# 07 2025 Dev. Ex.24:1. God’s Confirmation! Read all of chapter  twenty four first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Vs.1. “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.

Ex.24 This chapter is the culmination of the previous three chapters, confirming for us God’s  covenant with His people. This covenant is for eternity and is a covenant for all Christians today, the new covenant of Jesus’ blood, also known as the Covenant of Grace.

Vs.1-8. “When Moses went and told the people all the Lord’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, ‘Everything the Lord has said we will do,’” confirming God’s covenant.  “Moses then wrote down everything the Lord had said.” Moses built an alter and offered bulls as fellowship offerings to the Lord. Moses poured half the blood of the offering on the alter and sprinkled the other half on the people. It reminds me of baptisms where the paster sprinkles the congregation and tells them to remember their baptisms. God’s covenant is not a contract, contracts can be broken and then cancelled. A covenant cannot be broken, it is always in effect, particularly on God’s side, but we sometimes ignore God’s grace to our detriment. That is what we see in the Isaiah passage devotional. 

Vs.9-11 “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli,(a precious stone) as bright blue as the sky.11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.” This reminds me of Rev.3:30 “ Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Vs.12-18 God calls Mosses up to the mountain in order to give him the  tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments. The mountain is covered  a cloud, the glory of the Lord  looked like a consuming fire. “And Moses stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.” reflecting Jesus’ time of temptation in the desert at the beginning of His ministry. We thank God!

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# 06 2025 Dev. Isa.10:3. The Survivors! Read all of chapter ten first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isa.10:3 “To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your riches?”

Isa.10 Chapter 9 shines an encouraging light on Israel but the chapter ends with a condemnation of Ephraim and Samaria. Ch.10 continues with: “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, deprive the poor of their rights.” Given the soft stance on crime is this a condemnation of our society  as well? What do you think?

Vs.1-4 “Woe to those who make unjust laws,” Isaiah is warning the people around him, God’s people, who have gone wrong and are not listening to God’s warnings covered in the last three chapters. As a result, “Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”

Vs.5-11 “God’s Judgment on Assyria” God allows the Assyrians to become strong and God uses them to punish his people. But they will also be punished; “I dispatch him, (the King of Assyria) against a people who anger me…” The Israelites are asking the question , how can this be, that God sends an idol worshiping people, to punish his own? It raises serious questions for Christians as well. When illness or setbacks hit us we ask, is God allowing this? Yes, He is, God is in complete control. We look to God’s Word; Isa.55:8-9. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God has purposes that we are not able to understand. 

As far as Assyria is concerned they are not aware of God intentions. As it turned out the king is arrogant, boastful and self serving, as a result,  he will also be punished. 

Vs.12-19 “I will punish the king of Assyria for the willful pride of his heart and the haughty look in his eyes. For he says:” see vs. 13-14.

Vs. 15 asks a rhetorical question, is the instrument God uses higher than God?  No! Therefore, God will decimate him and his land. “The light of Israel will become a flame”, a destroying fire.

Vs.20-34 “The Remnant of Israel”. God will revive a remnant of Israel, “they will return to the mighty God… Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord almighty, says: do not be afraid of the Assyrians…” As God saved them from Egypt and from all their enemies along the way to Canaan, He will save them again. The Lord God Almighty, He will do it. This translates to today, Christians, churches, are being persecuted. Yet what is more dangerous is the pressure of secular culture, the pressure is on to compromise on DEI, to normalize homosexual lifestyles and to agree to recognize  many kinds of genders. No! In the power of the Holy Spirit we stand. Amen and Amen!

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# 05 2025 Dev. Ex.23:4. Do Good! Read all of chapter  twenty three first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Vs.4. ‘If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it.

”Ex.23.  Chapter 21 expands on the fifth and sixth commandments. This is based on the culture of the time; parents are to be respected, people were bought and sold as slaves, murder and accidents are covered. Ch.22 expands on the eighth commandment as well as aspects of the seventh and the tenth commandments. Ch.23 expands on the ninth commandment and how to treat a neighbor. Also, there are rules pertaining specifically to Jewish life.

Vs.1-9. “Laws of Justice and Mercy- Do not spread false reports…Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong.” Do good to your neighbor and your enemy. “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits. Do not accept a bribe…Do not oppress a foreigner”. These are common sense laws, they promote goodness, righteousness and peace. 

Vs.10-19. Sabbath Laws and Annual Festivals. “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work, so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and so that the slave born in your household and the foreigner living among you may be refreshed.” This is  practiced by many countries, many people work five days a week, not for religious reasons but for health reasons. There is good reason to rest based theological reasons; God rested the seventh day of creation but more importantly, the sabbath reflects “God’s rest” extended to followers of Jesus in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

“The Three Annual Festivals”- Passover, The Festival of the Harvest, first fruits also called Pentecost because it is celebrated 50 days after  passover and the Festival of Booths. These Festivals required a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today they are celebrated where ever a Jewish family lives. Christians also celebrate Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit, fifty days after Easter.

