People respond to crises by looking for something to place their trust in, something that transcends the here and now. Often times, we construct idols and look to them. But created creators are powerless to save or deliver. (Isaiah 41:5-7)
God chose the Israelites and they were currently living out the Creator’s story. They were part of His plans for all of history. Because they were God’s chosen people, they could be confident that He was unfolding history according to His plans. History is not random, it is guided. They did not need to fear because God would strengthen them and uphold them with His right hand. We, the chosen, called, resurrected, redeemed children of God, are currently living His plan for history. This is not random, it is guided – find strength and confidence in that.
“Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”” (John 8:47 ESV)
“but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.” (John 10:26 ESV)
“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”” (John 18:37 ESV)
“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:6 ESV)
These passages highlight a liberating truth. That truth is that God is the One that works in the hearts of men so that they can hear His words. The pressure to convert or convince is not ours to carry; carrying this pressure serves as poor motivation to labor faithfully, joyfully & dependently. We should work tirelessly, study faithfully and prepare diligently, but only those who are of God hear God’s words. What a relief! It doesn’t depend “on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16 ESV). Now, let’s go labor with all of our might because God just might allow us to play a part in His cosmic plan – not because He needs us, but because it glorifies Him to use such an incapable people as us and brings us profound joy in the process!
God causes the fall of Tyre because He never overlooks or makes peace with human pride. “The LORD of hosts has purposed it, to defile the pompous pride of all glory, to dishonor all the honored of the earth.” (Isaiah 23:9 ESV)
“And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30 ESV)
This is the golden chain of salvation – there are no fingerprints of man on it. It is all of God.
“The LORD of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand, that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and on my mountains trample him underfoot; and his yoke shall depart from them, and his burden from their shoulder.”
This is the purpose that is purposed concerning the whole earth, and this is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:24–27 ESV)
Nothing can thwart the sovereign will of God – not even the most powerful force on the planet. Nothing is can challenge the power of the Almighty. His will comes to pass 100% of the time. Nothing takes Him by surprise.
“Many people want the skyscraper promise of Romans 8:28, many want the precious reality of eternal security. But they don’t want it on God’s terms. They want their security AND their sovereignty. They want God to step in at the end of their lives with sovereign power and give them glory, but they do not want him to step in now with his sovereign grace and make them holy.” Listen Now:
Assyria is the rod of God’s judgement against Israel. God’s providential control precedes all human free choice. God works through human will, but is not dependent upon us to accomplish His will. The Assyrians wanted to attack the northern kingdom, God did not coerce them, but accomplishes His predetermined purposes through their free act. “Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;” (Isaiah 10:5–7 ESV).
God ordains Assyria to attack Israel and Judah as His judgement upon them for their haughty, hard hearts and then He judges Assyria for their arrogant heart. “When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes.” (Isaiah 10:12 ESV). Assyria fell in 612BC. Assyria is nothing other than a tool in the Hands of the Almighty!“Shall the axe boast over him who hews with it, or the saw magnify itself against him who wields it? As if a rod should wield him who lifts it, or as if a staff should lift him who is not wood!” (Isaiah 10:15 ESV)
Instead of giving Job a behind the scenes look at things about why he was being tested, God just tells Job that He is God; He didn’t seem compelled to explain to Job the events that are recorded in chapters one and two. Job realized that he was limited in his understanding and that God was infinite and eternal – their perspectives were worlds apart.
"Not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard"
The Gospel Centered Life 