Category Archives: Hearing from God

All Powerful / King of All, Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Faithful, Idols / False Gods, Loving / Kind, Obeying God, Prophecy, Prophecy, Purposeful / Intentional, Repenting from Sin, Salvation, Submitted / Servant, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Do Not Fear, for I Have Redeemed You

Isaiah 43 contains several important themes that still resonate with us today if we take the time to listen and consider them.

  • Verses 1-7: God’s favor and goodwill are for His people. This should be a great comfort and encouragement. There is no need to fear.
  • Verses 8-13: God calls out those who believe in false gods or idols. He and He alone is God and savior.
  • Verses 14-21: The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is a reference to greater events. The redemption of sinners by Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners, and to bring the believer to glory, is little, compared with that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man.
  • Verses 22-28: God is troubled that His people turn away from Him and His offer of forgiveness of sins. They choose to overlook Him and go their own way. He pleads with the people that they would be justified through Him.

For more detailed thoughts expanding on these, consider Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary for Isaiah 43.

Isaiah 43

Israel Redeemed

1But now, this is what the LORD says, He who is your Creator, Jacob,

And He who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name; you are Mine!

2“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,

Nor will the flame burn you.

3“For I am the LORD your God,

The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

I have given Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

4“Since you are precious in My sight,

Since you are honored and I love you,

I will give other people in your place and other nations in exchange for your life.

5“Do not fear, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east,

And gather you from the west.

6“I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’

And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’

Bring My sons from afar

And My daughters from the ends of the earth,

7Everyone who is called by My name,

And whom I have created for My glory,

Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”

Israel Is God’s Witness

8Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes,

And those who are deaf, even though they have ears.

9All the nations have gathered together

So that the peoples may be assembled.

Who among them can declare this

And proclaim to us the former things?

Let them present their witnesses so that they may be justified,

Or let them hear and say, “It is true.”

10“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“And My servant whom I have chosen,

So that you may know and believe Me

And understand that I am He.

Before Me there was no God formed,

And there will be none after Me.

11“I, only I, am the LORD,

And there is no savior besides Me.

12“It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed,

And there was no strange god among you;

So you are My witnesses,” declares the LORD,

“And I am God.

13“Even from eternity I am He,

And there is no one who can rescue from My hand;

I act, and who can reverse it?”

Babylon to Be Destroyed

14This is what the LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says:

“For your sake I have sent to Babylon,

And will bring them all down as fugitives,

Even the Chaldeans, into the ships over which they rejoice.

15“I am the LORD, your Holy One,

The Creator of Israel, your King.” 16This is what the LORD says,

He who makes a way through the sea

And a path through the mighty waters,

17Who brings out the chariot and the horse,

The army and the mighty man

(They will lie down together and not rise again;

They have been extinguished, and have gone out like a wick):

18“Do not call to mind the former things,

Or consider things of the past.

19“Behold, I am going to do something new,

Now it will spring up;

Will you not be aware of it?

I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,

Rivers in the desert.

20“The animals of the field will glorify Me,

The jackals and the ostriches,

Because I have given waters in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert,

To give drink to My chosen people.

21“The people whom I formed for Myself

Will declare My praise.

The Shortcomings of Israel

22“Yet you have not called on Me, Jacob;

But you have become weary of Me, Israel.

23“You have not brought to Me the sheep of your burnt offerings,

Nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with offerings,

Nor wearied you with incense.

24“You have not bought Me sweet cane with money,

Nor have you satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices;

Rather, you have burdened Me with your sins,

You have wearied Me with your wrongdoings.

25“I, I alone, am the one who wipes out your wrongdoings for My own sake,

And I will not remember your sins.

26“Meet Me in court, let’s argue our case together;

State your cause, so that you may be proved right.

27“Your first forefather sinned,

And your spokesmen have rebelled against Me.

28“So I will profane the officials of the sanctuary,

And I will turn Jacob over to destruction and Israel to abuse. 

