Remember how chapters 42-45 had this set of themes?

• God’s bumbling, blind, stubborn servant Israel
• Idols are stupid
• Yahweh is your REAL God who made everything and foretells the future

After the side trip to Babylon in chapters 46-47, we are back to the 3 themes above. Only in this chapter they are interwoven and repeated rather than in sections.

• Israel is stubborn
• I Am your God and I foretell the future
• Let’s see your stupid idols do that. Ha!

The LORD even patiently explains to them (like they’re five years old) WHY He has foretold future events through the prophets:

“That is why I told you what would happen; I told you beforehand what I was going to do. Then you could never say, ‘My idols did it. My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!’”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48‬:‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God is discrediting the idols they’ve been having an affair with.

Yahweh would provide for and protect them, but because they were still worshiping their idols, they would give the idol credit for their prosperity. Well here’s something that they can’t possibly confuse. Yahweh will foretell the future, (again) and it’s in writing (Isaiah) and when it happens just like Yahweh says (Cyrus conquers Babylon in a hundred years), then they’ll finally have irrefutable, incontestable PROOF that Yahweh, the God of their father Abraham, REALLY IS the Creator and the Most High.

😐 They needed ALL that just to be convinced that Yahweh was the #1 God? Was the parting of the Red Sea and 40 years of supernatural food and water not enough to convince them? And what about all the miraculous battles and hailstones from heaven and stuff?

I think this is why the LORD calls them “stubborn.”

😐 As an old mule, I say.

There’s something important to pick up on in verses 9-11 that we need to know. The LORD doesn’t rescue and restore Israel for their sakes. He does it for the sake of His own reputation; His name.

He is faithful. He is compassionate and merciful. Remember God saying His name in front of Moses in the cleft of the rock? “The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So He demonstrates His loving-kindness toward Israel, not because they earned it but because it’s who He is.

He has not changed.

None of us will ever earn or deserve the Savior’s compassion and mercy. He loves us, not because we are lovable but because faithful love is Who He is.

Yahweh repeats the former prediction about Cyrus. THIS is why skeptics refuse to believe that this part of Isaiah was written a hundred years before Cyrus was born. There is no way anyone could’ve known who the future conqueror of Babylon would be.

“Have any of your idols ever told you this? Come, all of you, and listen: The Lord has chosen Cyrus as his ally. He will use him to put an end to the empire of Babylon and to destroy the Babylonian armies. “I have said it: I am calling Cyrus! I will send him on this errand and will help him succeed.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This text makes people uncomfortable because it implies that Yahweh, the God of Israel, is in charge of human history and can allow empires to rise or fall and direct the affairs of men as He will. And if He’s in charge, people might have to answer to Him for their choices. Rebel humans don’t like this.

Verses 17 to the end sound like a bit like a country song. There’s a lot of “what might’ve been” and “you could still come home to me.” Or maybe a touch of Adele singing “We could’ve had it alllllll….” They could’ve had peace, but alas, there is no peace for the wicked.

😏 Ya know song it reminds me of?

What’s that?

😃 let me just get my hat…

🤠 Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.

Wow. That’s kinda vintage country isn’t it?

🤠 Yeah- vintage Chimpmunks from the 80s.

Ho boy… They’ll definitely have to click the link this time.

Tucked into this chapter is a lovely bit of encouragement I’d like to leave with you. Even if we’ve maybe gotten a little off-course or can’t tell if we’re on the right track…

“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭48‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

🌷