Good morning,
Wait on the Lord. That is a process. It doesn’t just happen. As we will see, David and Isaiah both knew their God. Subsequently, they were able to completely wait for God to act.
2) COMFORT FOR JERUSALEM (ISAIAH 40:1-31)
F. GOD ASKS RHETORICAL QUESTIONS (40:12-14)
Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?
G. ALL NATIONS BEFORE HIM ARE AS NOTHING… (40:15-17)
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.17 All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.
H. WHO IS LIKE GOD? (40:18-22)
To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?19 The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.20 He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.21 Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
God wants Israel to know that their God is powerful, that the nations before them are nothing, and that there is no God but him.
He uses a series of rhetorical questions to challenge Israel’s thinking. He then shows Israel why the nations are less than nothing and vanity.
Then the question is asked, “To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?” He compares Himself to a graven image that rots and shall not be moved.
The question is answered in verses 21-22. God is the creator and He is in charge. He makes everything work.
Sometimes we forget the character of God. He created everything. He keeps everything in place. He knows everything. Nothing takes God by surprise. Even though our world seems out of control, it is not. God controls all things. God is all powerful. He can change anything whenever He desires.
What God wanted the Israelites and us to learn, is that whatever happens, God has a reason for it. We may never know why, but God wants us to trust Him in our worst and best circumstances.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com