Short Reflection from Isaiah 1-10

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[2:59 pm, 01/01/2022] S.R: 𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙:𝟛

"An ox knows its owner, And a donkey its master's manger, But Israel does not know, My people do not understand."

Israelites were bought and brought out of Egypt. God is their owner twice: first, He created them; second, He redeemed them from Egypt.

When we say "Lord" to Jesus, we are also confessing His ownership of us. Indeed, Jesus is our Owner, He has bought us with His life.

Pets (cats and dogs) love their owners, recognize their owners, and are happy to be with their owners. Humans who were created specially above all creations have fared poorly in comparison to animals. This is the lament, accusation, and a challenge! Let's know our God, much more, this year through His words!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟛

"And many peoples 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕊𝕒𝕪, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕦𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕤." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

Notice the tense. It's future tense. This is what should happen and will surely happen!

Now, look at what they are doing! They love to go temple. They are inviting people. [And how many of us show up to church with friends gladly? Hmm!]

Look at their intention:  They go to the temple to be taught and to obey exactly! [Many professing Christians don't want to be taught. Even when they are taught, they don't learn anything, they don't obey anything nor remember anything! 😬]

Takeaway: Church is not for entertainment, nor for emotional satisfaction, or to meet friends primarily. It's to know the ways of God and walk/obey them!

 

[7:22 pm, 02/01/2022] S.R: @Anipe @Beckham Delhi @Dr Gailiang @Mermie @Gaijuan Delhi @Haoboi Geologist @Lalit Pune @Melody GCD @Pts Amit @Suanlal Delhi @Timothy Guwahati

Dear beautiful friends,

Since none of you have expressed your desire to leave this group even after multiple notifications, you are requested and required to put up your reading update for the next 30 days!

Do you remember Messi and Barcelona? Messi wanted out but had to stay back in Barcelona in 2020. Same Rule! 😎😂

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟛:𝟙

"For behold, the Lord GOD of hosts is going to remove from Jerusalem and Judah Both supply and support, the whole supply of bread And the whole supply of water;"

It's God who let His city be plundered! Both prosperity and poverty, everything happens under the watch of our sovereign God!

This is God's world! In the words of Luther, even the Devil is God's devil! So, on heydays and doom days, good times and bad times, godly places and wicked places, around good people or bad people, anytime and every time, God is our very present help. He is never far, almighty to save!

[10:41 am, 03/01/2022] S.R: Dear @Beckham Delhi @Timothy Guwahati

It's already a New Year, Day 3, you are reminded, required, and requested to start your update for the next 30 days! 👍🙏

 

𝕀𝕤𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟜:𝟛

"It will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy--everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem."

Why do people want to be mainstream? Why do people want to stick with the majority?

Btw, Christianity is not a religion of the mainstream. It has a narrow gate. Not only the gate is narrow, but the way is also narrow. Not only the gate and way are narrow, but only a few also find them. Even among the few who find them, only a few enter through the narrow gate, the narrow gate to life.

The Bible always portrays God to be a narrow God, a God of remnants! Do you want to have a broad mind? Not in this matter, my friends!

Isaiah wrote that God will purge His city, and only the remnants will be saved, blessed, and prosperous!

Choose to live for God. Only a few among the few do that. You don't need to leave your profession. You can still serve God and glorify God even by killing people (enemies) if you are in legitimate military service. King David thanked God for training his hands to kill his enemies. Olympic gold medalist Eric Liddell ran for God's glory.

Worship God. Acknowledge God. Fear God. All these start with knowing God through His word. That's why we read our Bible every day and put up an update in this group to remind and encourage one another! 👍

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟝:𝟙

"Let me sing now for my well-beloved A song of my beloved concerning His vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill."

Isaiah referred to God as "My beloved." When was the last time you told people that God is your Beloved?

Do we address God with love language? Or do you love your spouse, gf/bf more than God?

Of course, I don't recommend you address God "babe" or "sweetheart" or "Choco-pie" 😬😂

But, let's come up with some loving words! Let's improve our vocabulary and affection for God!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟞:𝟠

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"

Isaiah saw the glory of God and that changed him. He, an unworthy guy was made worthy. He, a fearful guy was made courageous.

John Piper was a timid guy, but when He realized the supremacy of the glory of God, he became a preacher!

We need to see the glory of God daily to strengthen our life!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟟:𝟟

Thus says the Lord GOD: "It shall not stand nor shall it come to pass."

Living in this world for quite some years has given me an observation that bad things happen easier and more frequently.

There's even Murphy's Law, which says, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong." Even the famed movie, Interstellar made a reference to this law, though in a positive light!

However, this verse is a delivering light! God can stop. God can make certain things never happen. Trust God, Ask God, Pray to God, are some of the implications.

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟠:𝟙𝟛

"It is the LORD of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread."

God requires a courageous minister of God. The church needs courageous leaders. Our generation needs courageous people.

One thing I pray to God is to make me a courageous man! A courageous man is a fearful man of God.

Oh! Why fear what the world fears? The world fears government, diseases, power, poverty, insults, oppression, and so on. A man of God would suffer anything because his fear and dread is God. Paul Washer is right in suggesting to pray, "Increase in me to fear Thee!"

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟡:𝟚𝟙

"Manasseh devours Ephraim, and Ephraim Manasseh, And together they are against Judah. In spite of all this, His anger does not turn away And His hand is still stretched out."

One of the recurring refrains in this chapter is "His anger does not turn away," at least 3 times. It reveals the nature of God's justice and judgment! No surprise, only the death of God's Son satisfied the wrath of God!

 

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟙𝟘:𝟙𝟝

"Is the axe to boast itself over the one who chops with it? Is the saw to exalt itself over the one who wields it? That would be like a club wielding those who lift it, Or like a rod lifting him who is not wood."

God hates the proud, yes even spiritual pride. Let's guard against pride!