Isaiah 44-48

Click HERE to read the passage.

Wow! It's amazing what we can learn from today's devotional. The Lord reveals A LOT to us today. Let's take a look!

This could almost be called, "The War of The God's."  Within these 5 chapters you'll find God reminding Israel and the entire world that He's the ONLY God there is. 11 times He tells them, "I am God and there is no other." On top of that, He reminds mankind that the carved, wooden idols the nations are worshipping are NOT gods at all!  It's almost hilarious to hear God speak about them!

The Challenges Of The Jewish Race

For many years, the Jewish race has been the subject of ridicule and hatred around the world. In fact, over the years since the time of Isaiah, many nations has called for their extinction. We recently saw this happen between 1941 and 1945 when Adolf Hitler and the German government called for the extermination of the Jews and put approximately 6 million Jews to death in concentration camps. 

Someone once asked me, "Why is there so much hatred for the Jews?" It's basically boils down to two reasons: 1) God is judging Israel for their rejection of Him and told them they would be a ridicule to the world until He comes back to reign in Jerusalem, and 2) Satan automatically has an enormous disdain for God's people...because they belong to God. He would love nothing more than to annihilate them.

However, during this last portion of the book of Isaiah (the chapters we're reading now), God is trying to remind them that one day things will change, that things will be awesome for Israel. And here in chapter 44, God encourages His people by telling them, "And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children." and "Some will write the Lord’s name on their hands and will take the name of Israel as their own.” One day in the future, all Israelites will be proud to know the Lord and be a Jew!

Powerful Characteristics God Reveals About Himself!

Throughout today's reading, God reminds His people of some powerful characteristics about Himself:

-  He's the ONLY God there is in the entire universe!  (44:6, 8)

-  He knows exactly ever detail of future events!  (44:7)

-  No idol or false God has EVER done the miracles God has performed!  (44:7)

-  God wants His people to know His purpose in everything  (44:8)

-  Only He is their Redeemer and Creator!  (44:24)

-  God made the earth and the entire heavens and stretched it out with His hands!  (44:24)(45:12)

-  All the billions of stars within billions of galaxies are at His command!  (45:12)

Only Fools Seek False Gods!

It does seem pretty silly that God has to remind man that what he creates out of wood (or anything for that matter) has literally no power in and of itself.  I think most people have enough common sense to figure that out! But, God says otherwise.

Even today, we see people (who can't use their God-given common sense) to trust in things that are man-made versus putting their trust in the Living God. I've seen people pray to a wooden statue of Mary - but it has no power! I've seen people pray using a Saint Christopher medal or prayer beads - but they have no power! I've even seen people put more trust in their employer, their spouse, and their money to supply their needs - but as we've seen during the pandemic of Covid-19, even those things can fall apart quickly and leave us empty handed.  We can't put our trust in those things! 

Listen, for a second, to just how frustrated God is when we do put our trust in man-made things, "Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?” (44:18-20)

What's at the root of our problem?  We just simply don't want to live the truth. We willfully ignore it. It's too inconvenient for us. Notice how God says, "Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, "Is this idol that I'm holding in my hand a lie?"  Perhaps, it's because we hate facing the truth. When we face the truth, we have to put our faith and trust in a God we cannot see, feel, taste, or touch.  But, in reality, it takes MORE faith to believe a carved stature of Mary or a Saint Christopher medal can make a difference than what God can do!

God Uses A Pagan King To Accomplish His Will

Chapter 45 might seem somewhat confusing to many people, but it's an insight into "how" God works. Notice how He calls Cyrus, a pagan king, "His annointed one" in verse 1. Yes, God (as we've seen throughout the Old Testament) will use anyone and everyone to accomplish His purpose - even a pagan king. However, God also shares His reason as to "why" He's using Cyrus.  Notice 45:4-6 - "And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God.

God built Cyrus up and helped him amass a great kingdom for a two-fold purpose: 

1) to punish His people Israel for their sins and to bring them lovingly back to Him, and 

2) to show the entire world that He is the ONLY TRUE GOD!

Eventually, Cyrus will come to know the God of Israel and believe in Him. In fact, Cyrus will help the Jews rebuild the walls of Jerusalem whom his predecessors destroyed. And, the entire world will see this mighty thing.

How Can We Argue With God?

I have often been so convicted when reading 45:9-11.  God makes a great point!  How can we (the clay) argue with the One who made us (the Potter)?  And I love how God puts it in great perspective when He says in 45:10, "How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?’ or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?’”

There Is No Other God!

Can you go back and highlight how many times God reminds Israel that He is the ONLY God throughout the entire universe?  I've counted at least 11 times God has made this comment in today's reading.

In fact, God tells us there will be a time in the future where every man, woman, and child will realize and confess that He is the ONLY God!  Notice 44:22-23 - "Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will declare allegiance to me."

Babylon Will Be Destroyed And Never Rise Again!

Although God uses Babylon to punish His people for their sins, He doesn't forget how wicked Babylon is. In chapters 46-47, we see God calling for Babylon's destruction. 

How and Why God Punishes Israel...

It's important to notice what God says about the punishment He gives Israel - "For I know so well what traitors you are. You have been rebels from birth. Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name, I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out. I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake—yes, for my own sake. I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols!"

When God punishes His people, or even us as believers, it's has a two-fold purpose:  1) to refine us, and 2) to ultimately give Him glory!

God has given us a choice - free will.  We can reject Him, or follow Him. We can choose a life of blessing, or a life filled with heartache, frustration, and defeat. But, it's our choice. Which do you choose today?