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Knowing the truth about God secures and prepares us for eternity. In Isaiah 40:21-31 Isaiah can’t believe anyone could doubt the greatness of God when they see His glorious creation. He sits above all His creation. He brings the princes (political powers) to nothing and makes judges (legal powers) of the earth useless. His power in not only in His creation, but over men of the earth. He is master over the heavens and all creation by the fact that He brings out the stars and calls them by name. “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.” – Isaiah. 40:28b. There is no one like God. He pardons sin and forgives transgressions. He doesn’t stay angry with us when we sin; He delights to show us mercy. (Micah 7:18-19)
God revealed Himself to Israel, Judah and His prophets and He reveals Himself to us. Many don’t seem to understand the fact that there is a God of all creation and He makes a difference in everyday life. Unbelievers need to hear what they already know: The Lord God is the Creator of everything. We can clearly see His invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature. All we have to do is just look around and see His glorious creation – the sky, the vast oceans, the majestic mountains, or the miracles of the inter-workings of the human body.
The fact that God reveals Himself to us is important. The greatest way He has reveals Himself is through His Word. He reveals Himself to us through our consciences by convicting us of sin and impressing His law on our hearts. Within the heart of every person God has planted a longing to know Him. “God has made everything beautiful its own time. He has also planted eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” – Ecclesiastes 3:11. He reveals Himself to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. He is the living, breathing human presentation of God. Many people acknowledge that there is a God, but God wants us to know Him intimately – to spend all eternity in close fellowship with Him.
Principles:
Jeremiah 4:22 – The people of Israel and Judah persistently rebelled and rejected God and His ways, but God remained faithful and compassionate despite their failures. It’s the same for us today. People are prideful and hard-headed. People rebel and reject Jesus, but God still shows mercy when we repent and turn to Him. None of us is perfect. We all have doubts and battle with sin. But God is always ready to forgive and forget. The sacrifice of Jesus should enlarge your gratitude for God’s heart for sinners. “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6.
There is nothing more important than knowing and walking with God. God created us. We are His offspring. He is the source of our existence; life comes from Him. Without Him we can do nothing. (Acts 17:28).
God is light and in Him there is no darkness. Jesus is the light; sin is the darkness. Believers walk in the light; we have fellowship with other believers and we experience forgiveness. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus , his Son, purifies us from all sin.” - 1 John 1:7.
Israel and Judah squandered God’s grace and missed out on His blessings. They were stubborn and had rebellious hearts; they lied; their hearts were full of deceit; they turned away from God; they did evil deeds; they worshipped idols. Their sins deprived them of any good. (Jer. 5:23-31; Hosea 11; 2 Chron. 34:23-26)
Does this remind you of people today? People are stubborn and rebellious. People do all the same things today as they did in Jeremiah’s time.
How are you squandering the blessings of God?
God’s chosen people, Israel failed Him miserably. They split into two kingdoms, endured a parade of evil kings, they didn’t seek God but worshipped idols, they felt God’s judgment as they fell to the Babylonians and were held in captivity. By God’s grace He preserved David’s royal linage and the promise of Messiah. God preserved a remnant to return to their land.
A greater King was coming – God’s own Son, Jesus the Messiah. The failure of Israel and our own reveal how much we need a Savior. The good news – God has provided a Savor – Jesus Christ!
Principle: Human failure cannot thwart God’s purposes.
God sent prophets to warn the people of judgment if they didn’t repent, but they didn’t listen. He is warning us today. But do we listen? He sends Christians to share the gospel to the world. Every believer has a message that someone needs to hear. We are to submit to God because He alone is worthy of our loyalty, trust, and devotion. Israel’s story is our story; Israel’s Savior is our Savior.
This week’s attribute of God is He is Faithful. He loves us and will do all He has promised. He gives us a purpose for life. That purpose is to know Him, love Him, enjoy Him, and glorify Him. We belong to God because He created us. Nothing can separate God’s people from His love. He is faithful to His Word and we can trust Him.
I hope you have enjoyed this study of Kingdom Divided. Next time we will be on Final Reflections of our study. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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