Devotionary

Discipline and mercy. Wrath and love. Judgment and justice. Rebuking and restoration. The Bible is full of paradoxes that make us shake our head in confusion. Throughout the entire book, we see God presented in ways that appear contradictory and difficult to reconcile. And in these last few chapters of Isaiah, there has been a steady stream of oracles warning of God’s pending judgment against the nations. And yet, in Isaiah 19:16-25, we will hear God say some strikingly different things to Egypt than He did in the first 15 verses. In fact, this portion of the chapter presents a somewhat surprising scene that features Egypt receiving healing from the hand of God. And the Egyptian people responding in praise, adoration and worship. Obviously, these things have not yet happened. There are no altars to the God of Israel in Egypt at this time. But Isaiah describes a day in which the worship of Israel’s God will be commonplace. And many of the other nations mentioned in these oracles will worship God alongside the

Nobody likes being disciplined. And it doesn’t help when a parent tells the child they are about to discipline that, “This will hurt me far worse than it hurts you.” That well-used maxim has never been believed by any child of any age at any time in history. And the children of God are no different. Despite the fact that God assures us that He disciplines those He loves, we still avoid it like the plague. We will do anything in our power to escape the judgment and loving discipline of God – even if it means refusing to own up to the sin in our lives and rejecting His will for our lives. In Isaiah 19:1-15, we are going to encounter yet another oracle of God, this time delivered to the nation of Egypt. The nation of Judah had placed Egypt high on its list of potential candidates for the role of rescuer from God’s pending judgment. But God was going to let Judah know that Egypt would have enough problems of its own, and find themselves unwilling and incapable of doing anything to help Judah out of its predicamen

God made the world. The book of Genesis makes that perfectly clear. But sometimes it is easy to forget that fact and to view God as some distant deity who is out of touch with a world that seems to be increasingly out of His control. But Isaiah would have us realize that God still rules over all that exists and His sovereignty extends to the ends of the earth. And in Isaiah 18:1-7, we will see God deliver another oracle, this time against the nation of Cush. While we know little about this kingdom, we do know that, to the average Hebrew in Isaiah’s day, it represented the ends of the earth. It was a relatively unknown land that remained a mystery to the people of Judah. Yet, God has plans for Cush. In fact, He has plans for all the nations of the earth – past, present, and future. As the people of Judah faced the prospect of God’s pending judgment, they were looking for someone to step in and rescue them. And they weren’t that picky when it came to potential rescuers. So, God makes it clear that the nations t

Faithfulness is important to God, because He is faithful. And He expects those whom He chooses to call His own to respond to Him in faithfulness. But as we have already seen, the peoples of Israel and Judah found it virtually impossible to treat God with the honor and reverence He deserves. They were constantly pursuing false gods and putting their hopes in pagan nations. Regardless of the many occasions when God stood by His people, they continued to turn their backs on Him, treating Him with disdain and showing Him disrespect. And in Isaiah 17:9-14, God will accuse the people of Judah of forgetting Him, the God of their salvation. They will prove to have short-term memories, failing to remember all that He had done for them. And they will show a disregard for His involvement in their lives, thinking instead that they are somehow responsible for all the good things they enjoy. Their forgetfulness will bring upon them God’s justice. And while God would end up punishing their unfaithfulness, He will remain fai

God is the only god there is. There are no others. And as the sole deity in the universe and the creator of all that exists within it, God demands and expects to occupy center stage in the hearts of those He has created. But ever since the fall, mankind has found itself on a trajectory away from God. Sin, at the core of which lies pride, has caused man to drift from God, and doomed humanity to a futile quest to find significance and meaning in life. But this journey of discovery never ends. Sinful, pride-prone man never finds that for which he is searching. And yet, God graciously calls out, offering Himself as the sole source of man’s joy, comfort, meaning, and hope. He alone can deliver what man so desperately seeks. And in Isaiah 17:1-8, God continues His judgment against the nations. He delivers yet another oracle, this time pertaining to Syria. He lets them know what He has in store for them because they had allied themselves with Israel and had plotted to overthrow the nation of Judah. And God uses this

