In the book of Isaiah, chapter 43, we find a passage of scripture that is entitled “The Lord’s Promise of Victory”. This “title” is in the New Living Translation (NLT), but it draws us in with the words Promise and Victory. How many of us want a promise of victory? I mean if it is a guarantee than count me in! God is talking to the Israelites as they are held captive by the Babylonians. He is reminding them of the victory he gave them when they left Egypt.
Let’s read Isaiah 43:14-21
The Lord’s Promise of Victory
14 This is what the Lord says—your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sakes I will send an army against Babylon,
forcing the Babyloniansb] to flee in those ships they are so proud of.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator and King.
16 I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters,
making a dry path through the sea.
17 I called forth the mighty army of Egypt
with all its chariots and horses.
I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,
their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.
18 “But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
20 The wild animals in the fields will thank me,
the jackals and owls, too,
for giving them water in the desert.
Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland
so my chosen people can be refreshed.
21 I have made Israel for myself,
and they will someday honor me before the whole world.
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
19 For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
20 The wild animals in the fields will thank me,
the jackals and owls, too,
for giving them water in the desert.
Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland
so my chosen people can be refreshed.
21 I have made Israel for myself,
and they will someday honor me before the whole world.
Are we ready and willing to leave our Babylon?
So many of us have escaped our Egypt, the life that had us enslaved for so long, the life that caused us so much pain and misery. We followed God for a while and we know how good it can be when we follow His plan, but we still have things that hold us back. There is a Babylon in our life that has risen up and taken the place of God. We have to be willing to let go of this Babylon and return to God. Being willing is different than being ready. When I think of being ready, I think of a physical preparedness. You are “ready” to go on a trip when your bags are packed, but you may not be “willing” to leave on that trip. On the flip side, being “willing”, to me, is more a mental preparedness. You have made the decision to move forward and you are “willing” to do what is needed to accomplish the move. When we are “willing” we don’t always know what will be expected, but we have made the decision that it will be worth it. Whether your “Babylon” is addiction, doubt, anxiety, what ever; you have to be willing to turn to God and be ready for what He is going to do. Notice in verse 14 it says, “For your sakes I will send…”. God will send an army to defeat our Babylon, and the best part is we don’t have to do anything. We just have to be willing to follow God. So pack your bags because God has a ticket to paradise with your name on it! Be ready, and be willing to Always Do Good for God,
Pastor Rick
