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Daily Devotion: Isaiah 51:15-16

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Isaiah 51:15-16     "But I am the LORD thy God, that divided the sea, whose waves roared: The LORD of hosts is his name.  (16)  And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people."

"But I am the LORD thy God."  Those seven words should give us comfort beyond measure. Isaiah was inspired to write concerning the bondage of the people and how God would bring them back. This 51st chapter speaks of the contrast between man and God. That contrast is vast beyond measure, but God is reminding them of His power and glory more than dwelling on the contrast. As is the case oftentimes in Scripture, God reminds the people of His past victories in their lives. "Awake, awake, put on strength..." What was their strength and what is our strength? It is found in those first seven words of today's thoughts. "But I am the LORD thy God." I'm afraid that our thoughts of God are not as lofty as they should be. He is described as that friend that sticks closer than a brother, but He is so much more than that.  His being our friend gives us the boldness to go to Him in our struggles; but, unlike a friend who can't always give assistance, our God is fully capable of all things. He reminds them (and us) that He is the One Who stretched out the heavens. We also saw that back in chapter 40:26, "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth." He is the One Who divided the Red Sea for the children of Israel to cross on dry land as they were brought out of Egypt. The ultimate cause for comfort is repeated in today's verses, just as we saw back in Chapter 43:1, "Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine." We read in today's verses, "But I am the LORD thy God.... and say unto Zion (unto you), Thou art my people."  What better source of comfort and strength could we want?!

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