Isaiah Chapters 44,45 are probably not the most familiar chapters in the Bible, but they are part of the Word of God, and they certainly have very appropriate truths to reveal to us in these present days.
Israel has been in captivity for now nigh on 70 years, suffering for their sins and that is a long time to have to suffer for your sin and your sins. They had previously spent 40 years in the wilderness under Moses, and had not learned the hard sore lessons
God had punished his people but now he sees the babylonians punishing his people Israel was being mistreated treated harshly and unfairly and God saw it he speaks a word of comfort the fortress and fortify and comfort and reassure his people
God is pardoning His people, and they are going to be LED back to the land which He first gave to Abraham, and we need to see this clearly. It will be a sensitive matter over these next days and weeks as we hear about Israel on Jerusalem – but it has been so for some 4,000 years.
The land was given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to their descendants. God has never given the possession of the land to anyone else. Even when Israel was not in the land, the land continued to belong to Israel.
We have to read all this through our experience of Jesus Christ, and our experience of the Holy Spirit. These verses are not easy – but to the Hebrew – and to disciples of Jesus the light of God shines through them.
One note sounded frequently in these chapters is – I am the Lord – I have redeemed you – I have called you – I have formed you – you are mine – I am the Lord Almighty Israel’ s redeemer and king. God has never cast off that people - His people - and we are His, because we are chosen in Christ Jesus. That too is anathema to many.
Verse 2 – God is saying to His chosen people – You are special. Peter writing to disciples of Jesus Christ calls them a chosen nation, a royal priesthood – with precious vital responsibilities. It has little to do with the people involved – but everything to do with our God who calls and chooses. If you need further explanation and emphasis read Deuteronomy Chapters 7,8.
Although this is written primarily to the nation Israel, we can apply much of it personally to ourselves as we consider what we are ‘in Christ’.
There are many people in the churches who have this problem – the problem that Israel belongs to God – and there are many Jews who have a similar problem in accepting that through faith in Jesus Christ we too belong to God.
Verse 3 – Be thirsty for God – drink of the Holy Spirit – be eager and keen what God has to offer and give – and pouring out in generous abundance. Our God is not stingy.
We see in these verses that God is above us and that God is alongside us and that He is underneath us to uphold and support us. God gives His people faith for when their future looks bleak – He is eternal, unique, almighty.
God is the sovereign Lord – He is the saviour – He is the one who supports and comes alongside – our comforter. If He is going to do all that for you, then He has every right to rule over you as well as guard and guide you.
“Lord our God – as we read these verses from Your Holy Word – we bow in worship – and with thanksgiving. Loving Father, we thank You for Jesus Christ, the King of Israel – the King of the Jews – and we thank You that we are called Your children, because of what Jesus has done for us. Hear our prayers, our gracious and merciful God.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.