July 12: Isaiah 40 and 41

Even as Assyria has subjected Israel to exile, and God reveals a Babylonian captivity for Judah, Isaiah receives visions of God's coming restoration, words that hold promise for a Messiah and a Kingdom founded in Him. The words in today's passage offer encouragement of God's transformative power, His sovereignty over all the earth and the affairs of men, and His intimacy with His beloved "friends."

-- God will redeem a fallen world through a Messiah. His presence on the earth will fundamentally change the world, bringing creation back to the order that God initially intended:
"Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged placed a plain.
And the glory of the LORD will be revealed
and all mankind together will see it.... "
　
We find the fulfillment of this passage in the prophetic word of John the Baptist and in Jesus Christ. Particularly in the Transfiguration, we see God's great and unfading glory revealed in Christ Himself -- a glory that would not dim, as it had with Moses (2 Corinthians 3:13-18).
　
-- God's amazing power sets Him apart. His creative power and sovereignty over the nations make the Lord worthy of all our honor and praise. He is sovereign over the affairs of men and all history. He has never ceded His power, though, in the present age, the Evil One does appear as the "prince" of this age. We have great confidence in the testimony of Scripture, however, that God's sovereign will involves the subduing of all evil under the dominion of Christ. His ways are unsearchable:
"Who has understood the mind of the LORD
or instructed him as his counselor?"
　
Yet, He is faithful to His promise:
"He who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing."
　
-- Believers have an amazing intimacy with their Father. Despite God's otherness, believers may have great intimacy with Him. He provides for His children:
"He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gnetly leads those that have young."
　
He will not abandon His children, but rather will renew their strength:
"Do you not know?
Have you not heart?
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.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."
　
-- God has chosen His people. Isaiah describes Israel's chosen status in 41:5-10. His words apply, by extension, to believers everywhere and at all times. God has chosen His people, just as He chose Jacob. The spiritual descendants of Abraham, God's "friend," will experience God's support:
" ... I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."