DECEMBER 20 | Isaiah 45:21-25

by David Thompson

Today's passage is the Lord speaking to and through Isaiah, a major prophet of the Old Testament. He is speaking to the remnants of many nations and is telling them what the Lord has said. It was a prophecy for the future, but we can see that it is a prophesy to us now.

Did you ever notice that parents were/are a form of prophet to their children? They have lived their lives and learned many lessons that they wish to bestow on their offspring.

My mother was one to tell me about certain friends that I was as thick as thieves with. She predicted that they were not a good influence on me and that they would lead me into trouble. I, like many in the bible when confronted about issues, many times did nothing about the prophets' warnings. As it turned out in my case, doing wrong things for a 15-year-old seemed to come naturally for me. My friends and I got into all kinds of mischief, and I paid dearly for it, including a night in jail.

Looking back, I wish I had listened to my mother, but then I wouldn't have ended up in a private Christian school for my senior year in high school. At that school I became a Christian, evaluated all my life's choices, and met a girl who is now my wife. I didn't want to go there, but my mom insisted. Once again, her prophecy that being away from my caustic environment would help me, proved true.

Likewise, Isaiah told the remnant of nations to come together. He told them that worshipping idols of wood and praying to gods could not save them. He told them to believe in the Lord and be saved. He told them in verse 23 that ultimately "...Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear." And through Him there was "deliverance and strength." Perhaps this prophecy was only for that time, but it could be for us now and certainly for the "end times." In the closing verses of this passage, the Lord tells Isaiah that all are to turn to the Lord, and this is for everyone to the very ends of the earth. He warns that there will come a time of being put to shame for all who refuse to listen.

Where are we in our life's walk? Are we counting on Christ for our deliverance, for our salvation and for our daily spiritual food? If not, will we listen to learned others or to those that proclaim the Word of the Lord? And, doing so, will we come to those end days and hear the words of Matthew 25:23, "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant?" What a day of rejoicing that will be!

Lord, help us be that good and faithful servant. Make us bold to declare your Word and to witness to others when the opportunity arises this Advent season. We are thankful that many times throughout the bible you have included "all nations" in your ultimate promise. Give us ears to hear our parents' counsel and to heed the words of the prophets of old. In Christ's name, Amen!