As You Go

Summary

Bel and Nebo - the gods of Babylon fail to provide for and protect people. They are powerless. They must be carried. In contrast, God carries us. God shows his care and compassion for those sucked into worshipping idols. However, he also challenges and corrects.

God: God is correcting and teaching his people the right way to live. He can see them failing and He won’t let it persist. God here uses logic and reason to correct. Yet, God also talks about consequences and outcomes - worshipping idols does not increase people, it decreases them.

God also states clearly their failure. He is compassionate but not afraid to challenge. We think that following Jesus is only nice and comforting things. God’s desire for us is to reveal our sins and failures and the right way to live.

Gospel

It is good news that God tells us to listen, to learn, and to live differently. If God speaks it, God also provides everything for his word to be effective. God does whatever he wishes. His wish is to make you whole. Jesus challenged his disciples often in their thinking and behaviour. There was unmeasured love for them, but they knew his challenges were for them to improve for their good.

Reflection

What do you find difficult about following Jesus? Why do you think it is challenging? Give it to God today.

Summary

God knows the end from the beginning. God is the first and the last. God alone can speak about the future. Isaiah speaks and we will listen because He speaks on behalf of the one true God.

God

God calls Cyrus. A king who never knew or acknowledged him - so that he could stop the Babylonian conquests. Years before Cyrus was born, God talks about this king. Babylon who takes Assyria's seat as the world power would eventually do the same evil deeds. God sends Cyrus and the Medes and Persians to correct this wrong. Cyrus was also the King who would give the order to allow the Israelites to return home to rebuild Jerusalem. When we contrast this chapter with other prophets of the Bible - we can see a similar message - Babylon is not eternal (no human empire is) and it will give way to the Medes and Persians. They too will disappear. Only 1 kingdom will remain.

Gospel

An anointed King coming to deal with evil in this world - sounds like Jesus doesn't it? God is openly declaring the future so that we will put our trust in him. God is not working in the dark, but he is in the light. Jesus said: "I have told you these things before they happened so that when they do happen you will believe." (John 14:29). God has prepared everything. The future direction of this universe is moving towards God's kingdom plan. "Every knee will bend, and every tongue will confess allegiance to me." These words appear in the New Testament looking forward to the day when all the world will worship King Jesus. If there is no other God but Yahweh - then all nations will worship him eventually. They will discover the one true God.

Summary

Are all religions basically the same and pointing to the same thing. The difference between the God of the Bible and the other gods worshipped by people. The other gods are about what you do for them, whereas the God of Isaiah is about what He does for you. God pays the price, God does the work. Salvation in human religion is a human achievement. Salvation in God's way is God's achievement.

God

You have to do so much to worship the gods. So much effort is involved in making it, and so much time is spent bowing before it. This kind of religion is built on human actions and accomplishments. The God of the Bible initiates. The God of Isaiah is the opposite. Worshipping God is not about survival. Worshipping God is about lifting up humanity. Worship of idols is feeding on ashes, and believing in lies. Religion is perceived by many as a delusion that degrades humanity. 

There is an irony in saying that all religions believe the same thing.

Some people say all religions lead to the same place but neglect to realise the diversity of beliefs in religion. It is naive to put all the distinct beliefs of the world into one category and label them the same. The God of the Bible is different to other deities worshipped. To lump Isaiah's God in with other beliefs about god is foolish and misguided. This God is distinct - known for what he does for people, not for what people do for him.

God's way is summed up in the image of water flowing onto the land to nourish it just like the Spirit flows and creates life in my heart (44:3).

Gospel

It is good news that God is both Redeemer and Creator. God doesn't need your help. Some people think it's "Do your best then God will do the rest" but this is idol worship. Idol worship is about making god and then living for god. Maybe we should see it like: "God did the best so that I can rest." He paid the price. He redeemed me. Jesus also called us to be born of the water and the spirit in John 3. A transformation that comes from above. God's initiative to create my new lifestyle. 

Summary

God wants to do here and now what He did there and then. God is calling for a faith that takes the promises and past experiences of God in history and invites God to work again here in the present. Isaiah 43 moves forward from the focus on creation to God’s saving actions in history. Isaiah looks to the Rescue of the Israelite Slaves from Egyptian slavery and promises God will do a new Exodus in their day.

God

Isaiah pulls together some interesting memories from Israelite history to encourage his readers. First, he calls them “Jacob-Israel” to remind them of how their nation began. Jacob was the son of Isaac who ran away from home and made bad choices. But by wrestling with God, God promised he would bless and protect him. This is when the name change happened. In some way, by starting here, Isaiah is inviting the listeners to wrestle with God too. To also discover God for themselves.

God declares at the end that he alone blots out sins, promising never to think of them again. If God forgets something, does that mean it never existed?

God is also bringing a new redemption from a new Empire oppressing them - Babylon. Like Egypt, Assyria, and other nations before and after - God will stand up for His people. “I am going to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness” (vs 19) God will save us, he Himself. Like the parting of the Red Sea, he promises to part the wilderness with a river.

