Remember This and Stand Firm [Devotion]

Let’s start with the word of the Lord from Isaiah 46:8-11

“Remember this and stand firm,
recall it to mind, you transgressors,
remember the former things of old;
for I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me,
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,’
calling a bird of prey from the east,
the man of my counsel from a far country.
I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
I have purposed, and I will do it.”

I love this passage so much because of it’s unabashed proclamation of God’s omnipotence! Here God speaks to Israel about how His power is demonstrated in His ability to work all of history to His own purpose. He declares the end from the beginning or in other words from the beginning of time, He doesn’t just know what the end will be, He declares it because He makes it so! He says things in ancient times and brings them about centuries later in the fullness of His timing! He even manipulates the comings and goings of animals and people to bring to pass His purpose! He has purposed and He will do it!

I know that’s a lot of exclamation marks but I don’t know how else to describe the power and authority with which God is speaking here. It gets even better when you realize that the beginning of the chapter describes the uselessness of false gods and idols who can bring nothing to pass!

But one thing I want us to notice is the beginning of verse eight, “Remember this and stand firm,“. Right before God starts talking about His power over everything, including time itself, He tells His people to remember who He is and as a result of that stand firm! We can stand firm not because we have enough faith, or have been obedient enough to “power up”, we can stand firm because the Lord is who He is! Of course obedience and faith are important to following God but we can stand because God will accomplish His purpose and NOTHING can stop Him!

I am put in mind of Psalm 46:10-11, “‘Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!’ The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”

Whatever it is you are facing hold tight to the Lord and the consistency of His character, power, and might! The empty things of this earth have no ability to satisfy or guarantee. Anything here can be lost or taken, even life itself. But nothing can change Him! That’s why He says be still and know that He is GOD. Not be still and know that He is a god but rather to have peace based on the fact that He is who He is! And for His people that means that the all powerful, unchanging, all wise, infinite, creator of the universe is our refuge, our fortress. As children we felt safe from the monsters in our closets when we hid ourselves in our blankets. But how much more safe should we feel from the most difficult of trials and tragedies of this world when we hide ourselves in the Lord taking refuge in who He is.