ISAIAH LESSON 46

     We will begin this lesson in Isaiah 41:1 "Keep silence before me,
O islands; and let the people renew [their] strength: let them come
near; then let them speak: let us come near together to judgment."

     We see in this, that the people of the islands are to be quiet
before the Lord. They have nothing worthwhile to say anyway. We all
shall stand before Jesus and be judged. The renewing of the strength
must be in the Lord. We will each have to account for ourself in front
of the Lord.

     Isaiah 41:2 "Who raised up the righteous [man] from the east,
called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made [him]
rule over kings? he gave [them] as the dust to his sword, [and] as
driven stubble to his bow."

     This is, perhaps, reverting back and speaking of Cyrus. This
Cyrus came from the east of Babylon. He could have been from Persia or
Elam. It appears God called him for the task, and empowered him with
the ability to do just that. It was not his righteousness, but the
righteousness God gave him. This man is of God's choosing to rule over
kings in the land. His abilities are great, because God empowered him
for the task.  It was of no difficulty at all for Cyrus to conquer
these lands, and put them under his rule.

     Isaiah 41:3 "He pursued them, [and] passed safely; [even] by the
way [that] he had not gone with his feet."

     It appears he had no trouble at all with the terrain that others
had thought impossible to pass over. We must remember in this that the
path was easy, because God has directed him. We have learned in other
lessons that God makes whoever He wants to be ruler. God is in
control.

     Isaiah 41:4 "Who hath wrought and done [it], calling the
generations from the beginning? I the LORD, the first, and with the
last; I [am] he."

     We know the answer to this. No idol god could have done this for
Cyrus. This is from the One true God. God is the First and the Last.
LORD, in this particular instance, is speaking of Jehovah. The fact
the First and Last was mentioned, shows the eternity of God.

     Isaiah 41:5 "The isles saw [it], and feared; the ends of the
earth were afraid, drew near, and came."

     The land, which had been so unlikely to be defeated, is defeated
by Cyrus. It is difficult for others to comprehend why he was able to
do this. It caused them to be afraid for fear he might conquer them,
also.

     Isaiah 41:6 "They helped every one his neighbour; and [every one]
said to his brother, Be of good courage."
     We see Isaiah telling them here, that the idols of their own, and
the idols of their friends, are not enough to save them. They are
helpful to each other, probably, for comfort and to have a friend when
the trouble comes.

     Isaiah 41:7 "So the carpenter encouraged the goldsmith, [and] he
that smootheth [with] the hammer him that smote the anvil, saying, It
[is] ready for the soldering: and he fastened it with nails, [that] it
should not be moved."

     All of these were involved in making these idols. They seem to
encourage each other, that their trade for these would flourish, and
yhey could make the sales they once made.

     Isaiah 41:8 "But thou, Israel, [art] my servant, Jacob whom I
have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend."

     We see that God has never forgotten His promises to Abraham. He
has not forsaken His people {Israel}. Notice, also, that the blessings
that came on Israel were because of God's love for His friend,
Abraham. Problems come to Israel to make her return to the worship of
the One True God. Israel of old belonged to God, because He had
separated them out as His people and gave them the law. Spiritual
Israel {Christians} belong to God, because we have been bought and
paid for with the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

     Isaiah 41:9 "[Thou] whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou
[art] my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away."

     "The end of the earth", spoken of here, is Ur of the Chaldees. Of
course, it could, also, be the children of Israel being brought out of
Egypt {the world}. The Holy Land is the home of physical Israel. They
may be temporarily dwelling in another place, but their home is
Israel. God promised this land to the descendents of Abraham, forever.
We saw in our study of Joseph in Egypt, how God blessed Joseph,
because he never forgot God.

     Isaiah 41:10  "Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not
dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help
thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my
righteousness."

     This is a promise to physical Israel, and a promise to spiritual
Israel, as well. Fear is the opposite of faith. God does not want His
people to fear, but to have faith in Him. He was with the children of
Israel {physical}, when He dwelt in the holy of holies above the mercy
seat. He is with all believers in Christ, because He dwells inside of
us. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;
yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me."  Jesus is the Right Hand of God. Jesus is the
doer part of the Godhead. Jesus is Creator God. He is the Word of God
that created all things. John 1:1 "In the beginning was the Word, and
the Word was with God, and the Word was God."  John 1:2 "The same was
in the beginning with God."  John 1:3 "All things were made by him;
and without him was not any thing made that was made."  Notice, it is
His righteousness that we are strengthened and held up by. This is not
just in the past tense, but in the future as well, since God never
changes.

     Isaiah 41:11 "Behold, all they that were incensed against thee
shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they
that strive with thee shall perish."

     The Hebrews were feared, because of their relationship with God,
but many were incensed against them. They were jealous of the Hebrews,
because they were the chosen of God. God's wrath is against those who
hate Israel. It really does not matter whether it is physical Israel,
or the Christians {spiritual Israel}. God strengthens and protects His
own. He will cause problems to come to anyone who comes against His
family. It is a dangerous thing to come against God's chosen. God will
see that the enemies of His chosen do not prosper. He will go so far
as to do away with them.

     Isaiah 41:12 "Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them,
[even] them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall
be as nothing, and as a thing of nought."

     This was proven before at places like Jericho, when God fought
for His children. It was even more apparent when God caused Pharaoh to
release His children after 10 plagues had come. God destroyed
Pharaoh's army at the Red Sea, just after He had saved His own in the
Red Sea. It is no problem to God to destroy millions, if it is
necessary. It is His world. He can do what He wants to with the world
and its inhabitants.

     Isaiah 41:13 "For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand,
saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."

     The right hand of man symbolizes the spiritual side. The strength
that we have is a spiritual strength. He is our very present help in
trouble. We have nothing to fear, if we are totally obedient to God.
Psalms 18:2 "The LORD [is] my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of
my salvation, [and] my high tower."  II Corinthians 12:9 "And he said
unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."









                          Isaiah 46 Questions


1.  What message was sent to the islands in verse 1?
2.  What type of renewing of their strength is spoken of?
3.  Who is the righteous man from the east, probably, speaking of?
4.  Where was he from?
5.  How was he strong enough to rule over kings?
6.  Who, in truth, is responsible for someone being a king, or ruler?
7.  Who is the First and the Last?
8.  LORD, in verse 4, is speaking of whom?
9.  Why did the isles fear Cyrus?
10. Quote Isaiah chapter 41 verse 6.
11. Why are they helpful to each other?
12. What do all of those mentioned, in verse 7, have in common?
13. God has never forgotten His promises to ______________.
14. What were they encouraging each other about?
15. Why would God bless the Israelites?
16. Why had problems come to Israel?
17. Why do the Christians belong to God?
18. What is the meaning of "end of the earth" in verse 9?
19. What is Egypt symbolic of?
20. How long did God promise Israel to be the home of His people?
21. Why did God always bless Joseph?
22. Quote Isaiah chapter 41 verse 10.
23. Who is this promise made to?
24. What is the opposite of faith?
25. Where was the presence of God, when he dwelt with the physical
    house of Israel?
26. Where is He with the Christians?
27. Quote Galatians chapter 2 verse 20.
28. Who is the Right Hand of God?
29. __________ is Creator God.
30. Quote John chapter 1 verse 3.
31. What will happen to those who oppress God's people?
32. Where are two places we see God destroy the believers'
    enemies?
33. What does the right hand symbolize?
34. Quote Psalms chapter 18 verse 2.
35. Quote 2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 9.