Gospel

Jacob wrestled with God because he realised his need, his sin was his burden. The sad part of Isaiah 43 is that “the dear family of Jacob, refuse to ask for God’s help.” (Vs 22) they would rather be burdened with their sins and faults than to come to God for help. God invites us to come to him and review the situation together. Consult with God. Don’t run from him. What Jacob did right was that he went to God. God can rescue one or he can rescue many. He can protect in the floodwaters and in the fire. He can defeat oppressive empires and conquering armies. Why not just go to him?

Summary

God has a grand destiny for Israel. They would transform the world and many would be drawn into a relationship with God. Israel does not accomplish God’s call for them. So He must do it himself. He must become the Servant. The Lord will fulfill his law and call as was required.

God

God is the Creator God who makes everything, holds everything in his hand, and works in the world to continue creating life. The reality of this world is corrupt and dark, yet God is invested in its redemption. Israel was called to reveal this God to the world - yet still they failed. So it becomes necessary that God correct Israel. The people He called became like the rest of the world.

Gospel

It is good news that God sends His Servant. Jesus is the One who God chose, the beloved Son in whom God is pleased (Matthew 3:17).

God is bringing justice through Jesus because he never did any wrong. Not even the weakest was threatened by Him. Jesus will not falter, he will definitely not fail.

Yet Jesus didn’t seek fame and glory. In fact he avoided it. He would rather be incognito and insignificant in the world’s standards. Jesus exudes humility.  

Reflection

What do people see when they see you? 

Summary

Isaiah 41 is a courtroom scene. God invites them to present their case. He’s challenging the idols. God presents both knowledge of the future and his creative power throughout history as evidence for his right to be God.

God

God is the Creator and the Revealer. It has always been countercultural to see God as our Creator instead of something we create. Idols don’t make strong, they have to be made strong. The smith works hard to make it stand up and bring the parts together. Then people worship it.

But God is the Smith, not the steel. He chooses us, forms us, makes us strong and holds us up. We don’t hold God up, he holds us up. God can have friends, like Abraham. God chooses, he is not chosen.

God is also the gardener. He plants the trees. Ironically, humanity cuts the trees down and makes idols out of them.

Gospel

God delivers the good news by His messenger. God himself is organising the message of deliverance (41:27). We refer to the 4 Gospels which detail the life of Jesus for this reason: Jesus is this messenger God sent. What He said, lived, and did is God’s good news message. God sent us a message that reverberates through history. God sending Jesus was the ultimate message of victory we needed - it’s what let’s Him say He can hold our hand with His victorious right hand.

We never could do enough to make a good and lasting changing for humanity - only Jesus did.

Summary

As we move through Isaiah 40, the chapter is full of anticipation and excitement. Everyone is preparing for the coming of the new king. But the King is none other than God Himself. He will lead His people like a shepherd.

God

From verse 12, Isaiah makes us question ourselves and think about who God really is? The emphasis is on God’s creative power. He is a living God unlike the created idols or things of created nature. Who can you compare God to?

The first reason given for looking to God’s power - is that though I fade, God does not. His word is true and does not fade over time. God won’t grow weary and faint on you. He won’t fail to help you.

The second reason is that God sees what I’m going through. He is not absent from our planet. He sits above the circle of our planet (implying he’s more like a satellite focused on our planet than space junk floating through space never to return to Earth). God is all-powerful and he is dependable.

The third reason is that God can’t be fully and totally experienced. He is eternally greater and wiser than me. I will always have something to learn. I can keep coming back to him day after day, and he will have fresh insights to teach me.

Gospel

The messenger is bringing good news. Imagine that moment when you’re at war and the message arrives: “God is coming.” This is an exciting event that changes everything. When we talk about the good news of Jesus, this is what it means: God is stepping in and everything changes when he turns up. Jesus used this same language when he declared God’s king is near - He was really pointing to His work to change not only individuals but the world.

What does Isaiah 40 reveal to you about Jesus? Spend time meditating on who Jesus is and how he changes your life.

This is the third and final part of Hezekiah’s story. Make sure to listen to chapters 36 and 37 before listening to this episode.

Sickness and sign

A sickness, a sign, a song, and a simple mistake. This is Hezekiah’s last test - death. Will he trust or doubt God? Hezekiah wept bitterly realising his time was up. This was not at the end of his life, but in his prime. It also seems to be happening while the king of Assyria is knocking on his door. Isaiah returns saying God will show mercy and heal him. 

Later we realise it is a medicinal remedy that Isaiah gives him. Now Hezekiah is given a sign like Ahaz was given a sign - but the son is trusting and listens to God. Maybe symbolically the sun going back is like saying that Hezekiah’s choice are rewriting the history of his father’s sins.

Application

We are not determined by our ancestry. God calls us no matter where we come from or what we done.

A song

Hezekiah writes a song after his healing highlighting the importance of life. He feels life is being robbed from him. Life moves so quickly and we live constantly in anticipation looking to the next thing, before we know it, it’s all over. Hezekiah discovers the blessing of more life and embraces it. He wants to give those years to God. Every day of his life will be spent praising God in the temple. He makes a point here of showing how death is not an advantage. Death is an absence of consciousness. The dead don’t praise. Only the living praise.

