The book of Isaiah is one of my favourites, and I've been reading through it over the last couple of months as part of my daily Bible reading. For some time now a friend and I have been sharing Scriptures with one another that we have found encouraging, so the following is a list of passages that have emerged out of that, with my thoughts on them.
11 April
Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? (Isa 2:22)
Reflecting on an opinion piece I read on a news site last week where the writer was saying “together we can beat Covid”. As if anything could be overcome by human effort with no thought of God or acknowledgement of His power. Have I been guilty of thinking if I trust in the health authorities’ guidelines I will be safe, rather than trusting God?
15 April
The Lord spoke to me with His strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear, He is the one you are to dread, and He will be a sanctuary..." (Isa 8:11-14a)
Isaiah needed to be reminded of the perspective he should have on the fearful events in his day. Today people have all sorts of ideas on how ‘we are going to beat Covid’ but our focus must be on God. The bigger God is in our lives the smaller our fears will become.
26 April
He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. (Isa 33:6)
Heaps of things here!
1) God is
the sure foundation, not just
a sure foundation. The only one. I am so glad I have built my life upon Him. I need to keep continuing to do that.
2) He is a
sure foundation. One that cannot be cracked or shaken, one that is completely dependable.
3) for your times: especially now in the current uncertainty, which if I'm honest is getting to me at times.
4) a rich store of salvation. If all I have in this life is sure hope of eternity, then I have all that I need.
5) and wisdom. God promises to give us wisdom if we ask for it (Jas 1:5).
6) and knowledge. God knows the future and I need to rest in that whether He reveals any of it to me ahead of time or not.
7) The fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Everything keeps coming back to this.
2 May
Isa 40. Lots of encouraging verses here.
"The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isa 40:7-8)
The eternal nature of God vs the temporary nature of the world.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the Lord, or instructed Him as His counsellor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten Him, and who taught Him the right way? Who was it that taught Him knowledge or showed Him the path of understanding?
...
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than He blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. (Isa 40:12-14, 21-24)
God is greater than all things and in control of all things because He created all things.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? 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. (Isa 40:28-31)
We are weak and our strength is limited. God is all-powerful. v31 of course is my favourite Bible verse... A good reminder to keep hoping and trusting in God.
3 May
But you, O Israel, My servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham My friend, I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, “You are My servant”; 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. (Isa 41:8-10)
The context is for Israel, but we are also spiritual descendants of Abraham, chosen by God and called to serve Him. Because He has chosen us, He will always be with us and will help and strengthen us. We don’t need to be afraid.
5 May
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making away in the desert and streams in the wasteland. (Isa 43:18-19)
Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. (Isa 46:9)
There is no contradiction here. Some things from the past we are to forget - the pain and suffering and the things God has taken away. Some things we are to remember - God’s faithfulness to us and His unchanging nature.
I find comfort in the first one that in the midst of loss God is doing a new thing and causing it to spring up out of the ashes of destruction. Where we can’t see any hope for the future, God tells us, “Hey, watch this...”
