Isaiah 18-19

Praise be to God for His mercy that endures forever. Father God, we thank you for all that You are and for all of Your love and mercy that is expressed in Christ. May You continue to keep our hearts in remembrance of Your mercy and love found in Christ in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Today, we are looking at Isaiah chapters 18 and 19 where we see judgment pronounced over the nations that are disobedient to God. We see the LORD reminding us again that those that who put their trust in the works of their hands and in men shall come to destruction. We have seen how idolizing the works of hands and putting trust in men only leads to deception, shame amd destruction (Isaiah 19:9-13).

Romans 10:11 tells us that everyone who puts their trust in God will never be put to shame. The Old Testament, including the book of Isaiah tells us how the people who put their trust in anything else other than God will be put to shame. The Hebrew meaning of the word shame according to Strong's Concordance is epithumeo which is a "strong desire, passionate longing, lust" to mention a few words that stood out for me. Anyone who puts their trust in men and the works of their hands or worships what they do will be brought to shame because they are staking their destinies on an unshakeable foundation based on the self and the opinions of man.

Philippians 1:6 NKJV tells us that "being confident of this very thing that He who begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ". Friend, anything that God starts, He will see it to completion and this is the reason that those who believe in God and have Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour can never be put to shame because every work they do (if they are obedient) begins and ends with God who establishes and forever perfects everything concerning His people to eternity.

At the end of chapter 19, we see the people of Egypt and Assyria turning their hearts to the LORD. Isaiah 19:20 tells us that God in His mercy will send them a Savior and a Mighty One who will deliver them from the oppression they experienced as a result of their disobedience. This Savior and Mighty One is called Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

We see this chapter ending on a high note where those who once disobeyed God have now become His people as seen in Isaiah 19:24-25 (NKJV). It says, "In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria - a blessing in the midst of the land, whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance." - AMEN. This amplifies the truth that God is love and He will by no means turn away a heart that genuinely turns to Him in repentance regardless of the sin they have committed.

I'll end with Jesus' Word found in Matthew 7:24-27 (NKJV)

"24.Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

25.and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26.But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

27.and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

Invitation to salvation: If you would like to get to know this loving and merciful God, who wants to spare you from every shame by partaking of His blessings as His child through love found in His One and Only Son Jesus Christ, I invite you to make this confession:

Please speak the words below:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever. Thank you Father that because the Son has made me free, I am now free indeed." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

PS: In case you have not already, I encourage you to read Isaiah chapter 18-19.

Please find a church or in case you already have one, become a member and get water baptized! God bless you!