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Isaiah 40 Confident Hope in the Future

by fol CHURCH on January 22, 2021

In these strange, unpredictable, frightening, often lonely and worrying days, do you have hope in the future? It’s hard to understand what has and is going on in the world. We question why it’s happening and desperately try to make sense of things.

Look at these words from Isaiah and take comfort in the knowledge that God cares when life seems to be falling apart.

Israel has been exiled to Babylon and Jerusalem and the temple have been destroyed. These have been extremely difficult times. It’s almost as if God has forgotten His people, but then the prophet Isaiah brings comfort and hope from God.

v.1-2: God tells Isaiah to speak tenderly and to comfort Jerusalem. God’s comfort and tender words speak directly to their hearts.

v.3-5: The desert is a picture of trials and suffering. We all face them, but we mustn’t let our faith be hindered by them. Through Isaiah, God tells us to be prepared to see God at work. John the Baptist used these words as he challenged the people to prepare for the coming of Jesus (Matthew 3:3) The idea of ‘preparing the way of the Lord’ is in our hearts. When our hearts are ready, His Glory is revealed.

v.6-8: The Word of God has survived persecution, changing ideas and critics, neglect through doubt and unbelief, but still……..the Word of our God stands forever! God’s Word is constant and in contrast to us referred to as grass, God’s Word provides us with lasting solutions to our problems and needs.

v.9-11: God is often pictured as a shepherd. He is powerful (v.10) yet careful and gentle:

  • A shepherd (Psalm 23)
  • A good shepherd (John 10:11)
  • The great shepherd (Hebrews 13:20)
  • The chief shepherd (1 Peter 5:4)

The shepherd cares for the most vulnerable and defenceless. Individuals and nations who rely on God’s strength are those whom God rescues.

v.12-28: Isaiah goes on to describe God’s power to create His provision to sustain and His presence to help. It’s wonderful to realise that even though God is almighty and all powerful, He cares for each one of us personally.

v.29-31: Gods never tires. He’s never too busy to help and to listen. When the world is crashing in around us, remember that God can renew our strength. Hoping in the Lord is expecting that His promise of strength will help us rise above present difficulties.

We have limited knowledge and understanding of God and His power when we compare Him to what we experience. In these difficult times, we must be careful not to limit what God is doing.

“God’s message for the world in this coronavirus outbreak is that He is calling the world to repentance while there is still time.” (J. Piper)

 

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Spend time with God in prayer now. Open your heart to Him. Allow Him to comfort you and fill you with hope. Amen.

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