February 23, 2022 -- Isaiah 46:5-10 -- Who Can Make Sense of Chaotic World Events?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

“To whom will you liken me and make me equal,
    and compare me, that we may be alike?
6 Those who lavish gold from the purse,
    and weigh out silver in the scales,
hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god;
    then they fall down and worship!
7 They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,
    they set it in its place, and it stands there;
    it cannot move from its place.
If one cries to it, it does not answer
    or save him from his trouble.

8 “Remember this and stand firm,
    recall it to mind, you transgressors,
9     remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me,
10 declaring the end from the beginning
    and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
Isaiah 46:5-10 ESV

Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ, what tumult churns,  confusing times in our world today. At this moment the Ukraine is being invaded by Russia while the world watches on. China hosted the Olympic games, fraught with political tensions—doping scandals, China’s leadership conducting torture of its prisoners just a few miles from where the Games were held. Who raised a voice of protest? Canada’s Prime Minister has given himself extraordinary emergency powers. Police were called in to break up a peaceful protest; whereas in the past crowds that pulled down statues were not interfered with by the police in any way. Bank accounts are being seized, even poor folks who donated small amounts of money to the trucker's convoy are now threatened by their own government with having their accounts frozen. Drug overdoses ravage our youth. Suicide is rampant. The coronavirus headlines continue to weary people. Who can understand it?

People, deeply loved by the Father in heaven, look at the great assurance today’s text brings you. God the Eternal One is in charge. The world is bowing down to idols of its own making, but their idols are useless, senseless, voiceless, dead. The LORD of Salvation knows the end all things and all history, and He knew it right from the start. He works in and through every moment of human history so that, one day, every eye will see Jesus Christ, and every knee will bow before His throne of power and the Father, Who has ordered all of history well, will receive shouts of blessing and praise and honour and glory. I leave you with the words of J. L. Dagg. Keep in mind, when he penned those words the Great Powers had just convulsed through the Crimean War. Since he penned these words, the world experienced the Boer War, the First World War; the Spanish Flu; The Great Depression; World War II; Colonies across the world fighting for independence, like the Indonesian War; beyond these, The Korean War; Vietnam; Ebola outbreaks and countless children murdered by abortion.

It should fill us with joy that infinite wisdom guides
the affairs of the world. Many of its events are shrouded
in darkness and mystery, and inextricable confusion
sometimes seems to reign. Often wickedness prevails,
and God seems to have forgotten the creatures that He
has made. Our own path through life is dark and devious,
and beset with difficulties and dangers. How full of
consolation is the doctrine, that infinite wisdom directs
every event, brings order out of confusion, and light
out of darkness, and, to those who love God, causes all
things, whatever be their present aspect and apparent
tendency, to work together for good.
J. L .Dagg, Manual of Theology (Southern Baptist Publication Society, 1857; rpr. Harrisonburg, VA: Gano Books, 1982), 86-87.

This day we pray scripture, the promises of the LORD God, as a stirring hope and affirmation of all that is yet to be:
Who told this long ago?
   Who declared it of old?
Was it not I, the LORD?
   And there is no other god besides me,
a righteous God and Savior;
   there is none besides Me.
Turn to Me and be saved, 
   all the ends of the earth!
For I AM God, and there is no other.
By Myself I have sworn;
   from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
   a word that shall not return [ineffective]:
To Me every knee shall bow,
   every tongue shall swear allegiance,
Only in the LORD, it shall be said of me,
   are righteousness and strength;
to Him shall come and be ashamed
   all who were incensed against Him.
In the LORD all the offspring of the Israel
   shall be justified and glory.
Isaiah 45:21-25 ESV

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