By Craig A. Smith
Isaiah's Response
In typical prophet-like style, Isaiah hits these questions head-on. No beating around the bush. There is a spark in the camp of Israel which he does not want to spread into a full-blown fire. So Isaiah's first point which comes from Isa. 40:12-26 is that God is Lord of the universe. God has no equals. Like a musician playing sharp staccato notes, Isaiah presents his case for the greatness of God.
The Greatness of God
He is big. 'Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket, they are regarded as dust on the scales'. Imagine putting all of China, India and America, about 3 billion people, on a scale and concluding that they are dust.
He is unfathomable. 'Who has understood the mind of the Lord...whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him? A multitude of Einsteins can't match wits with God. God does not need a therapist or counsellor.
He can't be put in a box. Isaiah asks, “To whom will you compare God? To what image will you compare him?” Creation and people may give us a faint glimmer of a reflection about God. But none of these remotely define or express His being.
He is all-powerful. “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers.”
He is here for the long haul because he is eternal. Listen to the encouraging words of Isaiah: “do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is an everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow weary.” God has no limited battery life. He is permanently charged, ready and steadfast.
The Trustworthiness of God
Isaiah draws his second point from Isa. 40:1-11: God can always be trusted to deliver us. Our faithlessness cannot nulify His faithfulness. Or as Paul said about 700 years later, “if we are faithless, he will remain faithful for he cannot disown himself.” Isaiah knows and believes God's promises: “I will give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak” and “even though youths grow tired and weary, and young people stumble and fall I will renew their strength and they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Wow! God is able to help. God is good. God is reliable. God is in it for the long haul. This is great news for Israel and equally great news for us today.
But wait a minute — is there nothing that He requires? Oh, yes. There is something He requires — something which lies deep within the soul. It is something which can easily get overgrown with pain and disappointment. It is something which can get buried under fear and unfulfilled desires. It is something which because of our own failures or circumstances can be snuffed out like a smouldering wick.