Isaiah 46-47 God As Protector Or Foe?

It’s vitally important that a person decides which side he’s on – God’s or the world’s.  Babylon made the wrong choice.  They had large idols they thought were guiding and protecting them, but God said that as Cyrus would one day be attacking them, the people would have to pick up those heavy idols and flee the invasion to protect the idols!  God told Babylon, “You are no longer the ruler … I will punish you … You showed My people no mercy … You do evil things, but you feel safe and say, “No one sees what I do.’  Your wisdom and knowledge have fooled you.  You say to yourself, ‘I am God, and no one is equal to me.’  But troubles will come to you, and you will not know how to stop them.  Disaster will fall on you, and you will not be able to keep it away.  You will be destroyed quickly; you will not even see it coming!”

Those are words any mortal should fear to ever hear from God!

But for His children, God also had this message in these chapters:  “I have carried you since you were born; I have taken care of you from your birth.  Even when you are old, I will be the same.  Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you.  I made you and will take care of you.  I will carry you and save you … When I plan something, it happens.  What I want to do, I will do.”

Father, thank You for Your watchcare.  As my son goes to college today, help him to understand this about You.  Help him to know the love You have for him and the plans You have for him.  Enable him to understand in his heart that Satan will be lying to him constantly, trying to make him believe that ultimate freedom comes in being able to do anything he wants, with no restraint and no concerns.  Instead, show him that true freedom – including lack of worry and firm assurance about his future – comes only through his own submission to Your authority over his life.  Help him to understand that is not a bad thing, but something through which You promise to bless him.  I love him and I know You love him even more.  We both want the very best for him.  Help him to want that for himself as well.  Watch over him when I can’t.  Hold him close while he’s away and I can’t, Father.  I’ll never stop loving him.  I know You won’t either!

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford

Proud father of Josh Ford, adopted from Matviivka, Ukraine