Passage Reading: Isaiah 49-51
In today’s passage we see another wonderful aspect to God’s nature. In yesterday’s text we see that He is the sovereign ruler over heaven and earth, ordering events, and raising up and tearing down nations. He is the almighty Creator who can do what He pleases.
Today, we see that God is not only the powerful awesome God, but He is also a loving God. A God who makes and keeps covenant. Israel was made to be the servant of the Lord, to be a representation of what He was like to the rest of the world. In Isaiah, we see the “servant” will in one sense describe Israel and in another points forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus (this is especially obvious in chapter 53). Today, Israel is the first fulfillment of the “servant” (49:3) and they were to be a light to the nations (49:6). For Israel, God has had a plan of restoration, and when the people of the world would see the faithfulness of their God, they would bow in reverence (49:7). For on the grand return of Israel the desolate land will be so filled with people that there’s not enough room! (49:19). Instead of being rundown and empty, it will be overflowing and restored.
While in the present it didn’t look good for them when Isaiah prophesied, and surely, they were suffering the consequences of their sins (50:1-2) there was a future hope. How could they have hope? They had a covenant-keeping faithful God that watched over them.
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me”
Isaiah 49:15-16, ESV
Even though it’s technically possible, a woman would hardly forget her nursing child! God says here that his remembrance and care for His people is greater than the mother to the child! The walls of Jerusalem that were broken down weren’t forgotten by God and truly He had engraved Israel on His hands (49:16). Again, He’s not only the sovereign Creator, but is a God of love and covenant. He’s not just Creator, but He’s Redeemer. Israel might have felt forgotten when undergoing captivity, but they were on God’s mind more than they could ever have known, this is who our God is!
When we turn the page to the New Testament, we see a similar picture as well. Paul in Romans 8:32 writes, “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” God so loved the world, He so loved us, that He gave His Son for us! While we were still sinners! (Rom. 5:8). If we’ve ever doubted the love and care of God towards us, we merely need to remember that this is part of His nature. Surely, when Christ’s hands were pierced on the cross we were once and for all engraved in His hands! How could He forget us or leave us abandoned? Yes, He is sovereign, all-powerful, and all-knowing and all these things. He is also love, and if He watches over the sparrow, I know He watches me.
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