Do not overlook God’s favor toward us as believers and followers of Yeshua, our Messiah. Let us put our faith in God and God alone. There are no other gods, no one else in whom we should put our trust. We are called to redemption and justification through Yeshua. Let us not reject such a wonderful offer!

Take some time in prayer to reflect on this powerful message. What is God telling you today about what you need to do in your life? Are you putting your trust in Him and Him alone? Are you fearful when you can instead find His peace? Are you putting your focus on living according to His ways rather than your own?

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Grace / Forgiveness, Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Justice / Judgment, Loving / Kind, Prophecy, Prophecy, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Behold My Chosen One in Whom My Soul Delights

Isaiah 42 contains a significant prophecy about our Messiah, Yeshua. There are some themes to look for as you read. These themes still resonate with us today if we take the time to listen and consider them.

  • Verses 1-4: Prophecies about Yeshua’s first coming.
  • Verses 5-12: The work of redemption through Yeshua reconciles man back to God. It is an invitation to return to worshipping Him and being in the right relationship with Him.
  • Verses 13-17: God will lay low His enemies and graciously guide those who cannot find their own way (“the blind”).
  • Verses 18-25: Many hear the message and profess to follow God, but do not live it out. They do not live according to His law. They are not willing to walk in His ways.

For more detailed thoughts expanding on these, consider Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary for Isaiah 42.

Isaiah 42

1“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;
My chosen one in whom My soul delights.
I have put My Spirit upon Him;
He will bring forth justice to the nations.

      2“He will not cry out or raise His voice,
Nor make His voice heard in the street.

      3“A bruised reed He will not break
And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;
He will faithfully bring forth justice.

      4“He will not be disheartened or crushed
Until He has established justice in the earth;
And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.”

      5Thus says God the LORD,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring,
Who gives breath to the people on it
And spirit to those who walk in it,

      6“I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness,
I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the nations,

      7To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the dungeon
And those who dwell in darkness from the prison.

      8“I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.

      9“Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”

      10Sing to the LORD a new song,
Sing His praise from the end of the earth!
You who go down to the sea, and all that is in it.
You islands, and those who dwell on them.

      11Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voices,
The settlements where Kedar inhabits.
Let the inhabitants of Sela sing aloud,
Let them shout for joy from the tops of the mountains.

      12Let them give glory to the LORD
And declare His praise in the coastlands.

      13The LORD will go forth like a warrior,
He will arouse His zeal like a man of war.
He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry.
He will prevail against His enemies.

The Blindness of the People

14“I have kept silent for a long time,
I have kept still and restrained Myself.
Now like a woman in labor I will groan,
I will both gasp and pant.

      15“I will lay waste the mountains and hills
And wither all their vegetation;
I will make the rivers into coastlands
And dry up the ponds.

      16“I will lead the blind by a way they do not know,
In paths they do not know I will guide them.
I will make darkness into light before them
And rugged places into plains.
These are the things I will do,
And I will not leave them undone.”

      17They will be turned back and be utterly put to shame,
Who trust in idols,
Who say to molten images,
“You are our gods.”

      18Hear, you deaf!
And look, you blind, that you may see.

      19Who is blind but My servant,
Or so deaf as My messenger whom I send?
Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me,
Or so blind as the servant of the LORD?

      20You have seen many things, but you do not observe them;
Your ears are open, but none hears.

      21The LORD was pleased for His righteousness’ sake
To make the law great and glorious.

      22But this is a people plundered and despoiled;
All of them are trapped in caves,
Or are hidden away in prisons;
They have become a prey with none to deliver them,
And a spoil, with none to say, “Give them back!”

      23Who among you will give ear to this?
Who will give heed and listen hereafter?

      24Who gave Jacob up for spoil, and Israel to plunderers?
Was it not the LORD, against whom we have sinned,
And in whose ways they were not willing to walk,
And whose law they did not obey?

