Isaiah

Nipping At Our Heels

“Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live” Isaiah 38:1

In my teenage years I frequently and often worked in my neighbour’s dairy in school holidays and weekends. He had a black and white border collie dog named Rastus that had a particularly useful skill for rounding up the cows. At considerable risk he would nip the heels of a cow and then drop flat on the ground to avoid the inevitable hoof flashing over his head. For extra fun he would also have a swing on a cow’s tail. He lived to a ripe old age without ever being hit by a hoof. King Hezekiah had a dog nipping at his heels as well, a dog called pride.

The apostle Paul would later write, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain … I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you” (Philippians 1:21-23). Paul’s desire was to be with the One he loved but he was willing to postpone that joy for the sake of the mission Jesus had given him. Let us compare that with King Hezekiah.

When Hezekiah was told of his impending death he went to the Lord asking for more time. We can discern his motive by his prayer. It was quite different to Paul’s desire. His request was based on his earthly position. He wanted to enjoy and boast of the earthly blessings God had given him in preference to the joy of actually being with the Lord. There is no suggestion that he wanted to remain for the sake of God’s will or God’s people.

This becomes even more obvious when the messengers from Babylon came to visit. He showed them “the silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, and all his armoury – all that was found among his treasures. There was nothing in his house or in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them” (Isaiah 39:2). The dog named pride was nipping at his heels guiding him to a gate called “Stumbling” and he did not resist it. He boasted as if he had obtained all he enjoyed by his own effort. Pride will dog us all of our earthly lives so we need to learn how to recognise it and make our resistance effective.

We need to regularly check our motives as to whether we love Jesus Christ or just the blessings He gives. Hezekiah loved the worldly blessings in preference to the Giver of the blessings. Consequently he desired a longer life on earth absent from the Lord. In the end he lost it all and all the good he had previously done for Israel unravelled after he died.

What if the Lord should say these words to you today? As we consider our response we will discover whether it really is Jesus we love or whether it is just the blessings He gives. Will you respond like Paul or like Hezekiah? When it is Jesus we love we will readily receive His command to come home and ask for no delay. His timing will be perfect.

The Greatest Miracle

“For we have made lies our refuge and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves” Isaiah 28:15

Isaiah had been observing his own nation, Israel, and was writing concerning their situation in his day. As we consider this verse we can’t help but believe that he is observing and writing concerning our own nation as it is today. He is not describing every individual in Israel because we know that God always maintains a believing remnant. We would not apply these words to every individual in our nation either because there are those who are faithful to the Lord and His word. But nationally they suit all too well.

Jesus called Satan a liar (John 8:44) and Peter discerned that Satan had moved Ananias to lie (Acts 5:3). Paul recognised that people had “exchanged the truth of God for the lie” (Romans 1:25). He also wrote that because people choose to turn away from God, God will allow them to be deceived (2 Thessalonians 2:11).

Isaiah is saying what we know to be true. People believe the lie about Jesus Christ because it comforts them in their sin. Hence, lies become our refuge, our place of safety and comfort – but only in the short-term. It is easier for a sinner to believe the lie that God does not exist and that they will not have to give account for their lives than to deal with the truth. So they take “refuge” in the lie.

Secondly we hide from the truth by peddling things that are obviously lies. This is why people believe in evolution. It gives them, in their minds, a place to resist the truth and hide from it. Anyone who does some research desiring to know the truth will discover the great falsehood of the Theory of Evolution but it is a convenient hiding place for people who do not want to face the truth.

Psalm ten reveals the three presumptuous thoughts of the person who wants to conceal in their minds the truth by embracing a lie.

  1. I am okay, I am invincible (v 6)
  2. God is not interested or is dead (v 11)
  3. I will not be held accountable to anyone for my life (v 13)

These are all lies of Satan that people all too readily embrace because they love sin and do not want to face reality. Considering the long-term consequences it is staggering that anyone would choose to take refuge in lies and present falsehoods to their own mind and soul to escape thinking about the truth but such is that nature of sin.

Those who do want to face reality will face the Lord Jesus Christ and discover that He has borne their sin on the cross and is able, therefore, to forgive all their sin and, much more, cleanse them from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). The greatest miracle of all is that God is able to bring any sinner to repentance, most of all me, but He does and still is. Hallelujah!

