered a message to King Hezekiah and his people. They spoke in the common language of the people so that all the citizens would be terrified and want King Hezekiah to succumb to their demands. The commander said it was futile to resist as the Assyrian army had not been beaten and had defeated all the neighboring countries. The Assyrian commander claimed they could not depend upon their God to rescue them. Isaiah 36:18 “Do not let Hezekiah mislead you when he says, ‘The Lord will deliver us.’ Have the gods of any nations ever delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? Eliakim, the palace administrator, returned to relay the message to King Hezekiah. When King Hezekiah heard the message, he tore his clothes in mourning and asked them to find Isaiah the prophet.

Isaiah 37:5-7 When King Hezekiah’s officials came to Isaiah, 6 Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword.’”

What lessons was God teaching them, and us too, in this situation? Here are a few I gleaned from this passage and God’s reply through Isaiah.

  • When you hear disparaging news, you need to give it to God as He does not want us to be fearful. He wants us to be confident in His ability to overcome obstacles in our life’s pathway. Turn to Him and do not succumb to your fears.
  • God has a plan for victory. Here, He shared it with King Hezekiah to help relieve his distress. God’s Words will soothe, comfort and assure us of God’s might and sovereignty.
  • God will fight our enemies and assures us that they will be dealt with as He deems appropriate.
  • God will defend His name for His name’s sake.
  • Faith in God’s ability, might, sovereignty and power will help us overcome our fear and trust in Him.

Where are you facing difficult circumstances that are threatening to overcome you? Take a lesson from King Hezekiah and ask God to intervene, trust in His response and let God deal with it. Know that God has a plan! All things work for believers for our good and His glory. Claim Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” All believers belong to Him and He is working for our good. We have to trust Him to work all things out.

God promises to fight for us, I claim Isaiah 49:25b “I will contend with those who contend with you,
    and your children I will save.” God has our back. Isaiah 49:16 “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.”

God has us surrounded and protected. Rest in John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

The Lord’s name is precious and He will defend His own name and His honor. Psalm 109:21 “But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.”

Jesus himself reminded us to have faith. Mark 11:22-23 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”

Which situation speaks to you today? Life is a constant battle but take heart Jesus tells us in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Linda

Don’t Let Old Woes be Your Downfall

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As we have seen, Chapters 1-39 have had a host of prophesies about the coming Messiah, Jesus and a serious list of grievance God had against His people Israel. They and the nations that surrounded them had committed a host of sins against God. Isaiah lists the grievances in the forms of Woe’s. Each of the woe’s are caused by their neglect of God’s ways and God Himself.

Here are a few examples of a few of the Woe’s pointed out by God through Isaiah:

Isaiah 10:1-2 Woe to those who make unjust laws,
    to those who issue oppressive decrees,
2 to deprive the poor of their rights
    and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people,
making widows their prey
    and robbing the fatherless. God is pointing out how they are making their lives miserable with unjust laws, oppressing people and not caring for the widows and orphans.

Isaiah 28:1 Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,
    to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,
set on the head of a fertile valley—
    to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine! God is telling them PRIDE is the root of their problems and their pride will lead them to destruction.

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
    who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
    and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
    or seek help from the Lord. God is pointing out that they are foolishly putting their trust in others and in the materials of war instead of putting their trust in Him.

How are you treating others? Jesus tells us how we are to relate to God and others. Matthew 7:11-13 puts it this way, “ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Luke 10:27 “He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” James points us to God’s point about the widows and orphans in James 1:27  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.“

What are you taking pride in? Proverbs has a lot to say about pride and its effects on our lives. 16:18 “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” 29:23 “Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.” Do you feel you are so self-sufficient that you can do it all yourself? Paul reminds us of how Jesus views self-sufficiency in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Where are you placing your trust? Psalm 31:14 “But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” Psalm 68:2“Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Romans 15:13 gives us the benefit of trusting in God, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.“

From age to age man’s nature does not change. Each person has to confront their own sin and be reconciled to God. God is always there waiting to receive us and be the answer to all our woes. Turn to Him and trust in Him for life.