In Isaiah 16:1-14, God continues His oracle concerning the nation of Moab. He has much more to say regarding this long-standing enemy of Judah. And much of what God reveals in this chapter has to do with events surrounding a future day that has yet have taken place. There is little doubt that God did eventually judge the Moabites for the role they played in Judah’s defection from God. He could not excuse them for the influence they had in leading the people of Judah astray. They would turn to their false gods for help, but would find them to be impotent to do anything to help them. They would prove no match for the omnipotent God of the universe. As we have seen before, God speaks of a day when the tables will be turned and the people of Moab will find themselves on the receiving end of God’s judgment. They will be the ones to weep and mourn over their loss. Like all the other nations who stood opposed to God and His people, the Moabites would learn the hard way that they were helpless against the righteous J

It seems to be a universal principle that every truth has its counterfeit that shows up in the form of a lie. Everything that is real seems to have its false alternative. And this principle applies to God as well. According to the Scriptures, there is only one true God, but that has not stopped the proliferation of thousands upon thousands of false gods over the centuries. The Bible offers one objective standard of truth and righteousness, but that has not prevented the propagation of countless counterfeit alternatives. And, as we will see in Isaiah 15:1-9, this tendency of mankind to promulgate all kinds of substitutes for God and His Word has always been around. The people of Moab worshiped their own god, and they lived by their own set of moral standards. But the sad reality is that their preference for false gods and fraudulent ethical standards had caused the people of God to reject the one true God for a lie. The Moabites had proven to be a stumbling block to the people of Judah, causing them to turn aw

Humanity seems to be hardwired to rejoice at the fall of an enemy. We take a perverse pleasure in seeing someone we dislike get what we believe to be their just desserts. Whether we call it revenge, payback, retribution or comeuppance – it all means the same thing. And in Isaiah 14:28-32, God has a word for the nations, warning them about celebrating over the apparent fall of Judah too quickly. He specifically addresses the Philistines, the perennial enemies of the people of God, letting them know that their day of judgment was coming as well. So, while they might see the fall of Judah as good news worth celebrating, they needed to know that God was going to pay them back for the roles they had played in opposing the people of God and, in some cases, leading them away from God. While the book of Isaiah is primarily a message of God to His chosen people, it contains prophetic pronouncements concerning humanity as a whole. Even the land of Philistia would one day experience the judgment of God, because He rules

Humanity has a pride problem. Ever since the fall, mankind has displayed an uncanny ability to make far too much of itself. While we are the byproduct of God’s creative powers, we tend to believe the lie that, somehow, we are self-made men and women. We have convinced ourselves that, when it comes to our many achievements and advancements in everything from medicine and healthcare to science and technology, we deserve all the credit. But this pride problem has been around for a long time. In fact, Isaiah 14:24-27 deals with the pride of the nation of Assyria and provides God’s perspective regarding it. Let’s just say that the Assyrians were going to discover the hard way, that their power would prove no match for the omnipotent God of the universe. While He would allow the Assyrians to inflict pain and suffering on the people of Israel, God would not give them free reign to do as they wished. This pagan nation, like every other nation that has ever existed, were subject to the sovereign will of God Almighty.

The world has always been full of people and organizations that stand opposed to God. And that makes sense when we consider that the god of this world is Satan, who has long aspired to set himself up in place of God. And because Satan rules this fallen world, he has influence over unredeemed mankind, causing them to follow his ways and live with the same sense of pride and arrogance that marks his own nature. The nations of this world have long emulated the ways of Satan, coveting the power, position and possessions he offers them in return for selling out to him. And in Isaiah 14:12-23, we get a look at the impact Satan’s influence has on the nations of the world during the end times, particularly Babylon. God provided Isaiah with insight into the fall of Babylon that would take place in the not-so-distant future. But He also revealed details concerning the destruction of a future Babylon, that would exist during the days of the Tribulation. The kingdom of Satan and the kingdoms of men have no chance against

