His thoughts? Or yours? - October 21st, 2011

  ⁸“ For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.
⁹“ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

History and Context:

Isaiah is the prophet most quoted by Jesus and by the New Testament authors. There are many Messianic prophecies throughout Isaiah, but the real purpose of the book was to admonish the kings of Judah to rely on the potection of God. Isaiah's ministry focused on the reign of two different kings, Ahaz and Hezekiah. Ahaz did not listen to Isaiah and relied on the protection of Assyria rather than God's protection. Hezekiah also didn't listen at first but as things went bad he turned to God for protection and God rescued the kingdom of Judah. Isaiah continually refers to God as "The Holy One of Israel". This phrase is repeated 26 times in the book of Isaiah and only 6 times in the rest of the Old Testament. Isaiah is also known for having the most messianic prophecies ot of any of the prophets.

The Text:

In chapter 54 Isaiah describes the call that God has given to His people; "'For the LORD has called you, like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, like a youthful wife when you were refused,' Says your God." In that chapter God calls His people, Israel, to return to Him. They had sinned and God had left them to the consequence of their sin, but now God was calling them back. Then in 55 the people begin calling the surrounding nations; “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." This call then leads into this passage where God declares why we should follow Him, why we should listen to Him. It should be obvious that God's thoughts and ways are higher than our own, but we don't always act like it. God is saying that He knows better than we do. He is the one who created earth and everything, and everyone, in it.

 

The Challenge:

Remember that God knows better than you do. Again this is something that should be obvious to us but it often isn't. We often act and make decisions as if we know better than God. But He is the creator of the universe, He is the one who created knowledge and wisdom, therefore we should continually be looking to Him for our own knowledge and wisdom. We should be trusting Him to direct our lives. We should understand that He has the best in mind for us and that He knows what that is.

 

The Prayer:

Lord, I trust you! Please direct my paths and lead me in my decision making. Let me always look to you first. In Jesus' name, Amen!