Trust God’s plan and obey his servant

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today’s passage?

I like that clear themes are emerging from Isaiah's prophecies. One is the foolishness of basing a life, or indeed a nation and culture, on wisdom which is meant to operate independently from God. For some that is expressed as idols, for others as magic, astrology, or, perhaps more widespread today, learning or military strength. God's warning to the proud and powerful civilisation of Babylon suggests that such self-reliance goes together with corrupt, wicked behaviour, and blindness to its consequences.

This was important to God’s people because they had to endure exile from their own land and captivity under Babylon. God’s promise to free them will have reminded them of God freeing Israel from Egypt, the story told in Exodus.

But this happened before God completed the plan announced again here, for God to empower a servant (Jesus) to rescue Israel and become “a light for the Gentiles” (us!)

Just like Hezekiah, Israel should have noticed and credited God for the scope of what he was doing, but they did not. So, they had all these promises, not just of freedom for themselves but for world-changing significance, yet they would get hung up on their own need for restoration for centuries to come. They would keep looking for a saviour, but not recognise him because they didn’t recognise the point of him, or the purpose God intended.

But as Easter approaches, and we get ready to celebrate this saviour’s greatest work, we must credit God. We are included in his kingdom, even part of his family, because of Jesus.

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God always had a bigger plan than people could get their heads around. The world would recognise and be able to obey God because his servant saviour would lead the way. God knows that without him, we would always be looking for other bases for our lives and end up corrupt, not knowing who we really are. God chose not to correct us through ideas and laws alone, but with a person we can both relate to and marvel at when we see God powerfully at work through their life. God then expects us to trust and obey him.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

I’m struck by the command to trust God when walking in the dark, not a torch I have lit for myself. I need to bring myself to listen to and obey God more often, not just try to work things out for myself.

Who am I going to share this with?

This reminds me that there are people I should pray with more, and I’ll share with them.