Are you facing calamities and difficulties?
Isaiah 40:30-31 says,
“Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
Background:
Isaiah 40 provides comfort for God’s people at the time of dangers and difficulties. In Isaiah 39 Isaiah the prophet described to King Hezekiah the looming calamity that is going to come on to the southern kingdom of Israel-Judah -in near future. The prophet said a time is going to come when everything in your palace and all that his predecessors have stored up will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left for them. The prophet also said some of your children, his own flesh, and blood who will be born to him, will also be taken away as captives and they will become eunuchs in the Babylonians king’s palace.
This definitely is a very gloomy, dangerous and horrible description of the future from the Lord. Prophet Isaiah faithfully delivered the message. If you study the history of Israel you know Judah went to exile because God punished them for their continued disobedience and rebelliousness against Him. This is the background from where our insights coming from today.
The Great God who is greater than nations, nation’s leaders, and heaven.
In chapter 40, Bible is revealing to us how great the God is – the one who can measure the waters in the hollow of his hand, who can mark off the heavens with the breadth of his hands, who can hold the dust of the earth in a basket, the one who can weigh the mountains on the scales, the one who can weigh the hills in a balance. God who made the earth is much greater than the earth and its greatness. You may wonder about the great cities in the nations, like New Delhi in India, Tokyo in Japan, New York in the USA, Shanghai in China. But these cities and nations are just like a drop in a bucket for the Lord. Before the Lord the nations and its leaders are nothing. The Lord is the one who stretches out the heavens like a canopy and He spreads them out like a tent to live in. He raises up princes to rule and He reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
See, the LORD is the creator of all. He created the earth, world, heavens and He is the one who appoints the leaders and rulers of the earth to fulfill His plans and purposes and He removes the leaders. Then it says, “with whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken Him.” (Isaiah 40:18). This question demands an answer from the reader. The answer is we cannot compare or liken the creator God to nothing. There is no equal to Him. This question is repeated again in verse 25. “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One. Then it says to lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and call each of them by name. Then it says because of the LORD’s great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Bible shows the greatness of God in this chapter 40 of the book of Isaiah. 40:15-17 says He is greater than great nations, 40:22-24 says the LORD is greater than great nation’s great leaders. Verse 26 says, The LORD is greater than all the wonders of heavens.
Then it says, do you think God doesn’t know your needs, worries, and cares? How can you say, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? (Verse 27).
Your problems, cares, and worries are not hidden from the Lord.
See the Lord God is the everlasting God, He is the creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom. Surely, if this is the case, the Lord knows your needs, problems, and worries.
Such everlasting God, who is the creator of all, is the one who strengthens when you are weary and He is the one who increases the power when you feel weak. This is the background of our weekly insight.
Interpretation:
• Even youths grow tired and weary,
• And young men stumble and fall;
• But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
• Those who put their hope in the Lord will soar on wings like eagles
• They will run and not grow weary
• They will walk and not be faint
My friend, what or who is the source of your hope for tomorrow? If the everlasting LORD and His word (the Bible) is your hope, the source of your hope is powerful enough like the LORD Himself and His word is powerful and He and His Words will grant you strength. By placing Hope in the living and everlasting LORD, you will also soar on wings like eagles. You will run but not become weary and you will continue walking but won’t get faint.
In this historical context of the book of Isaiah, Judah is facing war and complete destruction from Babylon due to their own neglect and rebelliousness against the LORD. But even in the midst of this looming danger, they can find comfort in the strength and power of the LORD and His Words. He and His Words are able to give them strength and power to face the difficult challenges ahead of them.
Find strength and hope in the almighty God. He provides comfort, help, and deliverance.
You can find strength in the LORD as well, no matter what you face today. The Southern part of US is facing dangerous hurricane now and many homes and businesses are destroyed. Irma, another category 5 Hurricane is coming to hit the coastal areas this coming week end. It could bring the countless destruction of lives and wealth.
Remember the words of Habakkuk in the midst of looming danger. You can read this in Habakkuk 3:17:
“Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the Lord,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet,
And makes me walk on my high place”.
Habakkuk conveys the same idea – God is my strength and He is able to make my feet like hinds’ feet and walk me on the high place. Thru all these problems and dangers, please learn the eternal principle from God. No matter what you face, if you put your hope in the LORD of the Bible, He is able to give you strength and grace to face the difficulties and He is able to bring you out of all your troubles. Why don’t you put your hope and trust in the Lord? The Lord Jesus is calling to come to Him because He died in your place for your sins, and was risen from the dead on the third day. He is the one who can help you in all your difficulties. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Christ is the source of peace, hope, forgiveness and eternal life. He will grant you rest and comfort in your life.
Circumstances may not be looking good and worries of future may hit you hard. However, remember who is able to bless you again and His supernatural strength and provisions are sufficient for you. Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”. (2 Corinthians 12:9).
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