A God Who Acts
5/6/26 Bible Thought (Isaiah 32-33)
Main Idea: God is a God who acts, bringing salvation for those who trust in Him.
A Look at the Text:
In the midst of an impending Assyrian invasion, the Lord issued a message of hope through His prophet in response to His people.
First, there would be a coming king of righteousness (Isa. 32:1). While this was initially fulfilled in Hezekiah and Josiah, it would only be perfectly fulfilled in the Messiah.
Nevertheless, although eternal peace would be awaited, there would still be an intervention from the Lord in short order. While disaster was on the horizon as soon as a year away (Isa. 32:9-15), there was a pronouncement from the Lord against Assyria.
Assyria, the “destroyer,” would actually be destroyed (Isa. 33:1). God would intervene on behalf of His people who had turned to Him in pleas for mercy:
“O Lord, be gracious to us; we wait for you. Be our arm every morning, our salvation in the time of trouble” (Isa. 33:2).
Though exalted and dwelling on high (Isa. 33:5), the Lord takes thought for His people, and He was going to act on their behalf:
“Now I will arise,” says the Lord, “now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted” (Isa. 33:10)
Though at the present things looked bleak for Jerusalem and all Judah, the end of the story was that Jerusalem would be an immovable tent (Isa. 33:20). They would live under the reign of God as Judge, Lawgiver, and King (Isa. 33:22).
Bringing it Home:
The consistent testimony of Scripture is that God is a God who acts.
He is not aloof as regards His creation. He didn’t make everything and then take His hands off the wheel and ignore it. He is presently working all things according to the counsel of His will (see Eph. 1:11). Though He might seem distant, He is ever-present. Though He might seem indifferent, He most certainly cares.
Judah’s plight woke them up. When they called out to God, they discovered He was already waiting for their call. In a single moment of “now,” God would break into their situation and bring about deliverance and restoration.
At present, we await the final fulfillment of these promises in the Messianic Kingdom when Christ will come again.
With this, let us never forget that God is a God who acts. He does intervene. In a moment, in a final, eternal “now,” Christ will return and set up His Kingdom.
In that final day of deliverance and everlasting peace, we can hope. Even more, in the God who both makes and keeps His promises, we can trust.
Challenge:
Do I trust that God is still involved not only in my life, but also in the grand scheme of nations and in creation itself?