      25So He poured out on him the heat of His anger
And the fierceness of battle;
And it set him aflame all around,
Yet he did not recognize it;
And it burned him, but he paid no attention.

This chapter has a lot of information to take in. Take time and reread it. Reflect on the themes summarized at the beginning of this article and how they apply to your life. Where are you in your relationship with God? We would not want to miss out on a right relationship with God for lack of walking out what we know (or should know) in our lives. Ask God to give you eyes to see and ears to hear.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Humility, Kindness / Gentleness, Pride, Prophecy, Through Prophets

Humility and Caring for Others Are Good Qualities

Reading Isaiah 39 today, it struck me that there were two things missing from Hezekiah’s actions in this chapter. For context, he has just been healed of a fatal disease and given 15 more years to his life. On top of that, God defeated an invading army and protected His people under the care of Hezekiah.

Visitors from Babylon come bearing a gift recognizing his recovery. Hezekiah apparently lets his guard down completely and shows them all that is in his possession. He shows them all the wealth of his treasury. One must ask, “Why would he be so careless?” I conclude that it is likely a bit of pride. He was showing off. He did not stop to think of the risk of bragging about all the wealth he has to someone else who may want that same wealth. Humility and discretion would have been very good here. We can still learn a lesson from this today. Have discretion. There is no need to show off all you have to anyone. Just be humble about what you have to others.

The second issue seems to be a disregard for the impact of his actions on his sons in the future and on his people as a nation. Hezekiah has seen the life-altering power of prayer when God changed the course of his personal illness which was going to kill him and gave him 15 more years. Now when God tells Him that there is great hardship coming to the next generation because of his actions, Hezekiah accepts it plainly because it will not affect him personally. He seemed unconcerned to repent and pray for God to change the outcome for others who are to be affected by his mistake. I would like to have seen him pray as hard for his nation and his descendants as he did for his own life only a chapter earlier.

Isaiah 39

Hezekiah Shows His Treasures

      1At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah, for he heard that he had been sick and had recovered. 2Hezekiah was pleased, and showed them all his treasure house, the silver and the gold and the spices and the precious oil and his whole armory and all that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his house nor in all his dominion that Hezekiah did not show them. 3Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and said to him, “What did these men say, and from where have they come to you?” And Hezekiah said, “They have come to me from a far country, from Babylon.” 4He said, “What have they seen in your house?” So Hezekiah answered, “They have seen all that is in my house; there is nothing among my treasuries that I have not shown them.”

      5Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD of hosts, 6‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house and all that your fathers have laid up in store to this day will be carried to Babylon; nothing will be left,’ says the LORD. 7‘And some of your sons who will issue from you, whom you will beget, will be taken away, and they will become officials in the palace of the king of Babylon.’” 8Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, “The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good.” For he thought, “For there will be peace and truth in my days.”

As you reflect on today’s scripture, ask God right now to show you any areas of your life in which you are lacking humility or not showing kindness and caring for others because you are too focused on your own well-being.  Ask Him to show you what you should do about it. Start today.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Faith / Trusting God, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Miracles, Miracles, Seeking God

The Lord Listens to the Prayers of the Righteous

We can be greatly encouraged that the Lord hears us and considers what we ask of Him. Whatever we are facing, we can bring it before the Lord and make our requests known to Him.

Hezekiah was facing significant challenges. The city was under siege in Isaiah 37 and God delivered it in victory upon the request of Hezekiah. However, God was even more gracious to Hezekiah. In Isaiah 38, Hezekiah got a report that he would die. This report was not from a doctor, but from God through Isaiah! Hezekiah pleaded with God and God granted him 15 more years to live!

How awesome that our God desires to draw near to us in a real relationship with us. He is not some distant ruler who sends out decrees upon what will happen. He is a loving father and master. He cares for us! He listens and considers what we ask!

Isaiah 38

Hezekiah Healed

      1In those days Hezekiah became mortally ill. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.’” 2Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3and said, “Remember now, O LORD, I beseech You, how I have walked before You in truth and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in Your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

      4Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, 5“Go and say to Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of your father David, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6“I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city.”’

