Observations: 46:1,8 Bel and Nebo are the Babylonian gods without power who couldn't prevent the delivery of "their" people to Cyrus, God's servant. Unlike God who still carries His people, Israel.
46:9,12 Over and over again in this section of Isaiah, God says
that He knows what will happen in the future, "declaring the end from the beginning of time". God is far outside of time, and knows everything that happens at once. He reveals it to His prophets and people. The prophets can see some things from God's perspective, as they will happen in the future. God also has purposed certain things to occur, and brings them to fruition. In His sovereignty, He has set the rules in and of His universe (including giving man and woman a free will), and has determined that particular events will occur according to His timetable (such as the interval from the decree of Cyrus to the entrance of the Messiah to Jerusalem Daniel 9:25). Other times, God waits to be gracious based upon His people turning back to Him, or patiently hold off judgment based upon our repentance or exercises it determined upon our unwillingness to obey Him. To miss the distinction between God's determined and permissive will or desire, is to misinterpret Scripture.
Reflection: Since God does all things according to and for His pleasure, we should too.
Observations: 47:1-6 God will humble the Babylonians, into their hands He delivered disobedient Israel/Judah, because of their poor treatment of them. Since they showed Israel no mercy at all, the God of Israel will not show them any either.
47:7-15 Since Babylon showed "god-like" self-sufficiency and pride, God will bring them to their knees in desolation and destruction. All that they trusted in, their wisdom and wickedness, and wizards, and sorcery will be unable to save them.
Reflection: Those who trust in themselves will be put to shame.
Observations: 48:1-2 God calls Israel to account for calling themselves His people but not in truth nor righteousness (Ex 20:7 Taking the name of the Lord in vain). Being His people and swearing by His name should have resulted in them obeying Him and showing His righteousness.
48:3-6 God again shows that He's telling them that He is the one who will rescue them (and restore them to a rightful position), so that when it happens, they can't say it was due to their dumb idols.
Reflection: If you call yourself by God's name, or call upon His name, make sure your life reflects His will.
God reveals Himself as the Creator of everything. God has a plan for His people. He is incomparable to all, knowing and directing the future, raising up and putting down kings and many nations. He redeems and restores His people with an amazing salvation, calling Himself not only the God of Israel, but their Savior.
Our suborn self-sufficiency makes us miss out on God's provisions of us, and marks us out for discipline when needed. We tend to lose sight of the fact that God blesses us for His glory's, not our self-indulgence. We also forget that God knows, and has revealed the future, and that pleasing Him is the best way to enjoy it.
Chuck Goulart
President
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203-943-0961
"Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes."
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