The Dependable God

Tomorrow is Labor Day. It is a celebration of the “common worker.” Nothing critical about that, just a way of stating that Labor Day was set aside to honor the sweat and toil of what might be called blue collar workers; those who work day in and day out without much recognition. The irony of Labor Day is that most of the businesses which will be open tomorrow are those which will have the common worker busy at their station. The very ones who are to be honored will be working tomorrow. Just something to think about.

The Promise in Isaiah

For some of us this passage from Isaiah 40:28-31 are welcome words: “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” This text gives hope in our discouragement and maybe puts a bit of a spring in our step. But it is when we put this text in its context that we can truly appreciate what the Bible is saying.

The Context of Captivity

In chapter 39, God has just told Israel that they will be taken into Babylonian captivity. As you can imagine this prophetic certainty has left them feeling as if God has abandoned them. Some feel that God is turning his back on his people. That has happened to us, hasn’t it? Haven’t there been times when we feel like God has turned his back on us? Haven’t there been times when we wonder if God has abandoned us? And we might even mentally ask the question, “If God is so powerful, why am I having to go through this?” This is the same question Israel had when told about the Babylonian captivity. Where is God? Why doesn’t he stop this from happening? And God responds to those questions in chapter 40 of Isaiah.

God’s Answer

He answers in a variety of ways, but really under one large umbrella. God is creator and because he creates he knows what he is doing. Isaiah reminds us that God is like a good shepherd who picks up his broken sheep and holds them close to his heart. But in verses 13-15, Isaiah reminds us that the compassionate God is also the enormous God. “Who has understood the mind of the LORD, or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding? Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.” So God uses a nation to punish his people. Does he know what he is doing? Sure. The nations are like dust to him. Who taught God how to create? Who taught God how to understand the events of this world? Who serves as God’s counselor?

Trust Beyond Understanding

Israel wondered where God was. For them all they could see was punishment. How could a good God let that happen? The response is to point out how presumptuous the people are for assuming that God’s ways must make sense to them. Trusting someone means that there are times when we aren’t sure of what they are doing, but believe that whatever it is will work out best. What we need during those tough times are not explanations but greater understanding about God’s greatness and his strategy. Listen to Isaiah, “He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. ‘To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?’ says the Holy One. Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”

Lift Up Your Eyes

That’s what we need. We need to lift up our eyes and better understand the enormity of God’s power and presence. Israel focused on what was happening to them. All they could think about was that they were going through a very difficult time and that God had left them. But this is where the final verses of Isaiah 40 come in. Strength and hope and soaring like eagles are not for everyone. These things are reserved for those who will wait on the Lord. Our thinking is not God’s thinking. Our timing is not God’s timing. For those who learn to wait, to trust, to expand their view of God, who are willing to look beyond the immediate, God brings hope and strength. Let’s learn to trust God’s timing; let’s learn to trust the one who is far greater than our thinking. Let’s learn to trust the creator who knows all and sees all. He will provide strength and hope if we learn to wait for him to act.

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