      7“This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He has spoken: 8“Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.” So the sun’s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down.

      9A writing of Hezekiah king of Judah after his illness and recovery:

      10I said, “In the middle of my life
I am to enter the gates of Sheol;
I am to be deprived of the rest of my years.”

      11I said, “I will not see the LORD,
The LORD in the land of the living;
I will look on man no more among the inhabitants of the world.

      12“Like a shepherd’s tent my dwelling is pulled up and removed from me;
As a weaver I rolled up my life.
He cuts me off from the loom;
From day until night You make an end of me.

      13“I composed my soul until morning.
Like a lion—so He breaks all my bones,
From day until night You make an end of me.

      14“Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter;
I moan like a dove;
My eyes look wistfully to the heights;
O Lord, I am oppressed, be my security.

      15“What shall I say?
For He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it;
I will wander about all my years because of the bitterness of my soul.

      16“O Lord, by these things men live,
And in all these is the life of my spirit;
O restore me to health and let me live!

      17“Lo, for my own welfare I had great bitterness;
It is You who has kept my soul from the pit of nothingness,
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.

      18“For Sheol cannot thank You,
Death cannot praise You;
Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

      19“It is the living who give thanks to You, as I do today;
A father tells his sons about Your faithfulness.

      20“The LORD will surely save me;
So we will play my songs on stringed instruments
All the days of our life at the house of the LORD.”

      21Now Isaiah had said, “Let them take a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may recover.” 22Then Hezekiah had said, “What is the sign that I shall go up to the house of the LORD?”

Thank you, Lord, for your grace, mercy, and love toward us! You and you alone are God. You are the master of the universe. There are none like you.  Thank you for listening to us!

Take a few minutes and prayerfully reflect on the fact that the creator of the universe wants you to draw near to Him and to be in a close relationship with Him. He does not simply have one-way communication with us, like a distant ruler. He speaks and listens to us. He considers what we ask of Him. How awesome is that!

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Blessed, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Prophecy, Through Prophets

In Yeshua, We Find Joy!

Isaiah 35 looks ahead to the joy and celebration we find in our Messiah, Yeshua (Hebrew for Jesus). It is cause for celebration and hope! It is cause for joy even today!

Isaiah 35

Zion’s Happy Future

1The wilderness and the desert will be glad,
And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom;
Like the crocus

      2It will blossom profusely
And rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
The majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
They will see the glory of the LORD,
The majesty of our God.

      3Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.

      4Say to those with anxious heart,
“Take courage, fear not.
Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
The recompense of God will come,
But He will save you.”

      5Then the eyes of the blind will be opened
And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

      6Then the lame will leap like a deer,
And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.
For waters will break forth in the wilderness
And streams in the Arabah.

      7The scorched land will become a pool
And the thirsty ground springs of water;
In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,
Grass becomes reeds and rushes.

      8A highway will be there, a roadway,
And it will be called the Highway of Holiness.
The unclean will not travel on it,
But it will be for him who walks that way,
And fools will not wander on it.

      9No lion will be there,
Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;
These will not be found there.
But the redeemed will walk there,

      10And the ransomed of the LORD will return
And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
With everlasting joy upon their heads.
They will find gladness and joy,
And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

It is encouraging to put our hope and focus on Yeshua. Let it transform you. Do not miss it. He has come. The Spirit dwells with us now. Do not miss out on the joy we find in Yeshua, waiting only for the second coming. Yes, there is a joy to be had then, but our eternity with the LORD has already started when we submitted our lives to Him.

Take a few minutes in prayer. Thank God for sending Yeshua. Spend time thanking and praising God for making a way for us to be reconciled to Him through Yeshua. Reflect on the joy and hope you should be experiencing even today. If you are not experiencing that joy, ask God to help you and show you why. Put your full trust in Him.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Scripture (e.g. Bible)

How Do I Hear From Jesus?

