April 12, 2025

Even when the scriptures seem daunting and we lack understanding, we can be sure God has a teaching moment. Isaiah 18 is short but has some interesting truths.

1. He will take care of His people. God is our comfortable shelter. When it is hot out, He cools us. When it is cold out, He warms us. We can count on Him to be the perfect dwelling place.
2. He will reckon with His and our enemies. When we take shelter in Him, no one on earth, above the earth, or in the sea can harm us without facing the consequences of their actions. He is just.  

If you are dealing with an unpleasant situation, you can be sure that God sees what’s happening, knows who is causing it, will demand restitution from them, and will punish them with His wrath.  We are precious to Him, and He loves us more intensely than any love we’ve ever felt. Because of His love for us, we would be remiss not to give Him the praise and worship He deserves. 

For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. Isaiah 18:5-6

April 11, 2025

We don’t understand everything going on in our nation, but we know that anyone who comes against God’s children will pay the price with their livelihoods and maybe even their existence. Isaiah prophesied against Syria’s city, Damascus, because they joined with Israel to go against Judah, and because they sinned against them, they were carried away captive. Not only was the prophecy saying that Damascus would become desolate, but also Israel. Interestingly, even in their punishment, God left a remnant of repentant people who escaped to Judah. One thing we can count on is God knows us and knows our hearts, so no matter what punishment is handed down to the evil people, He will see that we are covered by Jesus and relent from burdening us with the same grief as the evil ones. Will it affect us? Of course, how could it not? But, whatever happens to others, we will be spared because we trust in Jesus. Sleep in your armor! Even though it seems well with us, you never know if trouble is lurking around the corner. We can count on God to see us through when trouble comes calling.

Woe to the multitude of many people, which make a noise like the noise of the seas; and to the rushing of nations, that make a rushing like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations shall rush like the rushing of many waters: but God shall rebuke them, and they shall flee far off, and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Isaiah 17:12-13

April 10, 2025

Isaiah continues with the prophecy against Moab and tells that the prophecy will happen within three years. During David’s kingship, he made Moab tributaries and servants. Isaiah tells them to pay King Hezekiah tribute by gathering lambs from all over Moab. I can’t help but notice that this tribute resembles tariffs levied on other countries. 

Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land from Sela to the wilderness, unto the mount of the daughter of Zion. Isaiah 16:1

Moab was to reverse all their unrighteous decrees against Israel, and as a token of their repentance, they were to oblige them. God was about to come down hard on Moab for taking advantage of His people, and there would be crying all over the land because of their unfairness. This section of scripture is a word of caution for people who oppress God’s children; He doesn’t take kindly to such behavior and will make such people pay for any damage they do to them. God is fair, and we can count on Him to bring about His justice. Anyone who doesn’t fear God will end up fearing everything else.

This is the word that the LORD hath spoken concerning Moab since that time. But now the LORD hath spoken, saying, Within three years, as the years of an hireling, and the glory of Moab shall be contemned, with all that great multitude; and the remnant shall be very small and feeble. Isaiah 16:13-14

April 9, 2025

The wrath of God cannot be escaped. If a sinner avoids His wrath on one occasion, they will be met with another, just as it happened to Moab. The people of Moab were idol worshippers, and Isaiah prophesied against them. Isaiah most likely preached his sermon to his people as a warning to get right with God to avoid destruction. We must remember that God begins his judgment and chastisement with His people before He corrects idolators with His consuming fire. Even though Isaiah didn't live in Moab, he was consumed with grief for what would happen to the Moabites. If your heart doesn't grieve for the lost, you had better check your salvation because God gives us a heart of compassion for others, even if they are our country's enemies. Because the Moabites are idolaters, when they go to their idols and pray for relief, they will walk away feeling the same grief. However, when we pray to the Lord, we find ourselves at peace because we are praying to a living God who comforts us in our suffering. 

And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard even unto Jahaz: therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; his life shall be grievous unto him. Isaiah 15:4

This prophecy is a reminder to be grateful for our Lord and Savior that we can freely go to the Father in prayer with all our requests, and He will comfort us and even send help if necessary. 

April 8, 2025

During the reign of Ahaz, king of Judah, Israel, and Syria went to war against Judah. We know that this couldn't end well for Israel because its king went against the family with another country. So, God sent Isaiah to meet with Ahaz to encourage him to have faith in God. The following scripture shows how your destiny depends on your faith:

And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established. Isaiah 7:9

Isaiah told Ahaz to ask for a sign, but he refused, acting as if he didn't want to test God. Isaiah told him anyway to give him the courage to stand firm. In this context, Isaiah prophesied about the birth of Jesus so he would know that they wouldn't be annihilated because the Messiah would come from Judah. Jesus was not born until over 500 years later. 

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

God requires our faith in Him. Remember, without faith, it is impossible to please God. Make sure you stand firm in your faith in Jesus because it is necessary to secure your eternity. 

April 7, 2025

Through all our trials and tribulations, we are comforted knowing that Jesus is covering all our mistakes with his holy blood. Not only does he cleanse us, but he protects us as though we were Israel in the wilderness with a cloud by day and fire by night. The beginning of Isaiah 4 describes the desperation of the women after all the men are killed, but then it goes into the protection of God’s people. It is a beautiful depiction of Christ as the branch.

In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. Isaiah 4:2

We must spend some time in grateful adoration of our Savior; he is worthy of every ounce of thankfulness we have to offer. Spend time praising and worshipping him with all your heart, soul, and mind. A time may come when that’s all we have, but he is enough.

April 6, 2025

God gave Isaiah a vision of what was to come. Chapter 2 provides a picture of what will happen when Jesus returns to take his place as the rightful King. Though the people had bowed down to the inanimate objects, they will bow to Jesus, and he will cause them to forget about all those idols, and they will see their mistake, scurry to the mountains and the clefts of the rocks, and hope they fall on them out of fear for their lives. Those who have become haughty over the valuables and worshipped materialistic objects will quickly give them up and bury them in the dust. It is going to be a disastrous day for those who made the antichrist their king and worshipped him, a mere man, rather than giving God the honor due Him. The day of the Lord will be awful for those who reject him and put their faith in someone who doesn’t have actual power and will end up in the same situation as his subjects. Those of us who are saved by the blood of Jesus need to have more compassion for the dying in their sin and be more convincing with the help of the Holy Spirit and give it all we’ve got to lead them to Jesus. It is our duty and our commission from Jesus. Listen carefully to the cues given to you by the Holy Spirit and respond when he tells you to witness to someone about Jesus. Time is very short.

And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. Isaiah 2:17

Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? Isaiah 2:22