Hope in Isaiah

For the last 3 weeks, the "How to Read the Bible" group that I am apart of has been trudging along through the book of Isaiah. I will admit, that at first, the book was daunting and it took a few chapters to get into (ok, maybe it took a good 30 chapters to really get into), but in the last few days I have experienced some good God moments amidst a time in my life where anniversaries of deaths and awfulness rear their ugly heads. 

“Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea.

      Bring your strongest arguments.

   Come now and speak.

      The court is ready for your case.

 ² “Who has stirred up this king from the east,

      rightly calling him to God’s service?

   Who gives this man victory over many nations

      and permits him to trample their kings underfoot?

   With his sword, he reduces armies to dust.

      With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.

 ³ He chases them away and goes on safely,

      though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.

 ⁴ Who has done such mighty deeds,

      summoning each new generation from the beginning of time?

   It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last.

      I alone am he.”

 ⁵ The lands beyond the sea watch in fear.

      Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.

 ⁶ The idol makers encourage one another,

      saying to each other, “Be strong!”

 ⁷ The carver encourages the goldsmith,

      and the molder helps at the anvil.

      “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.”

   Carefully they join the parts together,

      then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.

 ⁸ “But as for you, Israel my servant,

      Jacob my chosen one,

      descended from Abraham my friend,

 ⁹ I have called you back from the ends of the earth,

      saying, ‘You are my servant.’

   For I have chosen you

      and will not throw you away.

 ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.

      Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.

   I will strengthen you and help you.

      I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

 ¹¹ “See, all your angry enemies lie there,

      confused and humiliated.

   Anyone who opposes you will die

      and come to nothing.

 ¹² You will look in vain

      for those who tried to conquer you.

   Those who attack you

      will come to nothing.

 ¹³ For I hold you by your right hand—

      I, the Lord your God.

   And I say to you,

      ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.

 ¹⁴ Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob,

      don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you.

   I am the Lord, your Redeemer.

      I am the Holy One of Israel.’

 ¹⁵ You will be a new threshing instrument

      with many sharp teeth.

   You will tear your enemies apart,

      making chaff of mountains.

 ¹⁶ You will toss them into the air,

      and the wind will blow them all away;

      a whirlwind will scatter them.

   Then you will rejoice in the Lord.

      You will glory in the Holy One of Israel.

 ¹⁷ “When the poor and needy search for water and there is none,

      and their tongues are parched from thirst,

   then I, the Lord, will answer them.

      I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them.

 ¹⁸ I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus.

      I will give them fountains of water in the valleys.

   I will fill the desert with pools of water.

      Rivers fed by springs will flow across the parched ground.

 ¹⁹ I will plant trees in the barren desert—

      cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine.

 ²⁰ I am doing this so all who see this miracle

      will understand what it means—

   that it is the Lord who has done this,

      the Holy One of Israel who created it.

~ Isaiah 41: 1-20

This particular chapter stood out to me for a couple reasons. It's important to know some of the history behind this chapter. These words were spoken to Israel during a time when Assyria ruled the land and the Israelites. God has placed His people in exile because of their refusal to worship the Lord their God and their failure to do what was honoring to the eyes of God. So, Isaiah the prophet comes along and shares these words from God. The words of God are redemptive and compassionate words. Keep in mind that Israel did not deserve this love and mercy, yet God has chosen to redeem them as His people. When I read the above verses, I cannot help but become overwhelmed with majestic and sovereign nature of God. The words and His love for Israel, for us, is captivating and extravagant. That we are worthy enough to be called Children of God is indescribable. Someone in our group sent out an email last week and at the end of her encouraging words to keep plugging our way through all 66 chapters of Isaiah, she spoke these very wise words: 

"Have fun with this. Read it to enjoy it, not to get it done. Take off your shoes - we are on Holy Ground".

How true that statement is and the words "This is Holy Ground" have remained with me because that is where I am. When engaging the presence of God, we are indeed standing on Holy Ground and how awesome is it that we get to be there. He has redeemed us and called us His own, just like He covenanted with Israel. May you truly feel the effects of standing on that Holy Ground, redeemed through Jesus Christ.