S) "9 Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, 'My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure';"
Isaiah 46:9-10 (NASB)
O) The context of this passage, is again that Isaiah was delivering a prophecy about the exile of God's people, because of their unfaithfulness to Him, and their eventual restoration. This passage reveals, in an unmistakable way, a crucial point of God's character. From the beginning, He knew the end. There has never been any part of time that has ever been unfamiliar to the LORD. In the context of this particular chapter, God is revealing that Judah would be taken by Babylon, according to His purpose. Throughout the Bible, prophets were sent to declare what was going to take place, according to the words of God. This was repeatedly stated to reveal that the LORD had done those things, so that the people could not mistake their circumstances as the doing of false-gods, or simply as happenstance. Verse 10 also shows a glimpse (I say "glimpse" because this can be such a deep topic) of God's sovereignty. At the very least, the good pleasure of God was to reconcile people to Himself. That was the purpose of the gospel, and there can be no doubt that He accomplished His good pleasure in Jesus Christ.
A) My response to this is, and should continue to be, humble awe. I must remember that nothing is surprising to my God. He knew every circumstance I would ever face, from the beginning. I should rest in His perfect knowledge, and trust in His good pleasure, that what He wills to happen He will make happen. In what He allows to happen, He still has a plan. The LORD is bigger than I could imagine, in His knowledge and power.
P) Father, I am humbled by the scope of Your knowledge. You know the details of every time, place, person, and thing. More than just being omniscient, and prescient, You are good. You don't simply watch, idly perceiving what takes place. If You only knew, but did not act, there would be little difference to my life, than if I served a false God. But, You are alive! You act! You move on behalf of Your people, according to Your good pleasure! You always had a plan of redemption, through Jesus Christ, and that plan was intended for my benefit as well. Let me meditate on Your character, and worship You in spirit and in truth. Be glorified. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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