Questions, Questions!
Opening Prayer
Mighty God, I accept Your Word as the bedrock truth. Speak directly to me now from Your Word.
Read Isaiah 40:12-31
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Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
“Our God is the God of infinite resources-and just as he never grows tired or weary (28), so also his people need not grow tired or weary because he promises to renew their strength if they place their hope in him (31)” (Ronald Youngblood).
Think Further
Isaiah asks his readers to consider around 20 questions in this chapter (the exact number depends on translation and how we count combined questions), but basically it boils down to three–who is God? How do powerful nations and idols compare? How can you possibly be so stupid as to not realize what the answers to the first two questions mean for you?
Most Christians today are not threatened by idols fashioned from wood or gold and would strongly agree–at least in theory, as indeed would most of Isaiah’s original listeners–that God is sovereign over the whole world. But in practice, how many of us do feel threatened and sometimes very afraid because of economic crises, nuclear dangers (whether power station failures or the use of weapons), the growing influence of other religions, perceived or real spiritual forces, or the misuse of power by autocratic or megalomaniac rulers of our own or other nations. These threats are real and must be dealt with, but it is important we get them in perspective.
This week, I bought some potatoes locally in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The potatoes, unwashed and with soil attached, were placed in the scale pan and then tipped directly into the bag–very different from modern supermarkets but not so different from Isaiah’s shopping. Some of the dust or soil attaching to the potatoes remained on the scale. It is real, on modern scales even measurable, and theoretically belongs to the buyer–but it is completely irrelevant, as is the single drop remaining when a bucket of water is poured out. That is how idols and powerful nations compare to God. Is this really how I see the modern parallels? If not, is it because I have not yet fully grasped the reality of Isaiah’s God?
Apply
“When I am afraid, I put my trust in You … in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me” (Psa. 56:3,4)? Endeavor to fully embrace this truth as you journey through today.
Closing prayer
Lord, as I ponder these words, I ask You to forgive me for being intimidated by things in daily life. I long to trust You more fully.
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