LEARNING DAILY

Isaiah 18:4, For so the Lord said to me, “I will take my rest, and I will look from My dwelling place like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of the harvest.”

You might be having the same reaction to reading this verse that I had – what is the meaning?! I had to do some studying and found comfort in what I found. Believers, do you agree that we live in an evil and chaotic world that certainly needs revival, to find Jesus Christ as their Savior and King? In researching the meaning of this verse, I found there is “calm in the midst of the storm” (David Jeremiah). Let me explain.

Verse 3 states the whole world is concerned about the growing threat from Assyria. The destructive forces of the Assyrians have left devastation, and the leaders of countries are trying to prepare for an invasion from Assyria. Ethiopia (David Jerimiah’s note say that Isaiah refers to Ethiopia and Egypt in nearly synonymous terms) looked for alliances – especially with Judah.

In verse 3 Isaiah tells the nations to watch for what God might do, to wait and see what action He would take against the Assyrians. Isaiah is basically telling them that God is in control (That seems to be a continual thought, doesn’t it!) not the enemy that everyone is afraid of. When the time is right, God will act and all will know it is Him at work. That’s the word for all Believers facing the enemy who is constantly attacking and trying to deceive in these days!

Isaiah told the people about the calmness and peacefulness of God and contrasts that to the Ethiopians who are determined who try to defeat the Assyrians; he tells them the time for action has not come yet. God is “take my rest, and I will look from My dwelling place like clear heat in sunshine, like a cloud of dew in the heat of the harvest.” God is going to continue to wait, allowing the tension to build until He determines it is time for His judgment to be released against His enemies. Another reminder that God is sovereign over the affairs of history, He is never caught off guard by what takes place in the world.

Why does God wait to take down the Assyrians? If you read Isaiah 10, you will see that God does use the Assyrians, without their knowledge, to judge and punish His ungodly people. Continue reading in the chapter and see that God punishes Assyria for their pride and arrogance. The king of Assyria falsely believed their power came from themselves (Is. 10:12). Isaiah stated that was false and God was only using them. God will always punish those full of pride arrogance, and self-glorification.

For Believers today the message is to rest and find comfort in God in a world filled with chaos, evil, and leaders filled with pride and arrogance. There is warning in this as well – do not consider your plans and successes are because of your own abilities. You can believe that God is involved, and your successes are because of what He is doing/has done in your life for His purpose. As you can see from the writings of Isaiah people and nations have been used for God’s purpose throughout history.  Find your rest and peace in Him today!