Isaiah 50:1-11

Trust is what the Lord requires of His children.  Sin has brought down havoc upon this world and then we further complicate our lives by our own sinfulness.  Sin always has consequences, many of which are far beyond anything we could imagine.  The only way to be free from sin and to face the consequences of sin is through trusting God.  Israel was about to find herself being taken into captivity by a cruel and barbaric nation.  This was the consequence of sin.  These circumstances would cause her to question the trustworthiness of God.  Isaiah warns her not to fall into this trap by reminding her of God’s power as well as by prophesying of the pain Jesus would bare in order to set her free from sin.  We must never allow the consequences of our sin tempt us to stop trusting God.  Rather, we must recognize it was our failure to trust God that brought these circumstances upon us in the first place.

WE SHOULD TRUST THE LORD BECAUSE OF HIS SOVEREIGNTY: Israel was about to be taken into captivity.  This would make her feel like she had been divorced or sold into slavery by God.  They would feel as if God had abandoned them and try to convince themselves that God was to blame for their circumstances.  They would sink even further into sin by believing that their circumstances were due to God’s lack of power to protect or deliver them.  This demonstrates a diabolical thought process that is all too common in our own hearts.  First of all, we can never blame God for the consequences of sin in our lives.  He has never sinned so whatever difficult circumstances we face, they are brought on by our sin and not His.  Second, God is always faithful even when we are not and we can never accuse Him of selling His children into slavery.  Their captivity was due to their own choosing, not God’s unfaithfulness.  Third, it is ludicrous to think God is powerless to save.  The earth was created by the words of His mouth and He still has the power to control the rivers, oceans and nations of this world.  When we face difficult circumstances, we must not blame God but trust Him.


WE SHOULD TRUST THE LORD BECAUSE OF HIS SUFFERING: We will certainly suffer because of our sin, but that suffering is very well deserved.  The Lord deserves our trust because He has chosen to take the suffering that we deserve and take it upon Himself.  The scorn and humiliation of sin that belongs to all of us was placed upon Him.  He gave His back to be whipped in our place.  He allowed His beard to be ripped out of its place because of His love for us.  He was humiliated by godless men spitting in His face before the crucified Him in our place.  Jesus was determined to suffer in our place according the will and by the power of God.  There is no love like His love and there has been no suffering like His suffering.  We can trust Him completely as He is our only hope to set us free from our sin.  Those who strive by their own strength to free themselves from sin and its consequences will stumble in the darkness and find themselves in eternal torment.  He has suffered for us so we could be free if only we will trust Him.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than a...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:3-7

I thank God   whom I serve, as did my ancestors,   with a clear conscience, as I remember you   constantly in my prayers night and day.    As I remember your tears,   I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.    I am reminded of   your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and   your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.    For this reason I remind you   to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us   a spirit not of fear but   of power and love and self-control. It is easy for us to forget many important things especially in the face of difficulty or danger.  Paul is in prison and Timothy is facing difficult times in ministry so there are important reminders that Paul wants to make sure that Timothy understands.  God has given us everything we need to face the difficulties He allows i...
Read more

2 Timothy 1:8-14

Therefore   do not be ashamed of   the testimony about our Lord, nor of   me his prisoner, but   share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,   who saved us and   called us to a holy calling,   not because of our works but because of   his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus   before the ages began, and which now has   been manifested through   the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus,   who abolished death and   brought life and   immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer as I do. But   I am not ashamed, for   I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until   that day   what has been entrusted to me.  Follow   the pattern of   the sound words   that you have heard from me, in   the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. ...
Read more