Isaiah
41 reminds me of going out to sea in my dad’s boat as a kid. The
ocean can be a very calm place, but when the waves are high,
everything that is not held down securely will break loose and fall
over and do damage. In this chapter, Isaiah writes to all the world,
warning that times of testing will reveal everything that is not
battened down. He begins, “Be
silent before Me… Let the nations renew their strength… let us
meet together at the place of judgment“.
This is the calm before the storm. And Isaiah answers the question
by Who’s authority “the
generations from the beginning”
are called. “I,
the LORD… I am He“.
Isaiah mocks those that think they are shipshape and ready. One
says to their companions,
“Be
strong!”
and another says of the welding, “It
is good”
and “The
other nails down the idol so it will not topple“.
Isaiah adds a note that there is one exception to this global
judgment, “But
you, Israel…
I
have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So
do not fear, for I am with you… I am your God.
I
will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous
right hand“.
He adds another important piece to the promise, “All
who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced“.
When the wind blows, the orientation of the boat is all that
matters. Getting sideways will rock the boat and everything inside.
Are you prepared to take a wave on the broadside?
Next
God speaks to the nation of Israel personally. “For
I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand… little
Israel, do not fear, for I myself will help you“.
He calls Himself, “Your
Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel“.
Surrounded by enemies, Israel will deal the blows, “I
will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many
teeth“.
He says of the enemies, “a
gale will blow them away“,
“But
you will rejoice in the LORD“.
Isaiah seems to include another group in His protection, “The
poor and needy search for water, but there is none“.
He promises, “The
God of Israel, will not forsake them“.
He even gives His reason, “so
that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the
hand of the LORD has done this“.
I believe that God desires to show mercy to those of us that ask,
not because we are worthy, but because He reveals His nature through
us.
The
chapter ends with God addressing those who will not change course,
“Present
your case“.
You who navigate without a compass or charts, in what do you trust?
“Tell
us, you idols, what is going to happen… declare to us the things to
come“.
To those who reject the truth of God and instead continue to cling
to the works of their own hands, He explains, they “are
less than nothing and your works are utterly worthless“.
Friend, a perfect storm is coming, “I
have stirred up one from the north“.
Don’t be one who says, “No
one told of this, no one foretold it, no one heard any words from
you“.
God concludes, “I
gave to Jerusalem a messenger of good news“.
Luke 8 tells us of another storm at sea with Jesus asleep in the
boat. “The
disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going
to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;
the storm subsided, and all was calm“.
Jesus asked them one question, “Where
is your faith?”
Friend, are the things around you breaking loose? Maybe it is time
for a distress call?