Tag: Trust

rod long drgrzqqsjda unsplash

The Prophetic Voice in Isaiah 40: Trusting God’s Plan (Isaiah 40:3-5)

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

[3] The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. [4] Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: [5] And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 40:3-5

Explanation

The book of Isaiah can be divided much like the Bible itself. In the Old Testament there are 39 books, and in the New Testament there are 27 books, for a total of 66 books. The book of Isaiah has 66 chapters—39 that seem to represent the Old Testament and 27 that seem to represent the New Testament.

The beginning of chapter 40 speaks of one who is coming with a message: this voice that cries in the wilderness. It’s a prophecy about John the Baptist and the message that he proclaimed. Some may say it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy in the sense that while he was just proclaiming the message that was written down, he was assuming the identity of the person described in Isaiah 40. The problem is that the message he was giving was also accomplishing what actually happened.

He literally did prepare the way of the Lord. He really was someone that lived in the desert, and he did prepare people for the coming of Jesus Christ. Verse 4 says every valley will be exalted, every mountain shall be made low—talking about an evening of the way. Going uphill is hard, going down through a valley could be hard, but having this straight path, this clear path through which the Messiah could come, through which God could come, and the glory of the Lord through the Son of God to be revealed—that’s what John was doing. That’s what actually happened.

He was a foreteller and a forerunner of Jesus. The truth of the matter is, the glory of God was revealed through Jesus. In the end, everyone will know that Jesus is Lord. In fact, that’s what Philippians tells us: that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. God’s gonna make this happen.

This is a prophetic passage that foretells what would happen with John and what would happen through God coming behind John—at least in timing and in messaging—through the person of Jesus Christ.

Application

The implication is that this is a sign that helps us understand that Jesus is who He said He was. It’s not the last sign or even the most prominent sign—Jesus’ resurrection from the dead helps us know that He was who He said He was as well—but it’s a picture. It’s a sign for us to know that John is exactly who Scripture said he was, and this was his message, and this was his ministry.

It’s pretty amazing how the Bible all works together. You can trust your Bible. Its prophecies come true. While not every prophecy has been fulfilled, many of them have, and they tell us—they witness to us—that every prophecy will be fulfilled because what God says He will do, He will do. The Lord has spoken it. The mouth of the Lord has spoken it.

Response

  1. Where are you having a hard time trusting God and trusting God’s Word? What can you do to deepen your trust in His Word?
  2. Is your ministry—is your service for the Lord—based on confidence in the Word of God, or is it based on your own effort?
luemen rutkowski buzk4bgdkgg unsplash

Is anything too hard for the Lord? F260- Week 3- Day 1

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional, F260Leave a comment

Scripture Reading- Genesis 18-19

This Week’s Memory Verse:

(20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

Romans 4:20

Highlight:

(9) And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.
(10) And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
(11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.
(12) Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
(13) And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?
(14) Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
(15) Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

Genesis 18:9-15

Explanation:
A key question needs to be answered about this passage.

Who are they?

For sure, at least one of the trio is a theophany, a term we use for an appearance of God in the Old Testament. Abram calls him Lord, which some would say was just a respectful greeting. Yet as you see Abram interact with this man in this interchange, it becomes abundantly clear that this is Jehovah. The man speaks authoritatively about Sarah having a son. He speaks authoritiatively about judgment of Sodom. In verse 17 the name that is used for Lord is Jehovah. Later in chapter 19 two angels head toward Sodom. Is this Jehovah accompanied by two angels? That seems to fit.

What happens in chapter 18?
We see that God affirms his covenant with Abraham, especially that Sarah would conceive and bare a son. When he declares it yet again, Sarah, who is listening in responds in laughter.

(12) Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

Genesis 18:12

Another evidence that this is the omniscient God is that He perceived the internal doubt characterized as laughter that Sarah expressed. He challenged her doubt with a relevant question:

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

Genesis 18:14a

Application:
What an incredible question! Allowing to be asked in our own lives will generate an incredible answer. No! There is nothing too hard for the Lord. He can do anything that is within His character to do, and since He is holy, righteous, just, omniscient, ominipotent, ominisapient, and omnipresent, He can and will do everything that must be done for His own glory and for the good of those who trust in Him! When God makes a promise He keeps it, even when that promise seems impossible.

What should that cause us to do? We should want to know the promises of God, and to trust God to complete those promises!

Response:
Lord, help me to trust you today with my family, with my time, with the direction of our church. Help me not to go out on my own, but to follow you.

allen taylor llk1oja7wkg unsplash

Isaiah- Week 7- Day 4

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

And this shall be a sign unto thee, Ye shall eat this year such as groweth of itself; and the second year that which springeth of the same: and in the third year sow ye, and reap, and plant vineyards, and eat the fruit thereof. And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward: For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion: the zeal of the LORD of hosts shall do this.

Isaiah 37:30-32

Explanation:
God responds through Isaiah by giving Hezekiah a sign. He tells him that he would not be able to do agriculture for two years. In the first year they will eat what is growing wild and it will be enough to sustain them. In the second year they will only eat what came as a result of the first years growth. In the third year he was told he’d be able to plant, grow and harvest and eat.
He was also told that the remnant of Judah will take root. They will be sustained in the land. Senacharib would not be able to destroy the children of Israel. Why? Because God is on their side. “The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.”

Application:
Here are a few points of application:

  • God does often respond to our prayers when we pray according to His will.
  • God made it clear that he will protect his people.
  • God can be trusted.

Response:
How has God proven He can be trusted in your life?

mika brandt ulipbbzpweg unsplash

Trusting in God will bring Protection- Isaiah- Week 6- Day 3

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

Isaiah 31:4-5

Explanation:
In these verses we see two descriptive metaphors.

  1. Young Lion
    God compares Himself as a young, fierce lion facing some shepherds. The lion is not afraid of the shepherds. He is not scared of their shouting against him. He is not afraid of their staff or their sling. Notice when the comparison is made God is called the Lord of Hosts. This is a description of God as the God of armies. What will he do? He will fight for “mount Zion”, a name for Jerusalem and Israel.
  2. Flying Bird
    Mother birds are known to defend their young at all costs. As birds flying will do anything to defend their nest, so God will do what it takes to defend and deliver Jerusalem. He will deliver it, and He will preserve it.

Application:
God is a God who keeps his promises. He can be trusted. When we trust in Him, He will protect us. What is the best way to express our trust in God? Obedience. There is no trust in the presence of disobedience. We must trust God by turning to Him and obeying what He says. One Hymn writer put it this way:

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.


Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.


Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.


Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Response:
• Is there a disobedience in your life that is showing a lack of trust in God?