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End from the Beginning

To whom will you compare and make Me equal; yea, compare Me, that we may  be alike? ..remember this and be a man; return it in your heart,  transgressors. Remember former things from forever, for I am God, and no  one else is God, even none like Me.. (Is46:5,8-9)

As this is being written several months before you will actually read  it, I have not long ago finished reading through Isaiah again. This is  the first time I've read it from the Literal Translation. I don't know  if it's because the LITV is so much more "literal", or if the Lord was  opening my eyes anew; but I've never before seen God's 'character' in  the way I did this time through. It is said, If you want to know who  Jesus is, read John's Gospel. And I would say, If you want to know who  Jehovah is, read Isaiah.

Somehow it seems 'appropriate' that Isaiah and Hezekiah lived at the  same time. For Isaiah to have such a vision and understanding of God, to  likely be an influence on Hezekiah, who was praised for following God  more faithfully than any other king who reigned over Judah. (2Kg18:5-6)

Here in ch46 we see God reasoning with the sons of Israel. Yes, God gave  the Law in holy awesome power. But He does not merely say, Here it is.  You do it, or else. Humph! When man strays into ungodliness, as He  pleads with the sinner to "Wash yourselves, purify yourselves. Put away  the evil of your doing from My sight; stop doing evil." God 'reasons'.  He says, "Come now and let us reason together, says Jehovah [I exist]:  Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though  they are red as the crimson, they shall be like wool." (Is1:16,18 )

So God reasons, naming the various contemporary 'gods'. (ch46) These  gods must be carried. They are heavy loads. I can still remember from  childhood growing up in Japan. The 'Omatsuri'. Festival time. Everybody  is all dressed up. There are parades. And their 'gods' are paraded. Some  of their gods are 'carried' in large carts, pulled by huge ropes...with  hundreds of children grabbing the ropes, all happy, joyous and  giddy...pulling their gods down the streets. Other 'gods' would be  contained within little shrines, carried about on poles (reminiscent of  the descriptions of the Ark carried by the Levites). Carried by strong  men, dancing and jumping as they carry/jostle this 'god' along. "They  carry it on the shoulder; they bear it and set it in its place, and it  stands; it shall not move from its place." (vs7a)

Compare this to Jehovah. God says, "Remember this.." (vs8 ) What was  Israel to remember? "And you shall remember all the way which Jehovah  has caused you to go these forty years..." (Deu8:2) Over and over God  would chide Israel to "remember" all His works on their behalf.  Delivering them from bondage in Egypt. The various military victories  against enemies of overwhelming odds. He uses the expression how He  "bore" them on "wings of eagles" (Ex19:4) as He delivers them. Who was  -carrying- whom? Jehovah was 'carrying' Israel. And yet, in their  stupidity they have reverted to the 'gods' of the surrounding nations;  'gods' that must -be- carried. God says "even to old age I am He; and I  will bear to gray hair; I made, and I will carry; and I will bear and  deliver." (vs4)

These idols are made from gold and silver. They measure out the precious  metal. It is molten. It is formed into a god. "They fall down; yea, they  worship." (vs6) But when they cry to it, "it does not answer, it does  not save him from his distress" (vs7) like Jehovah did... if only 'you'  would 'remember' it!

God pleads, "Remember this...remember former things from forever, for I  am God, and no one else is God, even none like Me..." (vs9)
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And now God defines Himself. What, specifically, distinguishes Jehovah  [I exist] from all other so-called deities? If you were to be limited to  'one thing' by which to describe the Most High, what would it be?

"..declaring the end from the beginning, and from the past those things  which were not done, saying, My counsel shall rise; and, I will do all  My desire..." (vs10)

You see, this is God's name. Jehovah is "the existing One". "I AM" is  not past tense, "I was". Nor is it future tense, "I will be". It's not  really present tense, either. He surpasses all notion of "time". In  God's economy, "one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a  thousand years as one day." (2Pet3:8, Ps90:4)

God is not like the currently running USWest "411" commercial, poking  fun of the psychics who would claim to know your future, but can't  figure out their own phone number. God does not scrunch up His face,  squint real hard, putting His finger up to His head and 'hedge' as to  what the future 'might' be. He "-DECLARES-" the end from the beginning.  (vs10)

The best Nostradamus and others who claim prophetic powers can attain is  something like 70% accuracy. God said to Israel that -any- inaccuracy in  prophecy was demonic. (Deu18:22) They are false prophets.

But to Israel, prophecy was one of God's ways of proving Himself to  them. "Is the hand of Jehovah shortened? Now you shall see whether My  word shall come to pass to you or not." (Num11:23) And notice, once they  were established into the land of promise, "Nor did fail a word from any  good word which Jehovah had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to  pass." (Josh21:45) And as Solomon dedicates the new temple, he recalls,  "Blessed be Jehovah who has given rest to His people Israel, according  to all that He has spoken; not one word of all His good word has fallen,  which He spoke by the hand of His servant Moses." (1Kg8:56) Jehovah is  100%.

When God purposes, He calls on all His creation to fulfill it; even to  "calling a bird of prey from the east" (vs11) or even a ruthless heathen  king, e.g. Nebuchadnezzar, whom God called, "My servant..." (Jer25:9) in  order to accomplish His promised punishment of Israel for their  rebellion.

But notice, as God defines Himself, He also pleads, "Listen to Me,  mighty ones of heart who are far from righteousness: I bring near My  righteousness; it shall not be far off, and My salvation shall not wait;  I will place salvation in Zion, My glory for Israel." (vs12-13)

The hard-hearted ones may rebel, but God's purpose for Israel will also  stand. He will bring restoration to her.

So, of what good is it to us to know that God knows the end from the  beginning? After all, this series began with the premise of considering  Jehovah's "existence" in relationship to humanity. Unregenerate man is  continually exploring, looking for man's "origins". When he doesn't  believe in God, that's all he can do, is -continue- to look. He wants to  know where he came from, and what is his destiny.

Knowing God's nature, the Believer can derive comfort. Mankind worries  about making a living, being comfortable and in good health. Even though  he doesn't understand his destiny, he wants to live as long as possible  to enjoy that which he presently has.

Jesus exhorted, "Do not be anxious for your soul..." (Mt6:25) for all  the things a person thinks they need to live a contended life. Look how  God cares for the animals of nature, who have no 'plan' of wealth and  health. They simply live from day to day, living on what God provides  for them. "Do you not rather excel them?" (vs26)
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Israel provides the example for us. Israel was continually exhorted to  "remember" what God had done 'in the past'. Based on what God had done  in the past, it provided a basis to trust His promises for the future.  They had a history of Him promising something, and then -fulfilling- the  promise/s. That is His nature. He is Jehovah. He "exists". He knows the  future, and has the ability to fulfill His own will, for His own glory.  Thus, "Jehovah our God is with us as He has been with our fathers; He  shall not forsake us or leave us..." (1Kg8:57)

But what is our response to such promises and assurance? "..to incline  our heart to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commands,  and His statutes, and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers.."  (vs58 ) Remember how God "Gave the Law...I exist". God's will -is-  "godliness".

Jesus put it this way, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His  righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Mt6:33)

Amen!