Isaiah 13:17-22 – Take heart, God holds our future

Isaiah 1:1 tells us that the Prophet Isaiah prophesied under the reigns of four kings of Judah namely, Uzziah, Ahaz, Jotham, and Hezekiah. What radically transformed his life and ministry took place in Isaiah 6. That was where he described his serious encounter with God. We are told that it all took place in the year that his cousin, King Uzziah died. Isaiah was believed to have started his ministry a few years before that incident took place. It would fall around 740 B.C. We conclude that he had quite a long ministry since he also ministered into the reign of King Hezekiah who died in 680 B.C. So Isaiah’s ministry spans roughly from 740 to 680 B.C.

It was between this period that he wrote Isaiah 13:17-22, where he identified the fall of Babylon to the Medes. When he prophesied this incidence, it was a good many years before the Medes attacked Babylon and brought this prophecy to pass. History said that the Medes only entered Babylon and destroyed it in 539 B.C. The reason these historical facts are brought up is to assure us that our God is in control of history. Hence, Isaiah who served Him was given insight into what was in the future and could foretell with amazing accuracy the incidence that only took place many years after he had spoken them.

Verse 17 states the reason for the Medes invasion was not because of acquiring more silver or gold. They did not do it because they wanted to accumulate more wealth. They did it on the behest of God. Verse 18 said that their treatment of Babylon was ruthless. They would not even spare the young men and children. God used them to bring down Babylon so thoroughly till their once glory and pride became as worthless as the ashes of Sodom and Gomorrah. Besides, their once magnificent dwelling place would be uninhabited by humans for generations. Their once splendid city would soon become the dwelling place of wild animals.

The amazing accuracy of this prophecy reminds us that we serve a God who is in control of history, past, present, and future. It is sobering to think that we are now grafted into the ultimate plan of this God who controls history. It is humbling to think that in Christ, God has included us in His Kingdom program. We should be energized to live for Him knowing that He holds our future. Let us live with a consciousness of eternity. It is the only thing that counts!