Throughout chapter 41, Isaiah quoting the Word of the LORD directly spoke in the first person. Through Isaiah, God was addressing the nations personally. Notice the opening phrase “Listen to Me in silence.” What an apt call! If one is to hear the Word of God clearly and discern what He is saying, there is a need to be silent before Him. It is in quiet listening that we will be able to discern the clear voice of the LORD. So let him who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying. Here, in Isaiah 41:1-7, God was addressing the nations, calling them to listen to what He Himself intends to do. He invited them to come and listen so that they could give their opinions concerning what would soon take place.
In verse 2, God announced His plan to raise a powerful person from the east. Here King Cyrus is alluded to and his tasks described. God would turn the nations over to him. His dominating force would come subduing, conquering, and destroying nations, something he had not done before. Raising Cyrus up to do what he eventually did was not an issue with God. For as the Sovereign LORD everything happens according to His plan and schedule. This has been the case for generations. Kings would come and go according to His plan to fulfill His timetable.
In the last line of verse 4, God referred to Himself, saying “I,
the Lord, am the first, and with the last. I am He.” He is and will always
be the immutable eternal God. He was present at the beginning of time and will be
there when time has ended, and earth will be no more. There had never been one
like Him and never will there be another like Him. He is the Alpha and Omega,
the Fist and the Last.
Mockingly, verses 6-7 described the apprehension the people would
experience at the coming of Cyrus. They would be fearful and trembling. So they
would come together to try and support each other and encourage one another. In their panic-stricken state, their craftsmen
would come together to fashion idols that they hoped could alleviate them from the
hand of Cyrus, God’s chosen vessel. Each craftsman would try to encourage the
other in their parts in fashioning the idol. Unwittingly they were deceiving one another into believing in the capability
of an idol. How pathetic!
When we are bewildered by life’s circumstances, it is time to pause,
listen, and discern what God is saying to us in our confusion. He is our safe refuge,
and we do not have to turn to other man-made means of security. Stay still and
know that Jesus our unchanging God is always there, and He is in control. He wants
to take us through. Remember, yesterday, today, and forever, Jesus
our Lord is the same. All may change but He will never change. Yes, all glory
to His name!
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