Reassurance for God’s People

January 16, 2011

Background Scripture: Isaiah 48
Lesson Passage: Isaiah 48:12 – 22

It is comforting to know that everything will turn out alright when one is in the midst of difficult times. Even though the difficulties may have been brought on by disobedience or bad decisions in general, no one wants to endure trouble forever. But sometimes it is difficult to see how things will work out for the best. It is at times such as this that children of God receive what they need the most—His assurance. Even the song Blessed Assurance is a reminder that Christians have much to be thankful for. Sometimes future promises can brighten even the darkest of days.

In our lesson today, God continues to remind Israel that their stay in Babylon would not last forever. Israel certainly had plenty of reasons to be discouraged. They were suffering at the hand of their enemy because of their own errors or sins. They had been removed from their homeland—the land of promise. They were called to be a nation of priests but instead they had become slaves and foreigners. And all of this was their fault. To make matters worse, their captors were pagans and much more wicked than they were but yet God was using them to punish His own people. Yes they had plenty to discourage them but in the midst of their gloom, God was providing them a word of reassurance. God, indeed, may raise up the wicked to punish the just but when that punishment has run its course, God will then deal with the wicked. Even though God might have used them for His own purpose, this does not vindicate the unrighteous. Babylon will receive her just reward. Israel’s situation was temporary and God wanted them to see it that way. All situations happen in time and are temporary. A relationship with God is what should be viewed as permanent. God is eternal. God created time but He is not governed by or subject to it. God’s instructions are given for the benefit of His children. God teaches His children to do well and He directs their steps in the right path. He teaches them to do well so that He can bless them in unimaginable ways. Their blessings are not limited by God’s ability to deliver or perform but rather by their disobedience to the instructions that he provides them. It is this disobedience that often brings about punishment after repeated warnings. But after punishment has run its course, God again assures His children of His unfailing love towards them. He says that they should rejoice after they have endured His righteous judgment for they will again bask in the blessings that he has in store for them. God is our savior, redeemer, and protector. He will redeem His children out of all of their troubles. He will take care of them and they shall see their enemy punished because their enemy is also God’s enemy. Righteousness will prevail and God’s children can rejoice in the midst of troubles because they will be redeemed and restored.

Robert C. Hudson

January 3, 2011