Because of the importance of Israel and its people, and my personal love for The Land, I’m inviting you to join me through the key Old Testament book of Isaiah. Each day I’m posting some simple thoughts about this complex prophet.
Isaiah 27.
God has promised to deliver His people, the children of Israel. And, by way of the work of Jesus on the cross and at the empty tomb, God will deliver you and me as well.
Isaiah opens this chapter with a vivid picture of God defeating a giant on our behalf — a leviathan. Most scholars believe at this telling, the prophet is not talking about an animal of the sea, but rather evil in general. We can be encouraged that ultimately God defeats evil and rescues His people who turn to Him.
“Let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me. Yes, let them make peace with me.” (v5, NIV).
Maybe that monster is anything that gets between us and God? He is judge and He is worthy to be worshiped! Israel is challenged to tear down altars of false idol worship. We are too! What are things in our lives that not only get in our way of seeing God, but actually work against us? There’s a pretty stern warning, even a sad declaration, for those who have turned their backs on God.
“So, the God who made them, (those who will not tear down the altars of the world) will have nothing to do with them. He who formed them will turn His back on them.” (v 11, MSG).
But there is good news! He has an exciting plan for a rich harvest of His children and for His children:
“At that time God will thresh from the River Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt, And you, people of Israel, will be selected grain by grain. At that same time a great trumpet will be blown, calling home the exiles from Assyria, welcoming home the refugees from Egypt to come and worship God on the holy mountain, Jerusalem.” (v12-13, MSG).
He will choose us. Ephesians says He already has chosen us, to be His people, His children:
“Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children.” (Ephesians 1:4-5, CEV).
God is so kind to us. And we can be thankful that He calls us His very own children. We can find true peace in His arms.
If you’re new to this journey through Isaiah, you can start here.
(c) 2020. Rich Ronald.
RichRonald.com 