Isaiah There Are No Other Gods! Isaiah 44:24-45:25

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Molly Parsons
5 years ago
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1 Isaiah There Are No Other Gods! Isaiah 44:24-45:25 O ne of the interesting facts is that over time the truths that were going to disprove Christianity and scripture always turn out to be disproved themselves. Slavery was accepted and scripture was used to support it. It is still misused by white supremacists to show the superiority of the whites over people of color. But it was biblically grounded believers who overthrew slavery. Darwinism was seen as a way of eliminating the need for a god. It also brought about a social system that could create its own morality. Much of the current war against Christianity, as typified by the actions of the ACLU, is grounded in Social Darwinism. Evolution was, and still is by some, perceived as good science. In fact historically some believers thought since it was science there was truth to it. Consequently, a system called theistic evolution was developed. God started the evolutionary process. But of course time has proved that evolution was an empty promise. It is scientific nonsense. And in biology as well as astronomy there is a movement, grounded in scientific observation, to recognize a first cause, some kind of intelligence behind creation. This isn t necessarily a biblical view but at least it is progress towards Truth. The whole reason for books such as the DiVinci Code is to provide people a way to believe the Bible to be wrong. So the author digs up old, long disproved theories to try to convince the public that Christianity has been lying for two thousand years. And because people like a good conspiracy theory, many buy off on it. But God s Truth makes the world s wisdom look like exactly what it is: foolishness. I Introduction II God as Redeemer Verses III Cyrus as Messiah Verses 1-4 IV God as God Verses 5-10 V God as Provider Verses VI God as Savior Verses VII Conclusion The followers of Truth have always been rejected by the world. It isn t an accident that, while all religions have experienced persecution by other religions at one time or another, Christianity, and historically Judaism, have been uniquely singled out. As I noted last time, it seems the lost, while rejecting Truth, instinctively recognize it and strive to discredit it. But all this warfare is a result of the rebellion of humanity, its insanity, when put up against God s Truth. This is how God presents Himself in these last verses in Chapter 44.

2 I should note this chapter breakdown seems to be a bit arbitrary, which is why some place these verses in conjunction with Chapter 45. Verses 25-28: It has always been and always will be the Truth that God is the only source of redemption. This is why mankind is always attacking Truth, because the rebellion is based on rejection of God as redeemer. But He was and will be again the only redemption for Israel. As Creator God holds all truth. This is why it is so easy for Him to show the false prophets, the false scientists, the false historians for what they are, rebels who will eventually be judged by their own lies. The enemy may be at the gate, but Israel will be restored, the temple rebuilt and it will be through God s instrument Cyrus, who is mentioned a couple of times in this section. Buksbazen notes: Jehovah is about to perform another miracle. He will dry up the deep, a possible allusion to the celebrated act of Cyrus in diverting the Euphrates and the canals surrounding Babylon into an artificial lake, before he captured the great metropolis. The Greek historian Herodotus recorded this even in his History, relating how Cyrus dried up the Euphrates, so that it was only one food deep, by diverting its waters into the basin of Sepharvaim. In this way the Persian army was able to enter unexpectedly, the supposedly impenetrable city of Babylon. 1 What is interesting about Cyrus is God calls him His shepherd and later His anointed one, Messiah. Keep in mind this prophecy is made 150 years before the fact. And it s intriguing to see the same terminology that is used to describe Christ, here describing a pagan king. So then, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when people will no longer say, As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt, but they will say, As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them. Then they will live in their own land. (Jeremiah 23:7-8). Verses 1-4: And because the Lord is the one true God, all He says will come to pass as if it had already happened. And Cyrus is His instrument. Cyrus s accomplishments. Cyrus of Persia was one of the greatest conquerors in world history. He inherited the throne of Persia from his father, Cambyses I, in 559. In 556 the Babylonian king Nabonidus, motivated by a dream, abandoned the treaty that his country had maintained with the Medes for over half a century and made a treaty with Cyrus. This gave Cyrus the freedom to move against the Medes (ruled by his grandfather Astyges) whom he conquered in 550. The new Medo-Persian Empire was thus formed, with control over the entirety of Iran. By 546 he defeated the Anatolian kingdom of Lydia and Ionia. For the next five years he consolidated his control over the tribes in northeastern Iran. All of this success paved the way for his crowning achievement, the conquest of Babylon in 539 B.C. The whole of the Near East (excluding Egypt) was under the control of the Persians when Cyrus was killed in battle in God makes it clear that Cyrus victories are His because He goes before this king, giving him victory over his enemies. And God does this of course for the benefit of Israel s enemies and 1 Buksbazen, Victor, The Prophet Isaiah, In Two Volumes, The Spearhead Press, Collingswood, NJ, 1971, p Walton, John H., Victor H. Matthews, and Mark W. Chavalas IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, ) 326(