Linda

Roots that Go Deep Connecting Us with Jesus

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In yesterday’s passage from Isaiah 10, we saw a promise God gave to His people that there would always be a remnant of believers. That is encouraging to us today, as we can be assured that the world will never be without believers. God wants His people in the world witnessing to Him and telling others. Specifically, God was sending a message to the people of Israel that whether they were the remnant after an invasion or after return from exile, there was hope. The hope He was sending would be the Messiah who would come from the line of King David. Since David’s father was named Jesse, this descendant is known as coming from the root of Jesse. Isaiah 11:1-5, 10 gives a beautiful picture of the coming Messiah, Jesus.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
    the Spirit of counsel and of might,
    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.

He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
    or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
    with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
    with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
    and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

In verse 1 it states this coming Messiah would be a descendant of David, shoot of Jesse. Matthew 1- 1″This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:,6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife,16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, and Mary was the mother of Jesus who is called the Messiah.”

The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him in verse 2 was fulfilled in Matthew 3:16 “ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” This is recorded in all 4 gospels. John 3:34 adds the extent of Jesus indwelling “34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.”

The Messiah, Jesus, would be full of understanding and power, verse 2. Luke 2:42, 46-47 “When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom.” 46 After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Hebrews 1:3 adds to this “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Messiah, Jesus, would judge the earth with righteousness, verses 3 & 4. John 5:27 “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” 2 Timothy 4:1,8 “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.” 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” This prophesy of Christ being the judge of all earth is still future to us and will be fulfilled when Christ returns.

Messiah, Jesus, would stand as a banner for all people, Jews and Gentiles, who would seek Him verse 10. John 12:20-21 “20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Romans 15:8-9 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
    I will sing the praises of your name.”

This is a beautiful portion of scripture that speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ when He was here on earth ministering and teaching and then later when He returns as judge and King. Seeing the prophesies fulfilled gives us assurance that all will be fulfilled in Him.

How can you apply this to yourself today? The ancient prophesies about Jesus add to our faith and give us hope and assurance that what God has foretold in His Word will indeed come to pass. It assures us that who Jesus said He was is true! It helps us know God as a promise keeping God who loves and cares for us. As we continue to see in Isaiah, Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

Linda

God Promises a Remnant

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Amidst all the turmoil for Israel foretold by Isaiah in chapter after chapter, God lists the sins of not only Israel but the nations around them and still God provides a note of hope. God tells Isaiah that there will be a remnant of His people that will remain or return. In Hezekiah’s day a small group remained faithful and survived the Assyrian invasion in 701 B.C. Later in exile with the Babylonians there was a remnant that would return as recorded in Nehemiah. God promises a remnant of the faithful believers will return to rebuild and from them will come the Messiah.

Isaiah 10: 20-23 In that day the remnant of Israel,
    the survivors of Jacob,
will no longer rely on him
    who struck them down
but will truly rely on the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel.
21 A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob
    will return to the Mighty God.
22 Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel,
    only a remnant will return.
Destruction has been decreed,
    overwhelming and righteous.
23 The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out
    the destruction decreed upon the whole land.

What does this hope mean for us today? As we look around, like the people of Isaiah’s day did, we see a world filled with corruption and evil. Yes, there is good too but sin is rampant and it seems that it has the upper hand. God was consoling Isarel, and us too, that no matter how it looks or seems, God is in control. He is sovereign and there will always be a remnant of believers that hold Him to be the Lord Almighty, the Holy One.

What is a remnant? As a seamstress, it is a piece of cloth left over. You cut the majority of the bolt of fabric for use and then what is left over is the remnant. It is just as beautiful and the whole piece of cloth, same width, and depth but just smaller in size. God promises there will always be believers no matter how small the group, they will be present. They will hold onto His light, His Word and His truths. They will walk with Him in His power. Paul gave an example in his letter to the Romans. He was speaking about the prophet Elijah and his complaint to God that there were not any believers left in Israel. Romans 11:2-6 “Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: 3 “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”? 4 And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” 5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6 And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.” There is always a remnant chosen by God, by His grace, to remain. Jesus spoke encouraging words in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Praise God! 1 John 4:4 “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

Take heart and put your trust in the Holy One of Israel who is Sovereign over all. The Lord Almighty will preserve us in Him. We are sealed by His Holy Spirit and belong to Him!

Linda

Rest in Him, this Second Sunday of Lent

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This week we have seen God at work in the lives of the ancient Israelites and prophecies that fully impact our every day lives in Jesus. This second Sunday of Lent meditate on who God said Jesus is and how He manifests himself in your life. I pray He is your refuge, your portion and your cup, the one who draws the lines of your life in pleasant places and the one who makes known to you the pathways of your life.

