Tuesday – October 31, 2023, Cheshvan 16, 5784
LISTEN TO ME
Greetings dear saints of like precious faith and welcome back to our captivating and empowering Bible Study of the Bible Book of Isaiah. Please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible by every means available to you. Thank you for sharing. Many need to hear the Truth both in and outside the Church. If you did not share, please reconsider. I am not sure of the origin of this beautiful picture today but I believe it is likely from Joe Getchell Jr a wonderful friend and man of God. I am sure all are aware that today is Halloween. No one who professes Jesus as Savior and Lord should in any way be involved with Halloween. We celebrate life, Heaven, and a living God not death, Hell, and demons.
Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text and continue reading out loud, yes, out loud. It is not a complete waste to read silently but you will not build or increase faith (Romans 10:17) and it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Now, to our text reading out loud.
Isaiah 46:1-4 (NLT)
1 Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon, bow as they are lowered to the ground. They are being hauled away on ox carts. The poor beasts stagger under the weight.
2 Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together.
3 “Listen to me, descendants of Jacob, all you who remain in Israel. I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born.
4 I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.
I left off yesterday reminding us all to be aware of and to avoid false gods, idols in our lives. You may protest declaring you don’t have any statues in the home you bow down to or pray too. What about the TV, or what about your smart phone? What about the grandsons’ games that you never miss, even on Sunday? What about that family trip to the mountains, the ocean, the lake or aunt Susie’s every year that includes a Sunday meaning you are not in your place, your part of the local body, that Sunday? I know, the enemy has developed many seemingly reasonable explanations for being out of place. Not only have these come to be accepted by our fellow congregants but many Pastors as well. Go to the Lord and ask Him to reveal your false gods, He will, then it is your (my) responsibility to repent and rid ourselves of every idol. A false god or idol is anything, any activity, any person that displaces God for any reason.
Now, let’s move into verse three of our primary text. Do we think that our Lord, our God, can be frustrated with people, particularly His people? Certainly, He does. This is where we get and experience frustration. The demons will take advantage of this so we must be on guard and exercise love, patience, and self-control when we detect the first hint of frustration. Synonyms for frustration include irritation, annoyance, nuisance, exasperation, infuriation, dissatisfaction, aggravation, and disappointment. These in and of themselves are not bad, it is our response that is vital. We see in this verse once again the mention of Jacob and the mention of Israel. You will recall that Jacob’s name was changed by God to Israel. Jacob means to catch the heel or to be a supplanter (supersede or replace). Israel means to rule as God. In our text however God is referring to the shyster, Jacob, and Israel as a place. Remember there were two kingdoms, the southern comprised Judah and Benjamin and the northern kingdom was comprised of the other ten tribes. I get the idea from the context that God is talking to all the tribes of Israel.
Before I end for today, let’s take a look at the word “carried” in verse three. The word transliterated from Hebrew to English as carried is A verb meaning to lift, to carry, to take away according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary – Old Testament. In this particular context I believe the Lord is conveying the idea of lifting up His people, making them visible, a testimony of His goodness to all. He wants to lift us up to be a powerful testimony to the world. What attracts the world? Let’s look at just a little of what the Word has to say. The poverty preaching people might want to stop reading.
Matthew 6:31-33 (KJV)
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus said that the gentiles, the world, seeks after the natural things of life and He said that you would have these things in abundance (John 10:10, Mark 10:29-30) IF you do verse thirty-three.
Authored By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
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