FINALLY, the PURPOSES of GOD will PREVAIL!

 

July 20 Bible Reading: Isaiah Chapters 13-15

FINALLY, the PURPOSES of GOD will PREVAIL!

: The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, "Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand: that I will break the Assyrian in My land, and on My mountains tread him underfoot. Then his yoke shall be removed from them, and his burden removed from their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed against 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)

The above verses conclude the section that begins from 13:1, of Isaiah’s prophecy about God’s irresistible judgment over the whole earth (43:13).Having announced His judgment against Babylon, God now turns to other nations that would feel the fury of His anger. Next on His list was Assyria, the most threatening power in Isaiah’s day. God promised to “break the Assyrian in My land”(v. 25a). This prophecy was fulfilled literally in 701 B.C., even during the days of prophet Isaiah, when the Angel of the Lord annihilated 185,000 Assyrian soldiers after they had surrounded Jerusalem (see Isaiah 37:36–37).

However, the complete fulfillment of this prophecy will be during the Tribulation period when the king of the North is defeated as he attempts to sweep down over Immanuel’s land. This prophecy embraces the present world of all ages in its scope, of which the purpose concerning Babylon and Assyria, the then representatives of the world power, is but a part.

We can notice a further statement in verse 27 that God’s hand is still stretched out. This means that His hand of judgment is still coming against the nations for their rebellion against Him. The fact that God has purposed means that man cannot annul what God has determined to bring to pass. This verse (27) is a worthy tribute to God’s ultimate plan and power!

Let us be assured in our hearts that finally, the purposes of God shall prevail, as we can see from some other passages in the Scripture: "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure,'" (Isaiah 46:10) "And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man that He should relent" (1 Sam 15:29) "For I am the Lord, I do not change" (Mal. 3:6).

How does this prophecy affect us personally? We should understand that we have been created and placed on this earth to fulfill God’s purpose. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10) Each and every day God works in us and through us so that we will align with His ‘Master Plan’ for us: "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13)

Let our daily prayer and desire be: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt. 6:9-10)