Many who want to know God’s will are waiting to hear from God as Moses did with a burning bush, or as Samuel did by hearing an audible voice while he was sleeping, or even waiting for God to send an angel to bring us a message as He did for Mary and Joseph to tell them about the birth of Jesus. God does speak in these ways, but these are not the only ways He speaks.

There is good news! God used His servants and messengers to write down a history of God’s relationship with his people. It is available and waiting… free to most of us with internet access. The Bible is the inspired word of God. By reading, studying, asking questions, and discussing with fellow Christians we can hear from God anytime we want… and then apply what we hear to how we live our lives.

The first step… we must start on the right path. The Bible holds this answer as well.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.  [John 14:6 NLT]

Building on that, God calls us in Proverbs 3:5-7 to acknowledge Him in all we do and to trust Him.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

 

At Hearing From Jesus, we are here to help! Please look around our site. We provide helpful, practical links to help in everyday life with things like marriage, kids, movies, books, etc.  We also try to share God’s word in a categorized way to help you hear from Jesus.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Holy Spirit (hearing from God), Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh, Wise

We Must Rely on the Spirit of God

It is not the wisdom of men we seek as followers of Christ, but rather the wisdom and power of God. We must rely on the Spirit rather than our own logic and understanding alone if we are to make sense of all that is going on around us. Many, including those in positions of power and authority, do not understand God’s wisdom.

1 Corinthians 2

Paul’s Reliance upon the Spirit

      1And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

      6Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; 7but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory;

9but just as it is written,
“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

10For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.

      14But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 15But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

Take a few minutes now and pray that our Father will guide you through the Spirit to greater understanding and godly wisdom and a deeper relationship with Him. Trust in Him rather than in the ways of “natural man”. Accept that may often find yourself in the minority when you choose to go deeper in your relationship with Yahweh and as the Spirit reveals more and more truth to you. Embrace and trust the Father and let the Spirit guide you.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Prophecy, Prophecy, Through Prophets

When Preparing for Battle, Focus on God In Addition to Carnal Preparations

Preparing for battle, Judah made many carnal preparations. They provided water in the city. They repaired the walls. God had brought them to this hardship to lead them to regret and repentance. Instead, they celebrated and feasted, “because tomorrow we may die”. They made physical preparations. They did not turn to the LORD, repent, and ask Him to forgive and protect them.

When we face our battles, literal or otherwise, let’s do all these preparations, but first and foremost let us seek God and call upon Him for His protection.  Unless the LORD is with us, we labor in vain.

Isaiah 22

The Valley of Vision

      1The oracle concerning the valley of vision.
What is the matter with you now, that you have all gone up to the housetops?

      2You who were full of noise,
You boisterous town, you exultant city;
Your slain were not slain with the sword,
Nor did they die in battle.

      3All your rulers have fled together,
And have been captured without the bow;
All of you who were found were taken captive together,
Though they had fled far away.

      4Therefore I say, “Turn your eyes away from me,
Let me weep bitterly,
Do not try to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.”

      5For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day of panic, subjugation and confusion
In the valley of vision,
A breaking down of walls
And a crying to the mountain.

      6Elam took up the quiver
With the chariots, infantry and horsemen;
And Kir uncovered the shield.

      7Then your choicest valleys were full of chariots,
And the horsemen took up fixed positions at the gate.

      8And He removed the defense of Judah.
In that day you depended on the weapons of the house of the forest,

      9And you saw that the breaches
In the wall of the city of David were many;
And you collected the waters of the lower pool.

      10Then you counted the houses of Jerusalem
And tore down houses to fortify the wall.

      11And you made a reservoir between the two walls
For the waters of the old pool.
But you did not depend on Him who made it,
Nor did you take into consideration Him who planned it long ago.

      12Therefore in that day the Lord GOD of hosts called you to weeping, to wailing,
To shaving the head and to wearing sackcloth.