Application

we must make the most of the life we live now. We can see how Hezekiah heard Isaiah’s message and responded in faith. How will you respond?

A simple and silly mistake

Then we have a conclusion to the story that anticipates a bigger threat than Assyria. Babylon. Perhaps, God is looking forward to the next generations. Wanting them to have faithful trust in God. Yet, the same mistakes come to all people.

Hezekiah naively shows them everything in the temple treasury thinking they are from a distant land. It seems not a big deal to him. Even Hezekiah plays it down. But it is silly move. Maybe it is slightly bordering on pride. Isaiah warns this will be the nation that will eventually destroy Jerusalem. Hezekiah only saw his present situation - and he didn’t (like Isaiah) look at God’s bigger plan.

Application

Hezekiah was a great king, but he was not the KING. This theme will carry us into the final 27 chapters of Isaiah. From here on out it is a book of encouragement and hope. It sees a people broken and falling apart but also a Saviour come to comfort them.

This is part two of a three-part story. Go back to Isaiah 36 to understand the context for this part of the story of King Hezekiah’s test.

Summary

King Hezekiah is not like his father. Isaiah approached Ahaz offering him support and was rejected. Now Hezekiah is seeking support from Isaiah. This is a David and Goliath moment. Goliath, Assyria, has defied God and waged war on Jerusalem. David’s son Hezekiah is concerned by this. They write letters to the king threatening him.

God

God’s response is the same response all along. It is a repetition of a message that has been given to humanity for a long time. He assures: “I myself will move against him.” (Vs 7) Hezekiah is threatened by a letter from King Sennacherib detailing how he will crush him. Hezekiah takes that letter and places it in the temple before God.

Hezekiah is the first reader of Isaiah. Everything we’ve been reading so far, Hezekiah read first and believed. You can see how he’s been changed by Isaiah’s message. He’s totally different to his father Ahaz. He sees the threat, but he knows how empty it is. Hezekiah’s God can’t be thrown into the fire and destroyed forever.

Gospel

It is good news that God fights instead of us. God promises he will defend them (vs 35). God’s response is that Hezekiah won’t have to draw a sword or shield. No seige will take place. God himself will send Sennacherib home. Like at the time of the exodus when the angel of the Lord fought for them, here 185,000 Assyrian soldiers are defeated sending Sennacherib home. In the end his own sons killed him. The evil path is always self-destructive. King Hezekiah succeeds here by doing different to anyone who sat on the same throne - he went to God, and let God fight his battles.

Conclusion

Hezekiah succeeded here but this is not the end of the story. Assyria is fading away, but now a bigger test of faith is coming. The great enemy we all face. Hezekiah is dying.

Isaiah 36 is the beginning of a 3 part story. King Hezekiah’s test.

Recap

In Isaiah 7, Isaiah confronted King Ahaz at the aqueducts of Jerusalem as they prepared for an attack from Israel and Syria. Ahaz failed to trust God, being more focused on his local attackers. He hoped to get help from Assyria. Isaiah said this is not a good idea. Now in King Hezekiah’s day, Assyria is coming to siege and attack Jerusalem just as Isaiah warned. In the same spot Isaiah stood, the Assyrian king’s chief meets with Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah.

Summary

Sennacherib’s spokesperson tells them not to look to Egypt. While this sounds like what Isaiah said all along, it is actually a way to crush their spirits. Next, he says that God won’t help them, but he misunderstands that Hezekiah’s reforms of tearing down the altars was God’s desire. He tries to show how their army is far superior to Judah’s and says they have nothing to rely on. He ends finally by using the prophet’s words against them: “The Lord has told us: ‘attack and destroy it.’”

Everything this officer says is intended to threaten, dishearten and discourage King Hezekiah and Jerusalem.

God

Assyria saw weapons and armies as their gods. Gods of violence and war. Their taunts were the words of Isaiah mixed with religious taunts. It is easy to have a mistaken view of God. Maybe Eliakim and co would believe this Assyrian representative. Maybe he’s right about Hezekiah failing them. He speaks in Hebrew (the language of Jerusalem) and bribes them with everything Isaiah has told them God would provide them should they be faithful to Him.

Gospel

At some point, the word of God needs to become part of our life. It can be easy for us to listen to the Bible and hear encouraging messages and say I believe. But will we live them too?

When crisis comes, how will we respond? When we are doubting, will we give up, or renew our faith again? When Satan puts before us temptation, will we fall or rise again?

“Do not answer him.” It was the command of Hezekiah to the people. Everyone remained silent. In this one thing, they are putting their trust in their king. How do we go when Jesus tells us to be silent and listen?

Conclusion

Ahaz failed in a similar test. Will Hezekiah repeat his parents' mistakes or will he follow God’s word? Will this be a turning moment for Israel? Will Hezekiah exemplify what it looks like to be a true king?