A Glimpse into the Future

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb … The lion shall eat straw like the ox … The weaned child shall put his hand in the vipers den” Isaiah 11:6-9

Isaiah is giving us a glimpse of how the world will be when Jesus returns and establishes His earthly kingdom. The world Isaiah is describing is not the same as the one we observe and experience today. There has been an account of a vegetarian lion that refused to eat meat but that is considered an extraordinary circumstance. When Jesus reigns there will only be vegetarian lions. The passage tells us that leopards, bears and wolves will also be vegetarian. Cobras and vipers will not bite young children even if a child is unintentionally rough when playing.

In many respects this will be a return to the world as it was before the curse. There will be harmony among all the animals in Christ’s kingdom and people will be able to interact with them without fear of harm. This also means that animals can interact with people without fear of harm. Neither of these scenarios is possible at present.

Jesus’ death on the cross for our sin is the only reason that the curse can be removed. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)! Because we have only lived in a world where the curse exists it is impossible for us to imagine exactly how a world where the effect of the curse has been significantly reduced will be. In this chapter Isaiah gives us a glimpse. Revelation twenty tells us that Satan will be bound and that resurrected Christians will reign with Jesus during that time. There are other passages in the Bible that add to the glimpse that Isaiah gives.

The most notable aspect of this period is not the restored earthly order among animals and people or even Satan being bound and unable to deceive people. The most notable aspect is that “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” and “The Gentiles shall seek Him” (Isaiah 11:9, 10). We can only begin to imagine living in an environment where the most common topic of discussion is not the weather but Jesus Christ! All the inhibitions and distractions that plague us now will be wiped away.

A Word in our Mouth

“I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist” Luke 21:15

Jesus is answering the disciples’ question regarding the timing and sign of His Second Coming. As He describes the nature of the last days before His return He knows those who will be waiting for Him will need encouragement in the face of great opposition and extreme persecution.

The context tells us that Jesus is speaking of a situation that will eventuate in the future of Israel and the world in the time of the great tribulation and that He is speaking primarily to believing Jews. In verse twelve we read Jesus’ words, “they will lay their hands on you and persecute you delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.” Unbelieving Jews will also persecute believing Jews just as they did to Jesus and also as Saul did to the Jews before Saul met Jesus on the road to Damascus.

This future period of time appears to be something to fear and something that will harm the cause of Christ yet in the next verse we read that it is quite the opposite; “But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.” Just as Paul was imprisoned and found it an opportunity to witness, believing Jews in the tribulation will also find it an opportunity to witness. The other apostles and many believers since Pentecost have discovered the same reality and opportunity.

While no one would seek to be in this position it has, is and will occur to true followers of Jesus. Just as they persecuted Jesus they will persecute His followers. How will they turn such a terrible situation into an opportunity to be faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ?

Jesus says that believing Jews won’t have to worry about what they say. He will give them the right words at the right time. They will be words that come out of the One who is called Wisdom in Proverbs. Just as those who opposed and persecuted Jesus had no answer to His words those who oppose His people will have no answer to the words He will give His disciples during the tribulation.

Does this have any application to Christians today? Most assuredly! The principle stands even if the specific context does not. Just as the Lord put words in the mouths of the prophets (cf. Jeremiah 1:9; Isaiah 51:16) He does similar for Christians. Christians throughout the centuries and have found Him faithful in this regard. In the book of Acts we read some of the early occasions in the lives of Peter and Paul.

This does not need to be an unusual occurrence in the life of Christians and we should not be surprised when it happens. The Holy Spirit is the One given to help and who, leads and teaches us. He even helps us in prayer when we do not know how to pray (Romans 8:26). There is a need for caution however as we read that in just one conversation Peter spoke both from the Father and from Satan (Matthew 16:16-18; 22-23).

There is only one condition that Jesus gives and it is recorded at the end of verse twelve, “… for My name’s sake.” The qualification is that we are about His mission and not our own; that we are serving His interests and not our own; that we are walking in close intimacy with Him subject to His will to glorify His name and not our own.

Healing for the Deaf

“They did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask him” Mark 9:32

It can be very difficult to communicate with someone who is not “on the same page” with regard to a particular subject matter. There can be misunderstanding among people because of this. No one views and comprehends their world from a vacuum or blank sheet. Jesus’ disciples were not listening to Jesus from a blank sheet either. They had been taught in the synagogues by the Rabbis.

