Day 26 March 26


Day 26 March 26

Passage: Isaiah 48：12-22
When the Lord proclaimed that “I am the one who is present at the very beginning, and at the very end” (48:12), He was actually demanding them to know and acknowledge that God was the One who created the world. When He said His hands founded the earth, and His right hand spread out the sky, on one hand He was showing off His power, and on the other hand He was clearly stating that He was the One who was present at creation. Hence the Lord is the one from the beginning till the end, and whatever that has happened to Israel or has been accomplished, He hid nothing from Israel (cf 48:6,16). In short, He expressed His presence, and took responsibility for everything from the beginning till the end.

Back then, Abram who was the wandering Aramean, listened to God, and God promised that his offspring would be as countless as the dust of the earth and the stars in the sky. And they later became a nation, and after some time Judah was defeated by Babylon, and its people were exiled to foreign land. The Lord said from the beginning till now, He was behind all these, and this meant He was their Creator.

In 48:17 the Lord proclaimed Himself as protector of Israel，the Holy One of Israel, and the One who taught them the way of life, just like a father or a mother to them. As a matter of fact, God would deal with Babylon and the Chaldeans! Though Israel was now in Babylon, God says when they leave Babylon, they would shout in joy! Eventually the Lord will protect and redeem His servant Jacob, and He proclaimed that “there will not be prosperity for the wicked.”(48:22).

The Lord shall lead them through dry regions, and they will not thirst. God seemed to be sending a reminder that He has once led the Israelites out from Egypt. If they do hesitate, the past record would enhance their faith, and encourage them to leave Babylon when the time comes!

Knowing that the Lord is their Creator will spur their faith in God, and trust that He could take the Jews residing in Babylon back to their ancestor’s land, and turn them back to the Lord. And this is the restoration which the Lord intends to bring about.

Prayer: Dear God, you are our Creator and we put our lives in your hand!

第二十六天 Mar 26

经文：以赛亚书 48:12-22
当耶和华向以色列宣告“我开始就有，末后也存在”（48:12），祂其实是要他们认识并承认耶和华创造世界。当祂说祂的手打下了地的根基，安定了天穹，一方面是在炫耀祂的能力，另一方面是清楚表明，在创造时，祂在。因此耶和华是由始至终的那一位神，对于所发生的事，和成就的事，祂没有向以色列隐瞒（参48:6，16），并且讲明，祂至始至终都在，承担一切重担!

话说回头，亚伯兰本是将亡的亚兰人，当他听从上帝的话，上帝应许他的后裔将多如地上的沙，天上的星，后来他们果真成立国家，之后犹大遭巴比伦攻击，众民被带离家园，耶和华向以色列表明，自始至终耶和华就是那位事情的主导者，也就是他们的创造者!

48:17 耶和华说自己是以色列的保护者（和合本译为“救赎主”），也是以色列的圣者，是教导他们所应当如何行事的神，耶和华如父母般保护和教导以色列。 既是如此，耶和华必处理巴比伦，迦勒底人!以色列虽然被放逐到巴比伦，但上帝说当他们离开巴比伦时，他们将欢呼!因为最终耶和华将保护并救赎祂的仆人雅各!耶和华将不让恶人得益得平安（参48:22），他们必遭耶和华的处置!

耶和华将引导他们经过沙漠，他们必定不会干渴。上帝似乎是把以色列第一次出埃及的实例摆在面前，如果他们有所迟疑，这会让他们有信心，使他们敢于离开巴比伦!
认识耶和华上帝是创造者，就能让他们带着期望，仰望耶和华要成就的事（参48:6），就是把住在巴比伦的犹大人带回原居地，转向耶和华。这是耶和华要见到的复兴!

祷告：耶和华上帝，祢是我们的创造主，我们把自己交在祢手里! 

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