God’s renewing grace
Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing. O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights? Isaiah 40:26-27 NLT
All of us have asked at some point in our lives this question: “With all these burdens I have, where is God when I need him? When Satan poisoned the mind of Adam and Eve in the garden, he used the lie that God did not love them. Isaiah from the text expresses for us an admonition to not to indulge in our poisonous thoughts. He challenges us not to waver in our faith. “O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?” The Israelites have been struggling in their faith because of their dire situation. They doubted God’s ability to deliver in His promises and free them from Babylonian exile. They are in willful defiance to God that they cannot see God’s working in their midst. When God referred to them as “Jacob,” He was reminding them of the covenant He made with Jacob. Just like the stars in heaven, God’s eyes are on them. Despite their disobedience to God, they still have a place in His heart. Isaiah is reminding them that in the midst of crisis they should be striving to live lives that are pleasing to God. As followers of Christ, we have in Him the guarantee from His finished work at the cross that even in our meager faith He wants us to be victorious. In the midst of difficulties, let us not lose the sense of who we are in Christ. He does not only want us to recognize His greatness but also to have a realization that He cares for us. Though we possess imperfect faith and struggles following Him faithfully, God is patient. His love will prevail and He will never back out on His promises to us. “Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:4-5).
Blessings,