God always has the end in mind. He knows the outcome of all things and, because He operates outside the restrictions of time and space, God is fully aware of how the story ends. Mainly, because He is the author of the story. There is nothing that happens on this planet that surprises God or catches Him off-guard. Every single aspect of human history has been pre-ordained by God and, as we will see in Isaiah 14:3-11, even the ultimate outcome of that history has been pre-determined by God. But, while God knows how the story ends, we as human beings tend to live with our eyes focused on the here-and-now, mesmerized by the current events that make up our lives. And the people of Judah were no different. All they could think about was the pending arrival of the Babylonians, as decreed by God and prophesied by Isaiah. From their vantage point, everything looked bleak. They had already seen their northern neighbors, the nation of Israel, fall to the Assyrians and end up in captivity. Now, it seemed like only a matt

required to wait. We may even begin to wonder and doubt whether He is going to come through for us, but He always does. And in Isaiah 14:1-2, we have yet another promise from God that assures the people of Judah that their future will be bright – all because God has decreed it. He has made a covenant commitment and He will not go back on His word. These two short verses are pregnant with meaning and literally overflowing with encouragement. Yet, how easy it is to read them and miss all that God is trying to convey through them. For the people of Judah, the news of God’s pending judgment and the approaching armies of Babylon weighed heavy on their minds. They couldn’t see past the current predicament in which they found themselves. But over and over again, God assures them that He has great things in store for them. His plans for them include blessings that will far over-shadow any suffering they may have to endure. And they will happen because He is the covenant-keeping God.

God stands outside of time. He is eternal, having no beginning or end. And, as the eternal, transcendent God, He is just as knowledgeable of future events as He is of those that happened in the distant past. So, as we look at Isaiah 13:17-22, God is going to provide some insights into the future judgment of the nation of Babylon. And some of what we will see will include events that predict Babylon’s more immediate fate. From our vantage point, they are ancient history, having already taken place. But there will be other prophetic pronouncements that remain unfulfilled. God is speaking of the Babylon as Isaiah knew it in his day, but He is also revealing what will happen to the Babylon that will appear at the end times, during the days of the Great Tribulation. When it comes to God judging the nations, there are clear indications that His wrath comes all along the historic timeline. Nations have come and gone. Dictators and kings who once ruled are now little more than footnotes in a history book. But God, be

Man has always had a unique ability to fabricate his own gods. Ever since the fall, humanity has made a habit out of creating false gods to replace the one true God. Yet, as Isaiah 13:10-16 will reveal, the day is coming when God will eliminate all the false gods from the face of the earth and judge all those who have chosen to replace Him with the lifeless products of their sinful imaginations. As Isaiah continues to discuss “that day” – the coming day of God’s judgment upon the world for their rejection of Him, he paints a rather bleak picture of the consequences of that judgment. God will deal harshly, but also justly. He will simply mete out the punishment rebellious mankind deserves. No one will be able to argue with Him or deny their guilt. His judgment will be just and sure. And while we may find the descriptions of this day disturbing and difficult to reconcile with our concept of an all-loving God, it is essential that we not diminish or downplay God’s hatred for sin and His righteous obligation to d

God has plans for Israel, but He also has plans for all the nations of the earth, including all those who stand opposed to His will and who futilely attempt to thwart His ways. In these opening verses of chapter 13, Isaiah delivers a divine oracle against Babylon. This powerful nation was going to be used by God to bring His judgment upon the people of Judah. But God would also punish them for the role they would play in the destruction of God’s people and city. While acting as instruments in the hands of God, that would not excuse them for their actions, because they would thoroughly enjoy the part they played. They would find great joy in defeating the people of Judah and would take unfair and unnecessary advantage of them. And God would eventually repay them, along with every other nation that stands opposed to Him. This oracle reveals God’s plans for the nations of the earth, and reminds us that He is sovereign over all, including every king and country that has been or ever will be. He alone is God and t

