God's plan revealled!!!

In 700 years...I cannot finish that sentence, for I haven't a clue what the future holds. God knows and reveals it to us. He gave the prophecy to Isaiah 700 years before Jesus' earthly ministry, yet, if you read ch 53, you'd think it was first hand observation at the foot of the cross. I don't know how people misunderstand ch53v8. This is how God reconciled man to Himself! The Jews were given this solution 700 years in advance! We have this solution completed today! How do we use it? How do we rejoice in the victory? Ch55v8-9 sum up our understanding of God. His was are different from ours. We want power, might and decisive victory! That is exactly what Jesus did. But we fail to see it. What power it must have taken to absorb those nail blows and not strike back. More than i have...

God sees the heart!

Did ya miss me? I've been struggling through Isaiah, today reading ch 49-51. It is amazing to me how Isaiah wrote about things 500 to 600 years before they took place. Of course, his pen was inspired by God who knows the whole story. A common theme throughout this book is one of disobedience. The people of Israel have substituted man-made rules over whole-hearted worship. Eerily, this could apply to us today! God continues to love and offer solutions, the ultimate one in Jesus, which Isaiah prophecizes numerour times. Isaiah is presenting us with a choice...either get with God, or don't. Half-hearted measures are not the way. We cannot give lip service for God knows what is in our hearts! Take Isaiah as a warning, but also as encouragement. God loves us and will provide!

To whom shall we turn!

As we pick up in Isaiah 40-43, we see the tone of his message change from judgement to payment. The solution is God HIMSELF. He is involved! See ch40v27-30. He has been involved and still is. Note the mocking of idols in ch41v28-29. Yet, even today, we rely or try to find comfort in these idols. Money, possessions, title, etc... We make up for our emptiness and fear with these. Over and over again, God calls us to Him. In the wake of the Colorado shootings, did we turn to God for comfort, or the court system? In our lives closer to home, do we ask God to guide us in leading our families, or does the calendar of activities rule? God is the solution. Isaiah saw it over 2500 years ago. We can read it in His word. If we choose to take the time....

placing our faith

Reading in Isaiah 31-35, we see the prophecy of destruction as well as the promise of Hope in a new King. To those who trust in weapons or numbers of men, Isaiah says the end is near. But hose who trust in God, will have a future. Our things today cannot give back to us any more than the chariots of Egypt. Your money, house, car, etc cannot save. But in ch32, Isaiah notes the coming solution. A righteous king is coming. From our point of history, He is coming back. The work of defeating death and evil is done. Now, it is time to call the faithful and bring peace. Isaiah was given this glimpse over 2500 years ago. We should heed it today!

Will we listen and heed the warning?

In Isaiah 28-30, we learn why Isaiah was not invited to many parties. Seriously though, these chapters give the heart of Isaiah's warning. Self reliance, or even reliance on other's physical strength is no match for the Lord! Several times Isaiah notes that the clay pot is not superior to the potter who makes it! Ch29v13-15 are key to understanding this. Human wisdom is foolish. Hiding our intensions from God is equally foolish. Yet we do it all the time. We become comforted in darkness so we do not have to see truth from the light. Ch30v18 is a real keeper. God loves us and will wait. Amazing! I know what I do and would not wait, yet God does it for me, and everyone else. Too bad the crowds did not heed Isaiah's warnings. Will we today?

warnings before sin

Warnings before sin...Isaiah 21-23 carry out further warnings against Israel's neighbors, but ch22 includes Jerusalem! It is amazing how we see and cheer on justice for others, but think we are spotless. God is providing warnings to Judah to change. But when you think you are doing right, why change! When you are allowing yourself into temptation, and thus planning to sin, you can justify your actions or allow the passion to help you overlook it. However, the remorse afterwards....if only there was a pre-warning about the remorse you'll feel. There is, God's Word and the Holy Spirit! We need to heed both, or suffer in the consequences of our sin. Isaiah gave this message to Judah and surrounding areas. For that, he was led to years of isolation and being outcast. But he was right!

Who is the mightiest?

Isaiah 17-20 remind us that even the mightiest are no match for God. When we put our hopes in power as defined by man, we fall way short of God. The mighty Egyptians, Assyrians and Ethiopians all were warned of destruction. God warns us too when we do not rely on Him, preferring to try it our way. We scramble over pennies when God has $100 bills for us. Remember, God loves us and wants us to thrive. But we must seek Him. He cannot be the afterthought or the one we go to after we have failed. We cannot live like He does not exist, then try to blame Him when things don't go our way. Seek Him!