Our Great God cont. - Isaiah 45 & 46

Even more declarations from God as He declares Himself to His people.

Is. 45:21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.

In this verse God is urging the nations to get their idolatrous friends together and give an example from even one of their “gods” of a prophecy comparable to those that God has declared. God has made prophecies from ancient times and many have been fulfilled to the letter. Some are yet to be fulfilled, but the future will prove them to be just as accurate. YHWH is declaring that He is the ONLY God; there is no other god, no other being capable of declaring the future, who is always just, and who is able to be a Saviour to His people. (see verse 15)

Is. 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Based on the evidence, God is urging all the peoples on the earth to turn to Him in faith for salvation. God has singled out Israel as a nation of privilege among the nations, but His desire is that ALL men come to repentance.

2Pet. 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

This is the sixth time in this chapter alone that God has repeated this truth—I AM God and there is no other (verses 5, 6, 14, 18, 21 & 22).

Is. 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.

There is no power greater than God to swear by, so He swears by Himself. He is the greatest witness to His own truth. The things that He declares will happen are true and will come to pass just as He said without fail in every detail. This is another prophecy that is yet future—“That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear” that He is God and there is no other (is the implied message as I read it). This prophecy is repeated in the New Testament in reference to Jesus—another declaration of the Father and Son as One.

Phil. 2:10-11 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Is. 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Again, God reminds His people of their history. He has proven Himself to them in so many miraculous ways. Their scripture is full of testimony to His mighty acts. The evidence declares that there is no other GOD, no other being that can compare to YHWH.

Again, He reminds His people of His unique ability to prophesy the future. In fact, He has declared things from ancient times that are yet to be fulfilled. Still, He can confidently declare that every part of His plan and His purpose will be carried out to the smallest detail.

Is. 46:12-13 Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.

It’s always intriguing when God references time from His point of view. What will be thousands of years in earthly history are but a short time in God’s economy—near, not far off.

God is speaking to His stubborn, rebellious people—a people evidently deeply involved in practicing sin (far from righteousness). God is going to bring Israel to a position of righteousness and salvation (cf 45:8), and in God’s economy of time that time is near. Not only that, their salvation will happen according to His plan, on schedule—He will not procrastinate or delay past the appointed time (from the Hebrew for tarry). Emphasis is made that the salvation of Israel is connected with the restoration of Zion/Jerusalem. Emphasis is also made that the fulfillment of God’s plans for the nation of Israel are for His glory—not theirs. They are the benefactors and will be blessed abundantly to the glory of God.

As I’ve continued on in these past few chapters, I am amazed at God’s consistency of message and patience in presenting it. God knows the end from the beginning. Still He makes every effort to get His people’s attention and get them to turn back to Him in repentance and faith.

He does the same with us today. I can’t help but personalize this more with my nation—America. We are just as blind and deaf as the Israelites seemed to be. The headlines are screaming the truth of the Word of God, and we are oblivious (or at least pretend to be). We are eager to question why God would allow bad things to happen to our people even as we continue to deny His truth and reject His authority. We want to experience all of His blessings without having to acknowledge Him as the source of those blessings. The body of believers in America need to claim the prayer of 2Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, which are called by my name (Christians), shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” If the body of believers would unify in a passion to love the Savior and serve Him according to His Word half as passionately as those who follow false religions, we could change the world.