A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (August 25, 2017)
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
One of our recent devotionals touched on the eunuch from Ethiopia in Acts 8 where he was reading from the Book of Isaiah. He could not understand exactly what he was reading so Philip came alongside to help him. As I read through the Book of Isaiah I completely understand the eunuch’s predicament. Thank the Lord that we have the Holy Spirit today that helps us read this great prophetic book.
As I read through Isaiah, I find myself asking “where exactly are we”? Are we in the times of Isaiah? Are we in the times of Jesus? Are we in the times of the Church? It seems to me that Isaiah jumps around a lot in his prophetic visions. I’m not a Hebrew scholar or theological intellect but this is the way I look at it.
Jesus (the Word of God) is the same yesterday, today, and forever. God does not change. On the opposite side of the coin, our enemy (Satan) does not change either. He is still using the same tactics he used in Isaiah’s time. That is one reason that the mistakes made by the Jewish people look so familiar to us because we are making the same mistakes. We see the same sins all around us today and that is what is so amazing about prophetic visions. They can jump from century to century and still apply. They can be specific to time and also timeless.
For example, as you read through Chapters 5-10 of Isaiah you will see some very familiar sins that perfectly describe where we are today as a culture and a church: we call evil good and good evil; we call bitter sweet and sweet bitter; we call darkness light and light darkness; we are wise in our own eyes and prudent in our own ways; we justify wickedness for reward; we do not seek the Lord; we turn aside from the poor and needy; we are evildoers and hypocrites.
Now, we could read all that and get condemned and depressed but I want you to hear what Isaiah wrote five times during this same span of scriptures:
For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 5:25; 9:12; 9:17; 9:21; 10:4)
Some translations of this particular scripture say that God’s hand is stretched out in judgement. This is where the Holy Spirit and knowing God’s heart is so vital! I believe God’s hand is stretched out in mercy and redemption and not just in judgment. Can you prove that with scripture? I think I can!
Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments: (Exodus 6:6)
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: (Proverbs 1:23-25)
And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever: With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever: (Psalm 136:11-13)
God’s outstretched arm (which is represented by Jesus Christ himself) is still stretched out to us today. His mercies are new every morning. His desire is for none to perish. He is never happy with our sin but He is constantly reaching out to us to turn away from our sin and turn to Him.
Today is the day of salvation! Reach out and grab His hand.
