Tag: mercy of God
Let all nations trust the Lord for mercy!
Scripture reading for July 20: Isaiah 17-20
“Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be afraid and put to shame. In that day the people who live on this coast will say, ‘See what has happened to those we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of Assyria! How then can we escape?” (Isaiah 20:5-6)
The fear of man is a snare (Proverbs 29:25). When we rely on military power, political influence, money, or knowledge to provide a measure of safety and security we are trusting man. We are taught that ‘might makes right’ and that the ‘fittest will survive’. In the natural, this appears to be the smart way to live but it is a trap that catches many!
Americans have had a lot to boast about in this regard. We are a nation that boasts of one of the most powerful militaries in the world. We have vast resources and technology that enables us to use our resources to protect us and to free oppressed peoples in other parts of the world. But can our great military power and technology bring us security? The Bible says that God alone is our source of safety!
Isaiah spoke an oracle against Egypt. Egypt was a powerful nation during this period of time. They were a nation of idolaters who consulted sorcerers and mediums instead of God. God’s prophet Isaiah warned them that they would find these leaders very unreliable and unstable and His judgment would expose them as false! (Isaiah 19:1-4) God would cause drought and famine to reduce the people to despair. He would expose their officials as senseless and fools! (Isaiah 19:11-14) God would pour on them a spirit of dizziness causing them to stagger in their own vomit! Trusting in men is futile!
God’s mercy was extended to His Egyptian people through Isaiah. He encouraged them that as they were going through judgment they should turn to the Lord, He would have mercy on them! (Isaiah 19:19-22) He would raise up a deliverer for them and make Himself known to them. As they acknowledged the Lord, He would heal them! This passage ends with God declaring a blessing over Egypt and Assyria: “Blessed be Egypt My people, Assyria My handiwork, and Israel My inheritance.” (Isaiah 19:25)
God’s amazing mercy and love for all nations cause us to worship Him and willingly serve Him! Take time today and repent of any ‘trust in man’ and thank God that He is trustworthy! He alone is our source of protection and our way of escape! Pray for our enemies that they would cry out to God for mercy!
Saved by His Mercy!
Scripture reading for October 10th: Isaiah 39-42, Titus 3
Key Scriptures: Titus 3:4-7 g“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Our good works cannot save us. It is only Christ’s mercy and His washing through His sacrifice of His blood and body on the cross that we are made righteous and justified. This justification is by faith in Christ Jesus alone. Through grace we become heirs of the promise of eternal life in God’s holy family. Amen!
Isaiah 40:9 “Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up and fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your amazing grace and the washing from my sins by Jesus Christ. I will proclaim this “Good News” to all today. Amen!