If you listen to the news, it will seem all is lost. Riots, fighting, political discord, socialism, pandemics, suffering, and no solutions. You would think this is the worse of times and no hope exists for us. Perhaps it is the final judgement coming and we cannot turn the tide. As we read Isaiah, it would seem he was writing about us, our nation. Intermingled throughout the book of Isaiah are truths that seem to have repeated themselves multiple times in history, despite it being written to Judah. Beyond that it speaks of prophecies yet to come as well as those completed. It stands as a symbol of the fact that we can rest assured all that He has planned will be accomplished.
Isaiah Chapter 13 through 24 detail the rise and fall of many nations surrounding Israel and Judah, including their roles in bringing judgment to Israel and Judah for their sinful, woeful disobedience to God. This despite God’s great pouring out of blessings and mercy repeatedly toward them. Yet, nothing has ever taken God by surprise. He knew their choices and still had a plan to bring salvation to the world through His son. His plan and promise to Abraham never swayed. The remnant of believers, those who believed God in the worst of times, though humbled and meek would be the line through whom Jesus was born.
Isaiah 25 (NET)
O Lord, you are my God![a]
I will exalt you in praise, I will extol your fame.[b]
For you have done extraordinary things,
and executed plans made long ago exactly as you decreed.[c]
2 Indeed,[d] you have made the city[e] into a heap of rubble,
the fortified town into a heap of ruins;
the fortress of foreigners[f] is no longer a city,
it will never be rebuilt.
3 So a strong nation will extol you;
the towns of[g] powerful nations will fear you.
4 For you are a protector for the poor,
a protector for the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm,
a shade from the heat.
Though the breath of tyrants[h] is like a winter rainstorm,[i]
5 like heat[j] in a dry land,
you humble the boasting foreigners.[k]
All that He has Planned
Just as the shadow of a cloud causes the heat to subside,[l]
so he causes the song of tyrants to cease.[m]
6 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will hold a banquet for all the nations on this mountain.[n]
At this banquet there will be plenty of meat and aged wine—
tender meat and choicest wine.[o]
7 On this mountain he will swallow up
the shroud that is over all the peoples,[p]
the woven covering that is over all the nations;[q]
8 he will swallow up death permanently.[r]
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from every face,
and remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.
Indeed, the Lord has announced it![s]
9 At that time they will say,[t]
“Look, here[u] is our God!
We waited for him, and he delivered us.
Here[v] is the Lord! We waited for him.
Let’s rejoice and celebrate his deliverance!”
10 For the Lord’s power will make this mountain secure.[w]
All that He has planned will be Accomplished!
He has a plan even amid our current crisis in which our nation reels from the constant barrage of evil being called good and good evil. Perhaps the same as He proclaimed to Judah regarding Justice.
Isaiah 26: (net)
9 I] look for[n] you during the night;
my spirit within me seeks you at dawn,
for when your judgments come upon the earth,
those who live in the world learn about justice.[o]
10 If the wicked are shown mercy,
they do not learn about justice.[p]
Even in a land where right is rewarded, they act unjustly;[q]
they do not see the Lord’s majesty revealed.
11 O Lord, you are ready to act,[r]
but they don’t even notice.
They will see and be put to shame by your angry judgment against humankind;[s]
yes, fire will consume your enemies.[t]
All that He has Planned will be Accomplished!
Think of that! Nothing can alter God’s ultimate plan. All that He has planned will be accomplished. He has the answer even now. So, what does that mean for those of us who do believe? Do we run and hide in the shadows in fear waiting for His return? Absolutely not!
Instead, it should make us bold like the early apostles who preached the gospel to a hostile world. We must not be silenced. After all we are the only ones with the real solution here and who knows but what God will send a revival into these dark times.
Paul to Macedonia
When Paul was called by God to go to Macedonia, He went where God sent him. There arriving at Philippi, he began preaching in the most wicked, liberal city filled with multiple idolatrous religions. Sin ran rampant, but all the people thought they were right. How dare this little man say that Jesus Christ was the only way? His first church? Two women, one who had been demon possessed. Then he was thrown into jail. There God opened the prison doors and Paul did not run free in fear. He started preaching, leading the prison guard and his entire family to God. Hence a church was born in Philippi.
Philippi was a church with many trials; but full of God’s joy.
Philippians 1 (NKJV)
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole [b]palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear….
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but [f]to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Concluding thoughts
Not exactly the prosperity gospel. We will face afflictions, trials and may even face death for our stance. But we can rest assured, He will Accomplish all that He has planned. For those of us who know Him, He is our joy, hope, strength, love, and peace no matter what else surrounds us. So we must go forth spreading the light to a dark world in need of Him.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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Disclosures
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Credits
New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New English Translation (NET)
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.