Readings for today: Isaiah 40-42, Psalms 46
Who is God? It’s the most important question we can possibly answer in this life. Everything rides on it. Who we become. How we live our lives. Where we will spend eternity. If we believe God is arbitrary and capricious, self-absorbed and power-hungry, untrustworthy and unworthy; then this will shape how we understand ourselves and our world. If we believe God is harsh and judgmental, condemning and shaming, rigid and inflexible; then this will shape how we see ourselves and interact with those around us. But if we believe God is glorious and true, good and gracious, loving and generous; then this too will have a transformative impact on our identity and our relationships.
The prophet Isaiah held a beautiful and glorious understanding of God. The great Comforter. The mighty Warrior. The good Shepherd. Isaiah’s God is without rival. He holds the waters of the world in the hollow of His hand. He measures and sets the boundaries for the skies. He weighs the soils of the earth. His mind is unsearchable. His wisdom unfathomable. His skill incomparable. Even if you gathered all the nations together and pooled all the resources of earth, it would be a drop in the bucket compared to God. God sits on earth’s horizon. God sees time and space spread out before Him. Human beings are like grasshoppers in His sight. No earthly power can assail Him. No earthly authority can stand before Him. He created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. He is eternal. He is infinite. He is limitless.
And here’s the really good news. This same God has chosen to be with us. This same God has chosen to adopt us as His children. We get the privilege of being His servants. His instruments of blessing and righteousness in the world. And because God has chosen us, we don’t have to be afraid for He will sustain us. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you. Yes, I help you. Yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!” Isaiah 41:10 NET) And what is our response to God’s gracious election? We choose Him in return and thereby receive the fulfillment of all He has promised. Those who wait for Him gain access to Him. Those who seek Him come to know Him. Those who look to Him find their strength renewed. “They rise up as if they had eagles’ wings, they run without growing weary, they walk without getting tired.” (Isaiah 40:31 NET)
Readings for tomorrow: Isaiah 43-45, Psalms 80