The Assurance of Isaiah Chapters 13 – 20

 

The other morning I read Isaiah chapters 13 – 20 and when I finished I felt an overwhelming renewal in our Lord Jesus Christ. I felt cleansed, washed, refreshed, and encouraged.

 

At first glance these prophecies appear to be about Israel, Judah, and the nations of the Ancient Near East. We read of Babylon, Assyria, Moab, Philistia, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cush, and Israel. But what is really the message of these chapters? How might we relate to these passages today?

 

Our propensity is to attempt to align the Prophets with the news, with current events – to match this Bible passage with that current event. When we do this we are like puppies chasing their tails. Since current events are only current for a moment, we are always conjuring refreshed interpretations of the Bible, not being adult enough to question how a thing that was true yesterday is not true today because of changing circumstances. Do we not see what happens to us when our eyes wander from Jesus?

 

How many times can the world come to an end? Can we not see how religious hype is just that, hype?

 

Jesus is the Message of the Bible. God in Christ is the Message of the Bible. To see the Bible is to see Jesus, for Jesus comes to us through Scripture – He is always coming to us through Scripture – all of Scripture.

 

Why was I refreshed and renewed in reading Isaiah chapters 13 – 20? Because I saw that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are in control of the affairs of people and nations. I saw that God’s righteousness and justice is working in the earth – whether I can see it or not, whether I understand it or not. I see that God has determined the trajectory of events from eternity past to eternity future. I see that He will judge some, protect others, and that He will always have His People. I see that in Christ we, His People, have a glorious destiny.

 

Every generation has its Babylon, its Egypt, its Assyria. God’s Israel, His heavenly People in Christ (Galatians 4:21 – 31; 6:16), are found throughout every generation in all people groups.

 

For those who trust in Christ, Isaiah reveals Yahweh as our Rock and Comfort and Hope – renewing our minds and hearts, refreshing our souls, unveiling that City to which we are called in Jesus Christ.

 

Let us not forget, that our Father is shaking all things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain…and those things which cannot be shaken are all found in Jesus Christ. (Matthew 7:24 – 27; Heb. 25 – 29).