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, my God,
    for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
    apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
    or take up their names on my lips.

5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
    you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
    surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
    even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
    my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

May you rest secure in Him today.
Linda

Psalm 16:6 is one of my favorite verses. Enjoy!

He Is Who He Says He Is!

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Prophecies from Chapter 9 of Isaiah continue in verses 6-7. Let the beauty of God’s Word fill you as you read.

For to us a child is born, He (Messiah, Savior) will come as a child.
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be a king.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, He will be given glorious names.
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne He will reign on David’s throne.
    and over his kingdom, His will be a kingdom of peace.
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness He will reign with justice and righteousness.
    from that time on and forever. His is an eternal kingdom.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty The Lord will bring this about by His passion
    will accomplish this. and purpose.

All of the above prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus when He came to Earth. The culmination of His kingdom and reign will be fully accomplished when He returns. To increase your faith in who Jesus is, what He did and what He plans to do, let me give you some New Testament references that show the fulfillment of these prophesies.

Jesus was born as a child and was the son of God. Luke 1:35 “The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” Luke 2:6-7 “ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”

Jesus would be king. John 18:36 “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” Luke 1:32-33 “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

Jesus would be given glorious names. John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit—the Father will send Him in My name—will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.” Matthew 20:30 “Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Philippians 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus will reign on David’s throne. Revelation 22:16 ““I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Matthew 1:1 “This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham:…”

Jesus’ kingdom is one of peace. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Jesus will reign in justice and righteousness. Romans 3:22 “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,” Matthew 12:18 ““Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”

Jesus’ kingdom is eternal. Romans 5:8 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 2 Peter 2:10-11 “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” John 10:28 “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

The Lord will see that all is accomplished. Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Revelation 17:4 “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”

Wow! I don’t know if you are as blessed as I am reading through these scriptures. This just touches the surface of how Jesus fully fulfilled the will of the Father. He is who He says He is and will return. You can count on it as God keeps His Promises! Step out in faith today uplifted by God’s eternal promises fixed in Jesus our Savior.

Linda

Here is link to hear these words of prophecy as written in Handel’s Messiah. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/GfZqZlUN1qE

Light or Dark, Another Choice Jesus Gives

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A stunningly beautiful portion of scripture is before us in Chapter 9 of Isaiah. We’ll go thought it slowly so we can absorb and appreciate all God has for us. Isaiah speaks poetically about the coming Messiah giving wonderful insights into this Savior who is to come.

Isaiah 9:1-5

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory. The people in northern Israel from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali suffered greatly when the Assyrian attacked in 734-732 B.C. God is encouraging them that their time of suffering will not go on forever but will be followed by a time when God will bestow glory and honor on their region around Galilee. This of course refers to Jesus and his ministry centered in the region of Galilee and Capernaum where he spent a great deal of time ministering with his disciples.

2 The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine. They were a people in darkness and Jesus will be the great light that comes to live and walk among them! He will shine his light of salvation for both Jews and Gentiles. Praise God as we too benefit from that light given long ago.

3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
    and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest
    and like warriors dividing the plunder. The nation of believers will be multiplied by Jesus which it was when Jesus invited both Jews and Gentiles to be a part of the family of God.
4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery
    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
5 The boots of the warrior
    and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
    They will be fuel for the fire. God promised to break the yoke of slavery to sin and oppression. He gives victory so there is always hope in Him.

This prophecy of Messiah’s coming as a light to the world that would be centered in Galilee and Capernaum shows the specificity of God’s prophecies. He gave the where and what this message would be about. This prophecy in verse 1-2 is quoted again in Matthew 4:14-16. Matthew gives us the details in verse 13 of how Jesus came to that region. “Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— . The idea of Jesus being a light to and for mankind in relation to God was stated by John the Baptist in John 1:9 “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” Jesus confirmed he was the true light in John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Amazingly, God gave the place where Messiah’s ministry would be centered and the results of that ministry – bringing light to a people in darkness. Those who believe in Jesus are called out of darkness into His light. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” God also promised to break their yoke of slavery which He did by sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. Hebrews 10;10 “And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Jesus paid for our sins so we can live in His light. Paul puts it this way in Romans 10:10 “The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” These prophecies were given 600 years before Christ was born. God is amazing, Sovereign and Omniscient!

