This week”s treatment of the International Sunday School Lesson (for December 26) is written by Tom May who serves as discipleship minister with Eastside Christian Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana.
God Is with Us (Isaiah 43:1-7, 10-12)
By Tom May
Isaiah would not have used the word near to describe any part of his life in Judah.
Isaiah was not near to his friends and family. His work as a prophet often took him from his home.
The burden of sharing an unpopular message from God put a strain on many of his relationships. If the traditional belief that Isaiah was related to Judah”s royal family is correct, his harsh predictions of judgment surely caused turmoil with his cousins in the palace.
The nation was not near a state of peace or rest. Political anarchy reigned in the Middle East, causing three intense times of crisis during Isaiah”s ministry. The Syro-Ephraimitic War was fought in 734 bc, followed by the fall of Samaria, the northern kingdom, in 722. Finally, the Babylonians, led by Sennacherib, invaded Judah in 701. That invasion would lead to the Jews being exiled.
The people certainly were not near to God. Despite repeated prophetic warnings of impending judgment and punishment, the nations of Israel and Judah continued on their paths of idol worship and unfaithfulness. If God were blessing the nation of Israel, the divided kingdoms and the enemies surrounding her borders surely overshadowed it. If God”s presence were in the temple, few heard a word from him or sensed his spirit.
The promised Messiah was to be Emmanuel””God with us. But in this moment, the Messiah seemed a pipe dream, at best.
“God with us”? He didn”t even seem near.
In the midst of turmoil, the Word of the Lord came to Isaiah heralding good news to the people: Indeed, God is with you.
God with You: Created and Chosen
The circumstances unfolding around Israel were causing fear among those who had tried to remain faithful to God. Where was God in the hour of their greatest need? The Lord”s message was simple and clear: Do not fear.
The God who created man from the dust of the earth and the nation of Israel from the breath of a promise is still active in her redemption (v. 1; see also vv. 7, 15, 21 and Isaiah 44:2, 24). Not only did he have a stake in her creation, he chose her””summoned her by name. God chose Israel to serve him in a unique way””a way that would result in man”s ultimate redemption.
God with You: Through Water and Through Fire
The prophet continued to assure the listener of God”s near presence. But the road seemed rough and long. Bedlam and confusion lurked around every darkened curve. Enemies surrounded and threatened life and safety. Prosperity was a thing of the past. Isaiah”s words rang like the words of a father comforting a young child during a thunderstorm.
But why should they doubt God? Had he not proven himself faithful during times of trouble through the centuries? If they passed through the waters, God would be with them, just like he was when Israel crossed the Red Sea (Exodus 14) and the Jordan River (Joshua 3). If their journey took them through fire, God”˜s help would be as sure as it was for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3), as well as many others (1 Peter 1:7).
God with You: To Save and to Secure
But . . . but. . . . The arguments and objections sputtered like a faltering motorboat engine. Israel had always questioned God”s presence. Remember Moses, Elijah, and Jonah? But the word of the Lord was no different this day than in days past.
“I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel.”
As surely as salvation came from slavery in Egypt, God would stretch his hand of salvation through this time of judgment. As surely as God used Persia to conquer Egypt, Cush, and Seba, God would raise his hand to bring about salvation for Israel. And as surely as God would save his people from the snare of the Babylonians, he would provide salvation from the oppression of sin through the pierced hands of his Son (Isaiah 43:11, 12; 45:15, 21, 22; 60:16; 63:8, 9).
And just in case they still doubted because of their own sin and repeated unfaithfulness, the prophet proclaims the real source of God”s steadfast faithfulness.
“You are precious and honored in my sight . . . because I love you.”
God with You: For Certain and Forever
Israel”s tense, scared shoulders slowly relaxed. A collective sigh of relief echoed from Galilee to the Dead Sea as they remembered how God had shown himself with them throughout their history. Surrounded by walls of water and a barricade of Pharaoh”s soldiers, God was with his people. Coiled by rings of fire and taunts of the enemy, God was with his people.
The prophet”s words offer reassurance. These people were God”s witnesses””servants chosen to see what others did not see, to hear what others turned deaf ears toward. Israel had been chosen to know and believe and understand. “I am that I am”””no god before, no god after. Apart from him, there is no Savior.
Where is the turmoil in your life?
Are you exiled in a career that affords you little opportunity and rarely enough money? Are you trapped in a physical body that continues to be frail, diseased, and broken? Are you saddled with the care of a parent who daily slips further from reality? Are the courts deciding the dissolution of your marriage and the placement of your children? Are the prospects for employment no better today than a year ago? Are the holidays simply a painful reminder of dreams that no longer exist?
Do you ask where God can possibly be?
He is near, but not just near.
God is with you.
________
Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.
| HOME DAILY BIBLE READINGS |
| Dec 20: Isaiah 63:7-14 |
| Dec. 21: Isaiah 43:8-10 |
| Dec. 22: Isaiah 43:22-28 |
| Dec. 23: Jeremiah 42:7-17 |
| Dec. 24: Haggai 1:7-15 |
| Dec. 25: Matthew 1:18-25 |
| Dec. 26: Isaiah 43:1-7, 10-12 |
ABOUT THE LESSON WRITER: Tom May has an MA and MDiv in New Testament from Cincinnati (Ohio) Christian Seminary. He serves as discipleship minister with Eastside Christian Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and as adjunct professor in the communication department at Indiana University Southeast.
” babylonians led by Sennacherib” ?
i really now understand this lesson. At times i read and reread a lesson, and can’t make its meaning. Thank you. And i thank God for people such as yourself who can put it down to my level of thinking. Blessings to you!