Thoughts on Isaiah 48

I declared them to you from of old, before they came to pass I announced them to you, lest you should say, ‘My idol did them, my carved image and my metal image commanded them.’ “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. They are created now, not long ago; before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, ‘Behold, I knew them.’ (Isaiah 48:5-7 ESV)

We go through difficult situations that require us to wait, to trust in God and not in others or in ourselves, so that we realize and remember that our God is Faithful and Powerful. Because of our shortsightedness, we have a tendency to misplace who we give credit to. We are hard-headed and it takes multiple instances for us to develop a mind that fully understands the sovereignty of God. We know the feeling of having someone get credit for something they didn’t do or deserve – it sucks. We protest, “Foul! Unfair!”. Same thing.

For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another. (Isaiah 48:11 ESV)

God is really on the losing side of this “deal” with man. Even if we break our part, he has to keep His because he cannot be untrue to his nature. He has given us all things, without expectations, knowing that some will respond with rejection, unbelief, indifference and even mockery. This is a terrible deal, and yet here it is.

Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; (Isaiah 48:18 ESV)

We make mistakes, we look back – briefly – to learn from it. There are second chances with God. He says “Go, shout with joy and proclaim it”. He is our Redeemer, and great is His goodness.

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