Bible Notes: Grace (Jumping Around Isaiah) | Part I
Story Time:
“Journey to Isaiah 44”
One day, the Lord asked me to turn my phone off. As He spoke, He gave me this vision:
I abandoned my sweet, dying phone on my parents' dresser to retrieve my Bible. Upon entering my room, I teetered to a halt. On which topic did the Lord want me to read? “Should I read about something good or solemn? Maybe I should read about love...?” Judas the Iscariot came to mind. So did the Book of Luke. So did a picture of Eden, Adam and Eve. A feathery vague thought of reading on “Grace” came to me, but was brushed off upon landing. The small divine thought was not loud enough to compete with my other vehement ideas.
Unsure of what I would be reading, I subconsciously prayed that the Holy Spirit would lead me to the passage of scripture He wanted me to read. (I imagine this is similar to asking the Lord where to meet him in Eden by way a messenger raven, or a dove, or a less gracious tanuki.) I began to peruse the yellowing pages, irresolutely venturing toward the New Testament. In doing so, I well-nigh passed over the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament, miles away from where I thought I needed to be. Yet, as the Spirit would have had me, I paused on Chapter 44 in curiosity.
Have you ever read the titles on books' spines in a library as you passed them by? I read the chapter the way one would read those titles; leisurely. As I read, the Holy Spirit unfolded His beautiful message to me on “Grace”. Here I conclude this blogpost's Story Time segment. My simple, teetering-to-a-halt question? . . .
What did you learn from my journey?
The Bible Notes
💡 Light Writes Bible Notes 💡
The Book of Isaiah
Revised Standard Version
Chapter 43
“But now thus says the Lord,
He who created you, O Jacob,
He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are Mine.”
To Israel, to Jacob
Frustrated by him or herself;
Who feels as though Divinely
Defined by the inevitable:
Softly
For you to
Let it
You are redeemed.
You are enough.
You are expected
Not self-sufficient
Not God.
Self-punishment,
Self-condemnation;
Doubting Love's Unconditionality.
Just as He has.
Chapter 44:1
“But now hear, O Jacob my servant,
Israel whom I have chosen!”
God, Your Father, chose you, His child.
He chose you before you knew His name. He chose you before you were old enough to write. To speak. To reason. He chose you before you ever believed He existed; before you saw Him eye-to-eye. Before you were born in iniquity and your “falling short” began, you were purposefully conceptualized in the all-knowing mind of “I Am” (Jeremiah 1:1). Before the moment you began trying to be enough for Love, you already were. You fail because of sinful nature; you are covered by grace. His nature is unfailing love. This means that His very conceptualization of you is a promise He made never to fail to love you. This promise is one God will keep. How do I know? One, He's God. Two, His promise is based on His desire for you, His nature, and who He is. You are not a failure. You are eternally loved, chosen, victorious, and un-failed.
God decided before Light appeared, both to you at birth and existentially, to watch over you and His purpose for your life. Can you picture the Father smiling down at you as He held you (Psalm 139:16 RSV)? He holds you that way daily— swaddled in His righteousness, and He will until the day His Word passes away. (Star, it never will.)
You are so loved. You are His child. (Is. 49:15). His visions, plans, and purpose for you can be fulfilled by no one else and no one better! He says to you, “I have called You by name,” (insert your name), “You are Mine.” (Is. 43:1) “Independent and regardless of how often you fail, beloved, I will always choose you.”
You are still chosen by Love.
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