How does this speak to us today during this Lenten Season? We need to ask ourselves if we are availing ourselves of His light in our lives. Do we see His truth as light? Do we pursue His truth and light in His Word daily? God was specific about where Jesus’ ministry would be centered. Have you asked yourself where your ministry is centered? Do you purposefully seek to influence those around you for Jesus? Are you asking God to increase your area of influence? God has you where you are for a certain purpose. Don’t let it be wasted. Focus and be intentional about sharing Jesus with those around you. Lastly, keep repentance in mind as Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for our sin by dying on the cross. Am I taking advantage of the relationship Jesus made possible with God? How can I seek to deepen that relationship and make it more applicable to my every day life?

As you marvel at God’s intentional words included in Isaiah that were to give hope to the Jews and to us as well, let these facts grow your faith and trust in who God is, what He knows and what He does on your behalf.

Linda

God Gives Us Choices, Choose LIFE in Him

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As so often happens God gave Isaiah prophesies that ran one into another. Isaiah 8:11-13 pertains to King Ahaz and God desiring that they look to Him, trust in Him and not worry or fear their enemies. Isaiah 8:14-15 were about the coming Messiah. Verse 16 was addressed to Isaiah’s disciples or those who would take care of his teachings or would be preserving them so prophesy could be verified. Verses 17-18 were again referring to Messiah. Prophesy is complex but we have the benefit of seeing from the future and can see how these all played out.

In verses 14-15 we see opposition to the Messiah’s message. He will be a holy place;
    for both Israel and Judah he will be
a stone that causes people to stumble
    and a rock that makes them fall.
And for the people of Jerusalem he will be
    a trap and a snare.
15 Many of them will stumble;
    they will fall and be broken,
    they will be snared and captured.” The coming Messiah, Jesus, was/is to be the cornerstone of their lives and ours or He will be something they/we would stumble over. He is either the solution or the problem. The New Testament disciples saw Jesus as the foundation of their faith. Ephesians 2:19-20 “ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” Many of the Pharisees and other religious leaders opposed Jesus. They stumbled over His truth and light from God. Luke 11:53“When Jesus went outside, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to oppose him fiercely and to besiege him with questions,” Their opposition lead to his crucifixion and condemnation. They led the people to cry “Crucify Him” and demanded he be put to death. As Isaiah prophesied, this Jesus would be the solution to our sin and separation from God problem or He would be something we’d question, desire that he’d be gone from our lives or even wish Him into non-existence.

The next verse in this prophesy was aimed at those following Isaiah. Perhaps they were the recorders of the prophesy and he wanted to make sure they wrote it down so it could be authenticated when the events came to pass. He wanted God’s words affirmed as always true! Verse 16 “Bind up this testimony of warning and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.”

Verses 17-18 bring us back to Messiah. 17 I will wait for the Lord,  who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.
I will put my trust in him.” 18 Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. The author of Hebrews applied these verses to Messiah, Christ, in Hebrews 2:13 “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. “ Jesus was the ultimate example of trusting faith and that those who believed in Him were given to Him by the Father. He called them his children and his friends.

What do you take away from these verses?

** Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith and you have to chose to build upon Him and His truths or not.

**Many reject Jesus as the Son of God and stumble over His truth, love and redemption.

**God’s words to Isaiah were authenticated, showing God keeps His promises.

**Jesus is our prime example of trusting faith and those who follow Him are claimed by Him as His children and friends.

Which is it for you? Do you claim Jesus as the author and founder of your faith, the chief cornerstone upon which everything is built? Or do you deny He is God and ignore His teachings and truth? You can’t have it both ways. He is either a building block or untruth, lies and deceit. God created us with free will and leaves this crucial choice to us. We either choose life or death. Moses’ words from Deuteronomy 30:19 still ring true. “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

As we continue to see in Isaiah, Christ is the Holy one, the Only one, who can Save us.

Linda

No Fear, just Trust in Almighty God!

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Today’s passage is from Isaiah 8:11-13. God is giving words of warning and advice to King Ahaz through his prophet Isaiah.

11 This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:

12 “Do not call conspiracy
    everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
    and do not dread it.
13 The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
    he is the one you are to fear,
    he is the one you are to dread.