When Jesus took Peter, James and John up the mountain their heads were filled with the teachings of the Rabbis. Much of it was very good but some was not helpful. When they arrived high on the mountain Jesus was transformed before their eyes and His glory shone through (v 3). In addition, Moses and Elijah appeared before them speaking with Jesus concerning His approaching death. Peter recognised that this is what the Scriptures taught; that Elijah would appear prior to the establishing of the earthly kingdom. What he had not been taught and did not understand was that there was still other Scripture to be fulfilled before the earthly kingdom would be established (cf. Isaiah 53).

On this occasion the Father spoke audibly and directly to the disciples. This may be the only time He did this, so it must also be very important. It was a short message but one we would profit to take notice of: “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (v 7). The disciples had heard other teachers but now they must listen only to what Jesus was saying if they were to correctly understand and be prepared for what was soon to happen. Before the earthly kingdom would come Jesus must die and rise again (vv 9, 31).

The disciples had no idea what He was speaking about. The Rabbis had not taught them of a Messiah who would die and rise again so they dismissed it as too hard to understand or irrelevant. Jesus wanted them to understand this future event so that they would be prepared and not panic or despair when the event occurred. They dismissed His words even though they had just heard the Father say, “Hear Him.”

We can only correctly understand the times in which we live when we “Hear Him.” Jesus and the Bible give us a huge amount of information concerning our times and future times and events. These will prepare us so that we do not panic or despair when they come to pass. When Jesus was taken to be crucified the disciples fled because they had not heard and understood His words but were still held in the grip previous teaching. They were afraid to ask Jesus what He meant when He spoke of rising from the dead and therefore they remained in ignorance. We have no reason to follow their example. God has spoken, Jesus has spoken and we have His word to prepare us. Will we “Hear Him?”

Current world events may lead a person to worry or despair but when we hear what Jesus, the prophets and Paul  have said regarding the latter days we can observe that God has foretold all these things in order to prepare us. It is essential that we come humbly to His word at least daily and ask Him to correct us where we have unwittingly misunderstood or dismissed His word.

No Debate

“Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes, your shame will be seen; I will take vengeance, and I will not arbitrate with a man.” Isaiah 47:3

It appears that many people think that God is much like our legal system that can be moved to give puny sentences, even for fairly serious criminal offences, or even be given what amounts to a non-sentence – a “good behaviour” bond.

After being found guilty of a crime lawyers do their best to get their client off the hook so far as penalty is concerned. They may claim it is someone else’s fault or the result of unexpected circumstances. They may try and shift the blame to society, to parents, to friends or just being with the wrong crowd; anything in an attempt to reduce their client’s responsibility. An appeal that it is “out of character” is always false. We all act according to our character. An offender may come to court with an outward appeal that is unrecognisable to their friends. A new suite, neat hair and groomed in all outward appearance including body attitude and facial expression; anything that gives an appearance of righteousness is appropriated.

Anyone who thinks that God can be fooled by this hypocrisy will be bitterly disappointed. The unforgiven sinner who appears before Him will be wholly exposed as to his guilt as one naked before God. There will be no hiding behind the excuses that one may use in an earthly court and no one will be cleared by blaming the devil. He did not make them do it.

Isaiah 47:4 reminds us that God is holy and is therefore unable to allow sin in His presence. This is the basis of God’s judgment. He is holy, He is sinless and totally without corruption.

Anyone who thinks they will be able to debate or argue with God with regard to entrance into His kingdom is grievously mistaken. He says that He “will not arbitrate with a man.” Each person will have to accept responsibility for their own choices and actions. They will not be able to shift blame and they will be held accountable.

But there is good news! Christ Jesus died for our sin! Paul writes, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). We cannot gain eternal life or entrance into heaven by attempting to mitigate our culpability or reduce the penalty for sin. God will not arbitrate. However, we may gain eternal life and heaven as a gift but that gift is bound up in Jesus Christ. John writes, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe on His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (1:12, 13). Later John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

If we try and debate with God about our sin He will not hear or participate. He knows all there is to know and He judges with perfect justice. However if we agree with His judgment of our sin and the due penalty He pleads with us to ask Him to forgive us our sin as a gift; “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord”.

