Isaiah 47:1-15 Humbled
Babylon will be humbled says the Lord through Isaiah. God is speaking of many steps still to come. And He knows Babylon’s heart before she knows it herself.
One thing that is VERY thought provoking to me is that Babylon isn’t even a power to be dealt with by Judah when this prophecy is given. Or at least not that I find. Israel was captured by Assyria. Babylon doesn’t capture Assyria until around 100 years later. And Judah doesn’t go into captivity until around 20 years later. Yet, Isaiah speaks of Babylon’s punishment for how she treated Judah. Babylon feels that punishment 60 after they capture Judah.
God skipped right over the middle of the story here. He didn’t want to dwell on the ‘in between time’ here. He didn’t go into detail about how life was going to be under Babylonian rule. He did hint at the fact that it was NOT going to be easy and that His people would be taken captive. He speaks from His perspective where all that is involved in this has already happened. So we KNOW Babylon’s treatment of the people of Judah was NOT a surprise to God.
I’m wondering if God gave this recovery prophecy so they would have something to hold onto when they did go into captivity. Did they remember this promise? Did they stand firm, waiting on God to bring it about when they were in chains? They had a promise of good to hold onto.
This prophecy reminds me of another ‘prophecy’ that came straight from Jesus’ lips. Jesus told His disciples three times that He was going to be put to death, AND that He would rise again on the third day. They were distraught by this ‘possibility’. Peter tried to tell Jesus that HE would never let that happen to Jesus. The disciples tried their best to push this promise right out of their heads and out of Jesus life! They refused to touch this promise, even though it had a promise of good at the end of it too. They recognized they would have to go through the hard parts to get to the good part. They wanted NONE of it. Did Judah say they wanted NONE of this prophecy? Did they even think about what waited before the ‘then’?
Jesus’ words regarding these events came true just as surely as the events spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, at the right time. Both had a ROUGH start but an AMAZING answer! Both required walking through the dark place to reach the victory. And both required trusting in God to know what He was doing.
I don’t know why God allowed Babylon to thumb her nose at Him AND rule over His children. Babylon even used one of the names God spoke as His own; “I Am.” Babylon, trying to set herself up as a god, didn’t catch God by surprise either. He let this wild man announce to all who would listen, AND believe in their gods, that everything would turn out the way they wanted it to.
I wonder if they ever heard this prophecy. IF they did, did they scoff at it? Did it frighten them? Did they believe they could do something to stop it? The REAL God has spoken and NOTHING they do or say can change what He has decreed!
Father God, You have seen my life from first to last already. I remember a prophecy that was once given regarding me that my mom flat refused to believe. She doubted the messenger was really hearing Your words. As totally out of my character of the time, You still saw what I would learn to be. I don’t even know how You did it, but You brought that trait from the prophecy out in me. The peace maker. Thank You for developing that trait in me. It HAD to come from You, for it was not naturally in me, at that time. You KNEW the steps I would take to be there some day.
I want to take a moment Father to thank You for today. Thank You for rebuilding even a little part of faith in me concerning my prayers. I KNOW You ALWAYS hear me. I just have trouble with the ‘believing’ You will bring about the answer I want. Thursday YOU rekindled that faith in me. And today You rewarded that faith. More than that though Father, THANK YOU for letting me share it with ALL my family, at least those in attendance or who read my posts on Facebook. I got to witness to some that I seldom can bring up Your message with. THANK YOU for caring about my special day.
