Isaiah 41 (Cf. 1 Kings 18; John 5)                                                                     29 August 2000

PROOF THAT GOD IS INDEED THE FIRST AND THE LAST


PROOF THAT THE LORD IS INDEED GOD

1. Prophecy of one who will come from "the east" Isa 41:2 (Ref. to Cyrus, the Persian who founded the Persian Empire that defeated the Babylonians. Persia is east of Babylon)
a) It was God who called him Isa 41:2
b) Who "gave him the nations before him" Isa 41:2 (conquest of the Babylonian empire)
c) Who "made him rule over kings" Isa 41:2
d) Who "gave them as dust to his sword" Isa 41:2

"Who has performed and done it... I, the Lord, am the First and with the Last I am He" Isa 41:4

2. The Astonishment of the Nations as they reeled under the Onslaught of the Persians
a) "The coastlands saw it and feared" Isa 41:5
b) "The ends of the earth were afraid" Isa 41:5
c) They tried to encourage each other Isa 41:6
d) They created even more "gods" (idols) to help them against the Persians Isa 41:7


UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF GOD'S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE AS "COVENANT-GOD"

1. The Promise of God to Israel that He will not cast His people away ("I am your God")
a) God continues to regard Israel as His servant Isa 41:8, 9
b) Because of Abraham (God's friend) Isa 41:8
c) Because God is their "Covenant-God" Isa 41:10
i) "I am with you"
ii) "I will strengthen you"
iii) "I will help you"
iv) "I will uphold you with My righteous right hand"

2. The Enemies (of Israel) will be Dealt With ("The Lord your God") Isa 41:11-13
a) "Those who were incensed against you... shall be ashamed, disgraced... (and become) as nothing" Isa 41:11-12
b) "Those who strive with you shall perish" Isa 41:11
c) Simply because... "The Lord your God, will hold your right hand saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'" Isa 41:13

3. Further Encouragement to Israel ("The Holy One of Israel)
a) God reiterates His Promise to help Isa 41:14
b) God's relationship as the "Redeemer, and The Holy One of Israel" Isa 41:14
c) Israel will be made into a "new threshing sledge with sharp teeth" Isa 41:15-16
d) Israel will have every reason to rejoice and glory in "The Holy One of Israel" Isa 41:16

4. A Solemn Promise Extended to the Poor and Needy ("The God of Israel")
a) The poor and needy not left out of God's plan/promise of blessing
b) God's relationship as "The God of Israel" Isa 41:18

5. Promises and the Realm of Possibilities ("The Hand of the Lord... The Holy One of Israel" Isa 41:20)
a) "I will open rivers in desolate heights" Isa 41:18
b) "And fountains in the midst of the valleys" Isa 41:18
c) "I will make the wilderness a pool of water" Isa 41:18
d) "And the dry land springs of water" Isa 41:18
e) "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree, the myrtle and the oil tree, in the desert the cypress tree and the pine, and the box tree" Isa 41:19

6. Offering of Proof Concluded
a) "That they may see and know
and consider and understand together" Isa 41:20
b) "That the hand of the Lord has done this
And the Holy One of Israel has created it" Isa 41:20

THE CHALLENGE FROM THE LORD, THE KING OF JACOB TO IDOLATORS TO PRESENT PROOF OF THE POWER OF THEIR GODS

1. "Present your case bring forth your strong reasons" Isa 41:21

2. The challenge to make a true prophecy

"Let them bring forth and show us what will happen" Isa 41:22

"Show the things that are to come hereafter,
That we may know that they are gods,
Do good or do evil
That we may be dismayed and see it together" Isa 41:23

3. Challenge to recall past record of true prophecy

"Let them show the former things, what they were, that we may consider them" Isa 41:22

"And know the latter end of them,
Or declare to us the things to come" Isa 41:22


CLEARER PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS CONCERNING CYRUS, THE PERSIAN

1. "I have raised up one from the north" (The route of conquest was via Media, and then from the north to Babylon) Isa 41:25

2. Cyrus will be God's servant to bring about His plans Isa 41:25-26
Only the Lord alone, because He is truly God, can know the future and make things happen as He so decrees" Isa 41:26

3. An honest look at the practice of idolatry
a) "They are all worthless" Isa 41:29
b) "Their works are nothing" Isa 41:29
c) "No man... no counselor..." Could satisfactorily offer "good tidings" Isa 41:27-28