What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
(Romans 8:31).
The book of Isaiah is referenced and quoted by Jesus 67 times in the New Testament. What a wonderful reminder that the Old Testament is relevant for our study and our spiritual growth today. At the time of Isaiah’s writings, the nation of Israel was divided and had been struggling for many years through many kings. Very few Godly Kings occupied the southern throne. At this point, judgment has been pronounced, and the nation of Judah is hearing about the consequences to come because of their faithless actions and idolatrous worship. Right before this point, Hezekiah had met with Babylonian emissaries and had shown them all of the treasures of the nation.
And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. (Isaiah 39:2).
In Hezekiah’s effort to please and be accepted, he had given the future conquerors even more reason to invade. But along with the pronouncement of judgment from God’s prophets also came the reassurance that God was not finished with Judah. What He had promised, He would do. God is faithful. God loves His people. They need only learn to trust Him. As you study today’s lesson, here are a few personal questions for you to ponder. Have you put limitations on God? Is He able to handle your situation - all of your situations? Have you placed your trust completely in Him, or are you still trying to “fix” things on your own before you talk with Him about it? Heavenly Father, protect us from ourselves!
Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Many of us remember the song “He’s Got the Whole World In His Hands.” This verse creates a mental picture of that song. Notice the comparisons. He put in place and knows the volume of the seas and the length of heaven. He created both with His the power of His voice. By Him they consist and exist. The parallel draws a visual picture for us. Isaiah says our God is able to hold the mountains, hills, and oceans lightly in the palms of his hand. Can anyone but God do such things? Joshua said, That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever. (Joshua 4:24). Peter wrote of His mightiness. He said: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7). Is there any place more reassuring or protective than in the strong and mighty hands of your Heavenly Father? Place yourself there and watch your faith grow!
Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?
God is sovereign. He gives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to all believers to lead and direct our paths. He allows us to pour our heart out before Him in prayer, but God doesn’t need our instruction or our suggestions on how to handle His business. How foolish for us to offer up our plan to fix our problems instead of submitting our wills in faith to his wisdom. His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. Can you relinquish your authority to Him? Do you trust Him enough to let him have total control? Easy to say, not so easy to do. It would require that we put aside our arrogance and we stop leaning on our own intelligence. We needn’t listen to our deceitful and wicked heart either - how we feel is not trustworthy. God is trustworthy. We grow in our faith to recognize that all good and perfect gifts, including our ability to reason and think, come from God. How much better our results would be if we would take our feelings and questions to him and listen respectfully and faithfully for His answers.
To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.
He desires that we know He is the Lord. I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: (Isaiah 45:5) There is none else to compare. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints (Revelation 15:3).
And just for added encouragement, look at the words used by the heavenly beings, And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen (Revelation 7:11-12). There is no one like our God!
Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
We are continually reminded that the God we serve is the Creator of all things- absolutely everything! From this knowledge alone, like Job, we should see the smallness of our own minds. Do we dare put our knowledge up against His? Considering the beautifully expansive creative mind of God, should we worry about anything? We should only be sure that our hearts are fully devoted to Him. Oh, how little our faith! Maybe the most important phrase within this verse is to “ lift up your eyes.” Stop looking down and around at your own puny capabilities. Look UP into the strong, all-knowing eyes of our God that works things for our good!
Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
Maybe because we are made in God’s image, we think that He is just like us. We grow weary. We don’t put up with much that annoys us. We miss things. People can hide their true motive, their activities, or their thoughts. We do not have the ability to see the heart of someone else. But now, knowing God's attributes of power, authority, wisdom, knowledge, Spirit etc., we know he is not like us. There is nothing we can hide from him. He is the everlasting God. He does not grow too tired or give up and faint. He knows the true motives of our thoughts and actions without us telling Him. We should seek to understand Him; He already knows us!
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
These verses are some of the most quoted and shared in all of scripture, and for good reason! We know the power of God (we are committed to it). We now know He gives power to those who are without any power of their own. In fact, it is in our weakness that He shows His strength. As long as we think we can do things on our own we will be faint, weary, and fall. In submission to an all-loving God, we receive direction. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. (1 Corinthians 1:25-29).
Thank you for studying with us! God bless!