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- What attributes of God’s character does this passage reveal?
- How does the passage point to Jesus?
- How should the truth of this passage change me?
- How do the events of today’s reading help you better understand the grand narrative of Scripture?
Is. 40-41
Wow – this is a whole lot more of what I mentioned yesterday. God is certainly declaring His sovereignty in these passages! I find it interesting that this great declaration of who God is starts with His promise. That promise being that pardon, a straight way, and God’s glory and protection will come. These are God’s comforting, tender words to His people. We then see that this promise flows seamlessly into His declaration of sovereignty. To me, that is the real comfort. Without the assurance of God’s ability to see his great promise through, it is nothing but words. Thankfully, God is not like us. We are like the grass that withers and the flowers that fade, “but the word of our God remains forever.” (Is. 40:8b). This is our sure hope; the assurance of our salvation. God has declared it and God cannot fail.
Is. 42-43
Paul said in 2 Corinthians, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!” (2 Cor. 5:17). God declared this here in Isaiah. “Do not remember the past events; pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new” (Is. 43:18b-19a). The law, the sacrifices – all the old way of doing things has been replaced. This is because the old way represents our flesh, our human nature, and our own efforts – all the things we must turn away from and leave behind to come to God.
Yet God also says, “The past events have indeed happened. Now I declare new events; I announce them to you before they occur.” (Is. 42:9). All the things of old, both things that God has done and the truth about what we are, serve to prove the new thing God did in Christ. The nation of Israel is a big part of that old thing. Thus, they, too, serve as evidence of God’s plan and proof that it will happen as He said it will. God said, “I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed – and not some foreign god among you. So you are my witnesses – [that] I am God.” (Is. 43:12).
I mentioned yesterday that we need to understand God’s sovereignty and our humanity to be able to accept and trust His plan for us; this new thing that He does for us. But there is one specific aspect of God’s character that we also need to understand. That aspect is His love. It is why this sovereign, holy God did all that He has done for these filthy, insignificant humans. “Because you are precious in my sight and honored, and I love you, I will give people in exchange for you and nations instead of your life.” (Is. 43:4). In other words, because God loves His precious people, He ransomed them.
Who are God’s people and why does He love them so? “…everyone who bears my name and is created for my glory. I have formed them; indeed, I have made them.” (Is. 43:7). All who are in Christ are God’s people. And God loves us because He made us and He now makes us something new so that we can also love Him. The nation of Israel is His witness of this truth.