The Lord has Spoken

“The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 40:5)

From the day Adam chose to believe Satan’s lie the majority of people have also chosen to believe his lies and not the revelations from God. Only those who have chosen to believe the word of the Lord have seen that the Lord is faithful and accomplishes things exactly as He said He would.

When the women came to Joseph’s tomb in which Jesus’ body had been placed they were met by an angel who said to them, “He is not here, for He is risen, as He said, come and see the place where the Lord lay” (Matthew 28:6). Jesus had told His close followers on four occasions that He would die and rise again but they had taken no notice. As a result they were full of grief and sorrow, and were confused.

In Isaiah chapter 39 the Lord had told King Hezekiah that after he died Judah would be almost stripped bare and some of his own sons would serve the king of Babylon as eunuchs. For the people of Judah this would be contrary to expectations. They were anticipating that a descendant of David would reign forever. Being taken captive as eunuchs did not fit their expectation.

 “To whom will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” (40:18). To some degree we all have a view of Jesus that falls short and others have a Jesus who is quite unlike the Jesus of the Bible. Their Jesus is manufactured out of their imagination and does not resemble the revelation from the Bible. Satan has molded them in his likeness so they want their Jesus to worship them for their good works.

Israel’s future looked bleak but Isaiah told them of a glorious time ahead when the Anointed One of God would reign just as He said. For the present Israel is still generally deaf to the word of God just as Jesus’ disciples were deaf to Him. Israel doesn’t hear what the Lord is saying for the same reason that the disciples didn’t take notice of what Jesus said; they had different expectations.

Isaiah told Israel of a future day when all would be restored. To encourage them to believe what He had said Isaiah recorded the Lord’s words, “For the mouth of the Lord has spoken” (v5) and “The word of the Lord stands forever” (v 8). In other words, if you will take the Lord at His word your sorrow will not be as those without hope.

The same is true for us. If we will take Jesus at His word we will not grieve or have sorrow over the condition of our world or our circumstances as those who have no hope. The disciples of Jesus would certainly have sorrowed over the suffering of Jesus but they would have had a glorious expectation if they had listened to Jesus when He told them He would rise again. When Christians take Jesus at His word they will have this glorious expectation and their lives will reflect hope as they look for the day when Jesus returns.

Finding Rest

“In returning and rest you shall be saved” (Isaiah 30:15)

All of the attributes that God has given to mankind have been corrupted in their application and use. Making alliances is one of them. Even very young children make informal alliances in order to feel safer. Some of these are, or may become, genuine friendships. The alliances we often call friendships will not stand the tests of adversity or affliction that life brings whereas genuine friendships will. “Fair weather” friends are alliances that collapse under the pressure of personal cost.

Like most nations of the world, Israel made alliances with other nations for reasons of safety and protection. They had been specifically commanded by the Lord not to make any alliance, especially with Egypt. Alliances may give the feeling of safety but history shows that they are unreliable. Egypt did not protect Israel from Babylon and was itself overrun. How many of the great alliances of old have lasted? Is there a person more than a few years old who has not been let down by a “fair weather” friend?

The medical world tells us that family and faithful friends are an extremely important element in the recovery of a patient. God has made us with the need of mutual support. He has also made us with the need of a friend who we know will remain faithful no matter the circumstance. In the hymn, “What a Friend we have in Jesus” we sing:

“Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

“Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

“In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
You will find a solace there.”

Further on in this chapter of Isaiah (vv 15-20) we have the Lord appealing to Israel as the father does in the parable of Jesus we call “the Parable of the Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32). We see Him eagerly waiting, full of grace (vv 18, 19), for Israel to return and rest in Him (v 15). He has the same attitude toward people even today.

To whom do we go for advice and counsel (vv 1, 2)? The answer that most people would offer is that they go to the worldly experts. We want expert opinion but frequently expert opinion changes. It is most sad when people who call themselves Christians do not seek counsel or advice from the Lord (the only true “expert”) but seek it from the experts of this world.

As the father of the prodigal son waited, so the Lord is waiting to pour out His grace on all who call out to Him in faith. “He will be very gracious to you (vv 18, 19).” This is to say, His cup of grace is overflowing toward the one who comes to Him. He may have sent “the bread of adversity” and “the water of affliction” but only so as to bring us to the place where we return to Him to receive the outpouring of His love and grace.

