When people have a negative outlook on life they tend to be suspicious
and skeptical. This was what happened to the people of Zion. Instead of
rejoicing with the promise of deliverance, their mind pivoted to the negative.
They felt that God had forgotten and forsaken them. When God responded by promising
never to forsake them but instead make their population increase, they wanted
to know how since they were bereft of children and many were barren. God
promised that He would make the foreign kings bring their children to Zion.
Despite these promises, it did not stop them from being negative.
In Isaiah 49:24-26, they skeptically
asked how could they be delivered from mighty Babylon? How could they be
liberated from the hand of the tyrant? This is truly an underestimation of the
power of God. Hasn’t He been assuring them that He could and would do it for
them? The patience of God had been tested again and again. Yet He had shown
such incredible patience. Here He emphatically told them again that He
would do it and they would be liberated, and they would be set free from the
tyrant. He further assured them that anyone who resisted Him would have to come
against Him. And He Himself would save their children.
In verse 26 God revealed His strategy. He would make them come against each other. And they would go for each other’s blood like drinking sweet wine. Their mighty deliverance would be a witness to the world of the greatness of their God. People everywhere would come to acknowledge that Yahweh the LORD, was indeed Israel’s Mighty Saviour and Redeemer.
The history of how Israel as a nation was delivered from the tyranny of Egypt would have been sufficient proof of God’s ability to save them from Babylon. It should have prevented them from doubting God. Yet it did not, because they were a forgetful people. Like them when we focus on the problem and circumstances we are facing, we tend to be forgetful people. But when we focus on the past deliverances of God, we will develop trust in Him. Let us remember the good things God had done for us rather than focus on the bigness of our problem. Learn to look at the greatness of our God rather than the seemingly insurmountable problem. Remember that no matter what tough trials may come our way, we have a great God who we will see us through. Don’t forget that even “in the valley of the shadow of death, He will walk with us and His rod and staff will comfort us.”
Hear the chorus of Scott Wesley Brown’s song, “He will carry you through”:
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my brother He will carry you through.
If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders, I know my sister He will carry you through.
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