There is no greater praise of God than when His people are able to say, “He has done great things!” Deliverance by God and the provision of God are just a few of the many ways in which we can praise Him for His goodness and grace. As His children, there is not a day that goes by where we lack cause to praise Him. He is always active in and around our lives, oftentimes, in ways that we can’t even see. And in Isaiah 12, a very short chapter consisting of just six verses, Isaiah lets the people of Judah know that there is a day coming when they will give praise and thanks to God for His salvation. As with the last chapter, Isaiah is speaking of a future day when God will intercede for His rebellious and unrepentant people, replacing His well-earned wrath with undeserved mercy and grace. By the time God is done delivering and transforming them, they will know that it has all happened according to His power and in keeping with His promises to them. He will have done great things and they will gladly give Him glory

God makes promises. But, unlike man, God keeps His promises. In fact, Numbers 23:19 states, “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” And in Isaiah 11:11-16, we are going to see God remind His covenant people just how faithful He is going to be regarding His promises to them. While things may have looked dim from their perspective, God knew the future and was letting them know that He had a plan in place for them. He would not forget them. He would not permanently abandon them. In fact, He would one day restore a remnant of them to a right relationship with Himself. And He would do it by keeping the very promise He made to King David that there would one day be a permanent heir to his throne. God has promised that there will be a ruler, a Son of David, to sit on the throne of David. He has also promised a remnant of God’s people will one day rule alongside the Son of David is a

One of the amazing things about the Scriptures is how well they display their divine inspiration. The 66 books contained within the Bible, while written by a variety of authors over a more than 1,400-year period of time, have a synergy and syncretism about them that is difficult to imagine. They reflect their divine origin and communicate a single story that reflects the redemptive plan of God for the world and its inhabitants. And, in Isaiah 11:1-10, we are  provided with one of those amazing sections of God’s Word that reflects a far-greater scope to God’s message than first meets the eye. One of the truly great joys of reading God’s Word is to discover the remarkable connections that link the Old and New Testament. These hidden gems of truth provide evidence of the Spirit’s inspiration of the authors and God’s overarching agenda for mankind that goes far beyond any ethnic, regional, or historical confines. God has the big picture in mind. His focus is eternal in nature. And right when circumstances seem to

God does not do anything halfway. He is not in the habit of partially accomplishing that to which He sets His mind. He completes what He starts. He finishes what He begins. And when it comes to the peoples of Israel and Judah, God has long-term plans for their good that He has yet to bring to fruition. Centuries have passed and generations of Jews have come and gone, but God’s covenant promise to Abraham remains intact and His determination to fulfill what He promised remains unchanged. And in Isaiah 10:20-34, God will reassure His people yet again of His plan to reestablish them in their land and restore them to a right relationship with Him. When you consider all that the Israelites and their southern brothers, the people of Judah, had done to offend God, it is amazing to think that He is going to keep every single one of His promises to them. They had violated their covenant relationship with Him time and time again, but as the covenant-keeping God, He will remain true to His word – until a full end to His

The sovereignty of God is difficult to understand, but, at times, even more difficult to accept. When things are going well, we find it easy to accept God’s sovereignty. We like the idea of an all-powerful, all-knowing and completely-in-control God when things are going our way. But as soon as things take a turn for the worse, we begin to question His control. And when the Bible reveals God as using pagan nations to punish His own people, we get uncomfortable. And, as if to make matters even more confusing, the Bible reveals that God punishes the very nations He used to do His bidding. That kind of control seems unfair and even unethical. But in Isaiah 10:5-19, we will see just such a situation as God warns the Assyrians of their coming judgment. They had been instrumental in His judgment of the nation of Judah, defeating and destroying many of their cities. Then they had besieged the capital city of Jerusalem. All according to God’s sovereign plan. But then God turns around and warns them that He was going t