3 so she can return to her land and restore the temple. And so the day was coming when Cyrus would bring down Babylon. But what of Cyrus and his view of God? Grogan notes: Here it is said that God s support of Cyrus has as its purpose that he might know that Israel s God is the Lord. Yet twice over it is denied that Cyrus acknowledges him. In the Cyrus Cylinder, the king attributes his victories to Marduk, god of Babylon; yet in Ezra 1, Cyrus is quoted as asserting that the Lord had given him dominion. Clearly Cyrus used the names of deities without any sense of exclusiveness. Josephus (Antiq. XI, 5 [i.2]) recorded that these things Cyrus knew from reading the book of prophecy which Isaiah had left behind two hundred and ten years earlier. 3 There is an even bigger picture than the return from the Babylonian exile. Young reminds us that Israel must return because one day another Messiah, the true one, must be born in Bethlehem. And for that to happen, Israel must once more be in the Land. Verses 5-10: So, the bottom line isn t whether or not Cyrus acknowledges God, it is God bringing glory to Himself. What is interesting here is God promises to strengthen Israel, even while they are not acknowledging Him. One thing I have observed over the years is God working in the lives of unbelievers before turn to Him, accepting His gift of salvation. The emphasis is all God does is used to accomplish His will, regardless of whether it is blessing people or bringing disaster. We aren t comfortable with that concept. Does this mean that God cause the recent disaster in Asia? Not necessarily. Did He allow it? It would certainly seem likely. The point is God s focus and purpose is different from ours. He is more concerned about saving people from hell than from pain in this life. Rebellion brings its own consequences whether the rebellion is by His children or by the lost. God often is striving to create fear in humanity. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10). Verses 11-19: Once again God returns to the specific issue and that is the prophecy of Cyrus involvement in the affairs of Israel. Through his offices the people will have the opportunity to return to the land from the Babylonian exile. And these actions will be for God s glory and not Cyrus s enrichment. Verse 14 anticipates chapter 60. In 43:3 the Persians are promised Egypt, Cush, and Seba, while here their people are seen submitting to Israel. Two different stages of their history are, of course, in view. Despite their chains, the language suggests the people will voluntarily submit, and that for the best of reasons recognition of Israel s God and him alone. Young (Book of Isaiah, in loc.) says, Paul evidently reflects upon this language when he says,... and declare that God of a truth is in you (1 Cor 14:25). 4 Now someone responds to all God is doing. Is this Isaiah? Is this Israel? Or maybe this is all creation. Who knows! But, as God is lifted up, all the sources of security depended on by men are totally discredited. 3 Grogan, Geoffrey W., The Expositor s Bible Commentary, Isaiah, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, Ibid. ) 327(

4 Buksbazen introduces Verses this way The passage constitutes one of the highpoints of the book of Isaiah, and reaches out beyond Israel to embraced all of humanity in God s infinite mercy and salvation. It is a magnificent declaration concerning the sovereignty and majesty of the LORD and His redemptive purposes for all men. 5 Verses 20-25: Isaiah closes this section by reminding all people, Israel and the nations, that there is no other God in all creation. People have seen Him work, perform miracles, etc., so it is only foolishness to continue following idols. There is no one who we can turn to for salvation other than God. Either accept that Truth or be lost. And then there is a reminder of a truth Paul refers to. There is a day coming when all humanity will acknowledge who God is, whether they want to or not. at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11). But here the interesting fact is the passage does not seem to be a call to judgment. Instead God is offering salvation to a lost world. Here is an opportunity to experience God s grace. We are in the Old Testament and we find a statement of God s mercy and a shadow for the work of Christ. He is the Savior. Salvation is available to all who turn to Him and don t depend on themselves. The final promise is that God will restore Israel. She will be forgiven. All her people will be found righteous. This can only be done when they turn to Christ. But whether or not the Jew realizes it, the day is coming when the people will turn to Him and find the salvation they have been rejecting for two thousand years. And at least for now they still don t get it. Redak states: Through the Lord they shall be justified the nations shall be ashamed, but Israel shall be justified through their worship of God (emphasis mine-gk), and they shall boast of it before the nations, for they were devoted to Him throughout the years of their exile. 6 Considering this statement Judaism has become just one more religion. This statement reflects a works salvation. They are saved through their worship, including the worship during the exile. Well, first of all, considering the numbers of people who came back, apparently a lot of Jews weren t worshiping God during this period. But more importantly, the author obviously ignores the fact God says He is the one who provides salvation. It isn t earned. It is a gift of grace. And this same confusion isn t limited to just Jews. Much of the world believes it will earn its way into Heaven. And sadly even some Christians believe while they can t earn salvation, they have to earn the right to keep it. But God s message here is the gospel through grace, not through merit. 5 Buksbazen, p Rosenberg, Rabbi A., Isaiah, Vol. 2, The Judaica Press, Inc., New York, NY, 1992, p ) 328(