In this passage God is seeking to turn the king and his people to Himself. He is desiring that they see Him as the one to be feared and not the neighbors or the enemies that surround them. Their hope and salvation rests in the Lord Almighty. Here are some lessons and truths I gleaned from this passage about God that can and do apply to our lives:

*God wants me to rely on Him alone. No alliance or compromises are needed to defeat my enemies. God alone is sufficient.

*Knowing God, I do not need to fear the world and circumstances like non-believers do.

*God is holy.

*My reverence (fear) should be reserved for God alone.

*God will literally trip up my enemies and defeat them.

*God is my refuge.

Ask yourself today- do I see my circumstances through God or God through my circumstances? Do I believe Deuteronomy 31:6 wholeheartedly or not? “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Take a leap of faith today and seek to live by God’s Words to Isaiah. No fear allowed. Replace that fear with trust in God. He will not let you down and He will see you through.

Linda

Immanuel, God with Us!

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We learned that in Isaiah 7 the enemies of Judah were marching towards Jerusalem. Isaiah had prophesied before King Ahaz that the enemy would not be victorious. They were to stand firm in faith and believe and trust God for this victory. Isaiah then told Ahaz to ask God for a confirmation sign. Ahaz refused to ask God saying he did not want to test God. Isaiah chastized Ahaz for not wanting a word of prophecy from the Lord. This prophesy was meant to convince Ahaz that God could indeed rescue him from his enemies and to grow his faith. The prophesy is one of the major prophesies about Jesus and what would happen to Ahaz and Judah in their near future. Isaiah 7:14-17

14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’). 

This prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled in Matthew 1:20-23 which was given to Joseph.

 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’”

I was also fulfilled in Luke 1:26-31 which was given to Mary:

 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, 27 to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. 28 Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!” 29 Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. 30 “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favor with God! 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus.“

Scripture records the actual birth of Mary’s baby in Luke 2: 4-7 in the ‘Christmas Story’.

 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. 7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.

Isaiah’s prophecy contained both events near to their present time and one that would not occur for another 600 years! Prophecy is often given this way and time alone helps us to discern what is close and what is far away. However, whether it is near or far, all of it is absolutely true. Here is the remainder of the prophecy from verses 15-17 that tell of the coming destruction of the land by Israel’s enemies. This destruction of the kings mentioned was also foretold in Amos 1:3-5 and Jeramiah 7:15.

15 By the time this child is old enough to choose what is right and reject what is wrong, he will be eating yogurt and honey. 16 For before the child is that old, the lands of the two kings you fear so much will both be deserted. 17 “Then the Lord will bring things on you, your nation, and your family unlike anything since Israel broke away from Judah. He will bring the king of Assyria upon you!”

The prophecy that Isaiah gave from God about the coming Messiah was to bring hope to all Israelites. It was show that there would be a miraculous coming of ‘God with us’. This child would be a miracle of birth sent by God. Since the only God with us the Israelites were familiar with was God’s indwelling of the temple and the tabernacle before that, this would have been a gigantic revelation. It was to change the course of human history. Never before had God dwelt with his believers in bodily form. Ahaz did not want a sign from God but the sign God gave was definitely one we would not want to turn down. It was a sign that would change the course of history.

As I close this section of prophecy from Isaiah, I am blessed by God’s words of hope and deliverance that Messiah would bring. On this side of the cross, we see the effect Jesus had on humanity and how he was indeed God with us! My faith is strengthened in that God knew what his plan was to save all mankind through Jesus the Son and he gave us this prophecy to help us see that He is indeed Sovereign and Omniscient. He is the one that has a plan that will not be thwarted by the events of any age and His will will prevail. I pray that seeing the prophecy fulfilled from verse 14 increases your faith.

One other thought, Ahaz did not want a word from God for whatever reason. I can’t imagine anyone would not want to hear something from God. I had to ask myself though, am I listening to God and hearing His messages to me? Do I welcome His revelations? Do I treat God’s Word with reverence and respect? When I study and read God’s Word, am I looking for His messages to me? His whole book is a love story to me and for me, do I see that? May you look with fresh eyes as you read and study His Word during this Lenten Season.

Meditating on verse 14, may you welcome Jesus into your life today and let Him be ‘God with you’. You will be blessed.

Linda