Isaiah's Hope

Someone recently sent this quote along to me: "It is not essential that our self-made plans be brought to pass; it is essential that our hearts be kept in the embrace of of God...all-wise and never failing."

So often when we don't get what we want, we feel abandoned, neglected, isolated, and, in an exaggerated sense, alienated from others and even God.


Scripture addresses us in such circumstances in places like Isaiah 51:12 "I, even I, am he who comforts you." And 51:16, "I have put my words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of my hand-who set the heavens in place, who laid the foundations of the earth, and who say to Zion, 'You are my people.' "

Those verses from Isaiah are good ones. They fit our lives, in almost any circumstance. Why are they so often so appropriate? It has to do with the background of Isaiah's prophesy.

The people are in exile, or are about to go into exile, and so their alienation, or coming sense of abandonment, is addressed with many many instances of comforting words.

Our greater exile from God's promises (see Ephesians 2:1-4) has been conquered by an even greater restoration through the cross (2:10-11). These kind of tie-ins are what make people suggest that Isaiah ought to be named, "The Gospel According to Isaiah."