When you pause long enough to think deeply about current events, what do you think about?
- why the events are happening?
- how to solve the problems?
- the ways that current events will impact the future?
- what the Lord is doing?
Did you catch the last one? We would be wise to pay attention to what the Lord is doing. In the midst of the good times, the Lord is at work. When things look bleak and grim, the Lord is still at work. Let me suggest three ways He is at work.
The Lord gives us His glorious instruction. The Bible is God’s Word to us. His Word is not just a list of rules and regulations, and it’s not just a book filled with old stories. The Bible is glorious. His instruction gives us the way to life! Read God’s Word, love His Word, obey His Word. When you know Jesus as Lord and Savior, you will have a desire to do all of those things, and your obedience to His Word will not feel like an obligation; it will feel like a joy. God gives us His glorious instruction (see verse 21 below). Pay attention to what the Lord is doing.
The Lord allows us to experience devastating defeats at times. This was true of the nation of Israel during the time of Isaiah (see verse 22 below). They experienced discipline in the form of military defeat because they turned their back on the Lord. When we disobey the Lord, He allows circumstances in our life with the purpose of bringing us back to Him. These defeats can be devastating, but they are not final. Pay attention to what the Lord is doing.
The Lord gives us hope for the future. God promises that there is hope for those who know Him. There is hope in Christ. There is eternal hope, and there is hope for tomorrow. Look to His Word and obey. As verse 23 says, “Who among you will pay attention to this? Let him listen and obey in the future.” Pay attention to what the Lord is doing.
Here are the words through Isaiah the prophet. The “servant” and “messenger” in this passage refer to the nation of Israel (aka, “Jacob”) in Isaiah’s day. The truths of this passage are relevant to our lives today. Read these verses, noticing verses 21-23 especially. After your read the verses, take time to re-read the three points above. Pay attention to what the Lord is doing.