      13Instead, there is gaiety and gladness,
Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep,
Eating of meat and drinking of wine:
“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”

      14But the LORD of hosts revealed Himself to me,
“Surely this iniquity shall not be forgiven you
Until you die,” says the Lord GOD of hosts.

      15Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts,
“Come, go to this steward,
To Shebna, who is in charge of the royal household,

      16‘What right do you have here,
And whom do you have here,
That you have hewn a tomb for yourself here,
You who hew a tomb on the height,
You who carve a resting place for yourself in the rock?

      17‘Behold, the LORD is about to hurl you headlong, O man.
And He is about to grasp you firmly

      18And roll you tightly like a ball,
To be cast into a vast country;
There you will die
And there your splendid chariots will be,
You shame of your master’s house.’

      19“I will depose you from your office,
And I will pull you down from your station.

      20“Then it will come about in that day,
That I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah,

      21And I will clothe him with your tunic
And tie your sash securely about him.
I will entrust him with your authority,
And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.

      22“Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder,
When he opens no one will shut,
When he shuts no one will open.

      23“I will drive him like a peg in a firm place,
And he will become a throne of glory to his father’s house.

24“So they will hang on him all the glory of his father’s house, offspring and issue, all the least of vessels, from bowls to all the jars. 25“In that day,” declares the LORD of hosts, “the peg driven in a firm place will give way; it will even break off and fall, and the load hanging on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.”

It is encouraging to see that even as the LORD plans rebuke and punishment intended to draw the people back to Him, He is also planning who and how He will bring about restoration! What the LORD opens, no one will shut. What the LORD shuts, no one will open.

What hardships and challenges are you facing in your life? Are you turning to God wholeheartedly or are you trying to handle it all on your own?

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for disciplining us to bring us back to the right relationship with You. Thank You for preparing a way to restore us to You! Your plans are perfect. Your ways are right. We put our full trust in You, even during hardship. I pray this in the name of Yeshua, our savior. Amen. 

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Prophecy, Prophecy, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Through Prophets

God Is Stronger than Any Enemy You Face

As we continue to read Isaiah, we see the same theme continuing in chapters 20-21. God can humble even the mightiest of those who stand against His people.  In Isaiah’s time, it was nation-states. That may still be the case for some of us, depending on our home country. Many nations persecute followers of Yeshua aggressively or simply fail to protect them. In nations like the USA, many, including government and businesses have a tendency to persecute Christians. It may not be a threat to your life, but rather it may be an attack on your business.

Regardless of whoever may oppose you, be encouraged that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world! God is mighty and unmatched. He is sovereign and can humble anyone at the time of His choosing.

Isaiah 20

Prophecy about Egypt and Ethiopia

      1In the year that the commander came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him and he fought against Ashdod and captured it, 2at that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your shoes off your feet.” And he did so, going naked and barefoot. 3And the LORD said, “Even as My servant Isaiah has gone naked and barefoot three years as a sign and token against Egypt and Cush, 4so the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt. 5“Then they will be dismayed and ashamed because of Cush their hope and Egypt their boast. 6“So the inhabitants of this coastland will say in that day, ‘Behold, such is our hope, where we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria; and we, how shall we escape?’”

Isaiah 21

God Commands That Babylon Be Taken

      1The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.
As windstorms in the Negev sweep on,
It comes from the wilderness, from a terrifying land.

      2A harsh vision has been shown to me;
The treacherous one still deals treacherously, and the destroyer still destroys.
Go up, Elam, lay siege, Media;
I have made an end of all the groaning she has caused.

      3For this reason my loins are full of anguish;
Pains have seized me like the pains of a woman in labor.
I am so bewildered I cannot hear, so terrified I cannot see.

      4My mind reels, horror overwhelms me;
The twilight I longed for has been turned for me into trembling.

      5They set the table, they spread out the cloth, they eat, they drink;
“Rise up, captains, oil the shields,”

6For thus the Lord says to me,
“Go, station the lookout, let him report what he sees.