5 Conclusion: As we enter a new year, living in a world that at times can be very frightening, remembering God s words here speaking to His sovereignty should provide us with great comfort. Also understanding this passage should be a help in looking beyond the visible. The last couple of weeks have been an example of the need for looking beyond the obvious to the truth that not only is God sovereign, but He is righteous. We have just seen a cataclysm that is on a par with the great disasters of history. The earthquakes and tsunamis of Asia have killed huge numbers of people and destroyed countless lives. The death toll now stands at over 150,000. Why has this happened. I don t know. Why did God allow it. I don t know. I do know that God is sovereign and just. We can ask why, but faith is trusting God without knowing why. And as people ask the question why, let s not be threatened by it but simply testify to our faith in a loving God and so we don t need to have answers to questions that, from a human standpoint don t have answers. And for us as believers, we need to ask what can we do. There are a number of thing including prayer, but also, if we are in a position to do so, assistance through any of the agencies that are trustworthy such as World Vision or the Red Cross. I have spent a lot of time focusing on God s sovereignty because if we realize the full implication of this truth, it will have a radical impact on how we live. We can live with courage, focusing not on the struggles in our lives, but in living for God and the adventure the Christian life can and should be. Let me close with Matthew Henry s words: There is no God beside Jehovah. There is nothing done without him. He makes peace, put here for all good; and creates evil, not the evil of sin, but the evil of punishment. He is the Author of all that is true, holy, good, or happy; and evil, error, and misery, came into the world by his permission, through the wilful apostacy of his creatures, but are restrained and overruled to his righteous purpose. This doctrine is applied, for the comfort of those that earnestly longed, yet quietly waited, for the redemption of Israel. The redemption of sinners by the Son of God, and the pouring out the Spirit, to give success to the gospel, are chiefly here intended. We must not expect salvation without righteousness; together the Lord hath created them. Let not oppressors oppose God s designs for his people. Let not the poor oppressed murmur, as if God dealt unkindly with them. Men are but earthen pots; they are broken potsherds, and are very much made so by mutual contentions. To contend with Him is as senseless as for clay to find fault with the potter. Let us turn God s promises into prayers, beseeching him that salvation may abound among us, and let us rest assured that the Judge of all the earth will do right. 7 God Unchanging. When we have looked on the pleasures of life, and they have vanished away; when we have looked on the works of Nature, and perceived that they were changing; on the monuments of Art, and seen that they would not stand; on our friends, and they have fled while we were gazing; on ourselves, and felt that we were fleeting as they we can look to the throne of God. Change and decay have never reached that. The waves of an eternity have been rushing past it, but it has ever remained unshaken. The waves of another eternity are rushing toward it; but it is fixed, and can never be disturbed. ~ F. W. P. Greenwood 8 7 Henry, Matthew, Matthew Henry s Commentary (Condensed), Public Domain, Hypertexted and formatted by OakTree Software, Inc. 8 McClure, editor, J. B., Pearls from Many Seas, The Master Christian Library, AGES Software, Albany, OR, Version ) 329(

6 Isaiah There Are No Other Gods! Isaiah 44:24-45:25 I Introduction II God as Redeemer Verses III Cyrus as Messiah Verses 1-4 IV God as God Verses 5-10 V God as Provider Verses VI God as Savior Verses VII Conclusion I Introduction: II God as Redeemer: (Jeremiah 23:7-8) III Cyrus as Messiah: IV God as God: (Proverbs 9:10)

7 V God as Provider: VI God as Savior: (Philippians 2:10-11) VII Conclusion: Personal Application: Let your prayer life reflect the needs of those around us praying for their spiritual needs, but also for their physical needs. Prayer for the Week: Lord, help us learn to be prayer warriors regardless of our spiritual gifts. In Jesus name, amen.

EXPOSITION OF ISAIAH. Message #66 Isaiah 45:1-7

EXPOSITION OF ISAIAH. Message #66 Isaiah 45:1-7 EXPOSITION OF ISAIAH Message #66 Isaiah 45:1-7 There is a song that says, I know who holds the future and I know He holds my hand, with God things don t just happen, everything by Him is planned. So as