A Little While

“For yet a little while and the indignation will cease as will My anger in their destruction” (Isaiah 10:25)

The context of this statement from the Lord is that Israel had turned from following the Lord. For the purpose of reconciling Israel to Himself the Lord had allowed Assyria to become stronger and have eyes for the land of Israel. Assyria was the Lord’s means of chastising Israel.

As a result of this chastisement a “remnant” responded and returned to following and worshipping the Lord (10:20-22). The majority of the nation remained indifferent or loyal to the idol gods of the surrounding nations and did not respond to the chastisement of the Lord or heed the messages He sent by His prophets.

Those who did respond were suffering and enduring the same persecution from without as those who did not but they also endured being out of step and favour with their brethren. Drought affected them as it did others; they suffered and died in battles with neighbouring nations; they had their crops and animals stolen in the raids by neighbouring nations; they had their parents killed or children stolen to be slaves just like others who still worshipped dead idols.

The same question was on their hearts that has been on many of the Lord’s people through history and most certainly is today; How long, O Lord?

The faithful remnant in Israel today suffers just as their forebears did. The rockets from over the borders do not discriminate and neither does the anti-Semitism coming out of all the nations of the world. The opposition and persecution from without affects Messianic Jews as well as other Jews but the Messianic Jews are also opposed by and out of favour with other Jews.

From our perspective it may appear that the Lord is tarrying unnecessarily but His word to the believing remnant of Israel remains the same, “For yet a little while and the indignation will cease as will My anger in their destruction.” The Lord’s word to believing Israel then and to Messianic Jews today is to patiently endure and in a little while He will bring this painful situation to an end. That end will be by the completion of Israel’s chastisement and the destruction of all who oppose the lord and persecute His people. That day will be the day Christ Jesus returns in glory. He will destroy all who oppose Him and then He will establish His kingdom on earth.

For Christians today who long to see an end to iniquity and evil; who long to be able to worship the Lord in freedom and without risk of persecution; He says endure for a little while longer because the day will surely come when He will put everything under His feet and we can worship Him in the beauty of holiness.

As we continue to hear reports of Christians being persecuted in many parts of the world for no more reason than their faith in Jesus Christ we, and they, can find comfort and assurance that the Lord has not forsaken or forgotten them. Let us bear a little longer and the Lord will vindicate those who have turned to Him and remained faithful even through persecution.

A World Without War

“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more” (Isaiah 2:4).

Many people have dreamed of a world without war and, though less so now, the Bible prophecies regarding a world at peace were often quoted. It seems that fewer people than ever are looking for the Lord to bring about a world without war. The dimming of this hope in the eyes of people as they get older is possibly because they have observed what appears to be never ending war in the world.

The “war to end all wars” one hundred years ago did no such thing. It was merely the prelude to a world in continuous war with increasingly devastating means of killing other people. No longer is it sword to sword but now we have weapons of mass destruction with the means to wipe out huge cities with a single bomb or whole regions with biological weapons. Is it any wonder that the younger generation who have never lived in a world without this imminent threat are inclined to end their lives when they see no hope of personal, national or world peace?

The dimming hope that education could solve the ills of the world and bring peace has long been seen to be futile. Education cannot change a person’s heart. Some of the most corrupt people in our world are well educated. Education has allowed them to express their corruption in more deceitful and more destructive ways. Greed and power do not follow the boundaries of education.

All forms of government that leave God out have been revealed as failures to bring peace within their own nation and so could never bring peace to the world. Even so, we do all we can to remove God from the minds of our children.

Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace between men in the manner in which the world seeks a peacemaker. He came to bring peace with God through the gracious gift of forgiveness of sin and changed hearts. There can never be peace on earth without peace with God. When men are at peace with God then they will have peace with one another.

From the day Adam and Eve sinned, God has promised that a day of everlasting peace would come. This is one of those promises: “He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

No person will know peace until he knows peace with God. The world will not know peace until the Prince of Peace reigns. The Bible records many emphatic statements of God to that end. There will be a time when wars will cease and no one will make the horrendous weapons of war that are so prolific today. This is not just wishful thinking or a fading hope; it is the will and word of the living God. He will do what man can never do.

When we lift our eyes to the horizon of that day and we will not be overcome by the fears of this day. Let us tell the younger generation of this glorious day ahead. Let us tell all that this day will come because Jesus Christ died for the sin of the world and is able to do what no education program can do. He is still able to change people from within and is doing so for all who ask.