      7“When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs,
A train of donkeys, a train of camels,
Let him pay close attention, very close attention.”

8Then the lookout called,
“O Lord, I stand continually by day on the watchtower,
And I am stationed every night at my guard post.

      9“Now behold, here comes a troop of riders, horsemen in pairs.”
And one said, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon;
And all the images of her gods are shattered on the ground.”

      10O my threshed people, and my afflicted of the threshing floor!
What I have heard from the LORD of hosts,
The God of Israel, I make known to you.

Oracles about Edom and Arabia

      11The oracle concerning Edom.
One keeps calling to me from Seir,
“Watchman, how far gone is the night?
Watchman, how far gone is the night?”

      12The watchman says,
“Morning comes but also night.
If you would inquire, inquire;
Come back again.”

      13The oracle about Arabia.
In the thickets of Arabia you must spend the night,
O caravans of Dedanites.

      14Bring water for the thirsty,
O inhabitants of the land of Tema,
Meet the fugitive with bread.

      15For they have fled from the swords,
From the drawn sword, and from the bent bow
And from the press of battle.

      16For thus the Lord said to me, “In a year, as a hired man would count it, all the splendor of Kedar will terminate; 17and the remainder of the number of bowmen, the mighty men of the sons of Kedar, will be few; for the LORD God of Israel has spoken.”

Regardless of what or who you face. Be encouraged and put your hope and faith in God! He is a loving Father. He does not make mistakes. We can often grow stronger through trials.

Romans 8:28

28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, You are worthy of all praise! There is none like you! Help us to put our trust in You and You alone. Thank You that we are invited to be in a relationship with You through Yeshua. Thank You for Your grace, mercy, and forgiveness toward us. Thank You for being our shield and or refuge! In Yeshua’s name, I pray. Amen. 

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Father / Yahweh, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Prophecy, Prophecy, Seeking God, Strong in Our Weakness, Through Prophets, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Though God May Seem Distant, He Simply Waits for His Timing

Sometimes God may seem disengaged from our trials and challenges for a time. However, in His timing, He will come against the enemies of His people. He does so in a way that brings honor and glory to His name.

Take heart and be encouraged if you are in a situation where it feels like God is distant. He has not changed. He is still sovereign. You need only focus on your relationship with God and trust in Him. He will come in His timing.

Isaiah 18

Message to Ethiopia

1Alas, oh land of whirring wings
Which lies beyond the rivers of Cush,

      2Which sends envoys by the sea,
Even in papyrus vessels on the surface of the waters.
Go, swift messengers, to a nation tall and smooth,
To a people feared far and wide,
A powerful and oppressive nation
Whose land the rivers divide.

      3All you inhabitants of the world and dwellers on earth,
As soon as a standard is raised on the mountains, you will see it,
And as soon as the trumpet is blown, you will hear it.

4For thus the LORD has told me,
“I will look from My dwelling place quietly
Like dazzling heat in the sunshine,
Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.”

      5For before the harvest, as soon as the bud blossoms
And the flower becomes a ripening grape,
Then He will cut off the sprigs with pruning knives
And remove and cut away the spreading branches.

      6They will be left together for mountain birds of prey,
And for the beasts of the earth;
And the birds of prey will spend the summer feeding on them,
And all the beasts of the earth will spend harvest time on them.

      7At that time a gift of homage will be brought to the LORD of hosts
From a people tall and smooth,
Even from a people feared far and wide,
A powerful and oppressive nation,
Whose land the rivers divide—
To the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, even Mount Zion.

God is always in control. God is always aware of our challenges and cares for us. In some cases, He is using tough situations to grow or shape us or draw us back near to Him. Trust in Him and focus on Him in any trials!

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for Your word. Thank You for the assurance that You will never leave nor forsake us. Thank You that we can trust in You even in difficult times! Thank You that You rescue us in Your timing to accomplish Your purposes, for we know that You love us. I pray this in the name of Yeshua. Amen. 

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.