Vs. 20-33. “See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.’ Here God reestablishes the Covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This angel  is the Spirit of Christ, preparing the way ahead of you. “Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.”This is God’s promise to his people and that promise is to us as well, the Spirit of Christ is with us and by Him Christ walks with us. Praise be to God!

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# 04 2025 Dev. Isa 9:2.The Light of God! Read all of chapter nine first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isa.9:2 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”

Isa.9. Ch. 8 ends in darkness. But in this chapter – “Nevertheless, there will be  no more gloom…a light has downed.” That is a prophecy. But the chapter ends with a condemnation of Ephraim and Samaria. “Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west…”  Why? ‘They have not “sought the Lord Almighty.” Is this a warning for Christians today?

Vs.1-7. The light of God. Today, this light, Jesus Christ, is fully revealed. Where are our excuses? Why do so many still dwell in darkness? So it was in Israel, God was with them, His word was with them but they fell away time and time again. This prophecy is for the whole world, including the gentiles, “the people walking in darkness”. It starts with the call to Abraham, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”’

‘I will bless you… and you will be a blessing… and all people of the earth will be blessed through you”’.(Gn.12:1-3) The light has been developing for  approximately  4,050 years and continues today going on into the New Heaven and the New Earth. The prophecy of light does not end. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,and the government(R) will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” Praise the Lord! 

Vs.8-12 “The Lord has sent a message against Jacob; it will fall on Israel.”  Because of their “pride  and arrogance of heart…”  there will be destruction, but there will be a rebuilding and a replanting. “Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west have devoured Israel with open mouth. Yet for all this, his anger(the Lord) is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”

Vs.13-17 “But the people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.” The next five verses describe our world today. There are the elders, the leaders who guide people astray. The prophets, pastors, Christian leaders are teaching lies. We thank God that we do have some responsible leaders and we do have spiritual leaders and teachers. Yet many people are led astray. “Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.” 

Vs.18-21 “Surely wickedness burns like a fire…” Wickedness is destructive, undermines society, destroys people like a fire, like the “wrath of the Lord Almighty… Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,his hand is still upraised.” In time the tribes will destroy each other. This prophecy came to pass, only Judah and Benjamin survive. 

This chapter is negative but it is positive as well. The punishment is overshadowed by a powerful hope: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Let us concentrate on the hope of Christmas and the promise of salvation extended to all who put their trust is Jesus! 

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# 03 2025 Dev. Ex.22:1. “Practical Applications!” Read all of chapter  twenty two first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Vs.1. “Whoever steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters it or sells it must pay back five head of cattle for the ox and four sheep for the sheep.”

Ex.22.  Chapter 21 expands on the fifth and sixth commandments. This is based on the culture of the time; parents are to be respected, people were bought and sold as slaves, murder and accidents are covered. Ch.22 expands on the eighth commandment as well as aspects of the seventh and the tenth commandments. 

Vs.1-15. “Protection of Property.” The eighth commandment: “You shall not steal”. In these verses several scenarios are presented that comprise of dishonesty. In that time it was a serous offense, if caught, a person must reimburse the owner four times, or be sold into servitude if he could not pay. If serious consequences were  applied today it may very well reduce the crime rate.

Vs.16-31 “Social Responsibility.” “If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride-price, and she shall be his wife.” However if she is pledged to be married, he must be killed. If the woman was married, they both will be put to death. Jesus, in the “Sermon on the Mount” expands on that command: Mt. 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”’ We praise and thank God for His mercy and grace. Amen.

Witchcraft, bestiality and sacrifices to a false God are strictly forbidden and caries capital punishment. Exploitation is forbidden, especially of the poor. If you lend to the poor do not charge interest. “Do not hold back offerings”. In those days it meant produce and the first born. But today it means the blessings God has given us. Be generous. The bottom line, God says be holy, live as holy people in an unholy world. Thanks be to God!

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# 02 2025 Dev. Isa.8:18. Christ’s Children! Read all of chapter eight first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 8:18 “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.”

Isa.8. God speaks to Isaiah three times. Jesus and His people are prophesied, as well as the destruction of Aram, Samaria and much of Judah by the king of Assyria. Also, about light and darkness.

Vs.1-4 “The Lord said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen: Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.” This name means: “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil;” This is Isaiah’s son  name as Isaiah and his children are signs. Before the child is able to speak, Damascus and Samaria will be plundered as the name suggests.

Vs.5-10 “The Lord spoke to me again.” Here God speaks metaphorically. “Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloh” meaning God’s love, grace  and peace. “therefore the Lord is about to bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria.” The water will cover the land, a deluge “reaching up to the neck.” The neck (the head) is a metaphor for Jerusalem, that God (Immanuel) saved from Sennacherib. That is a comfort for all who continue to trust the Lord. If God is with us (Immanuel) who can stand against us?

V.11 “This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:” This is a warning for us as well. We live in a time where many people want to lead us astray. What God commands, hereunto, is understood as prohibitive, but now the world wants to deem that as normative, and some Christians insist what was prohibitive throughout history,  to be righteous in our time. It is a matter of culture after all. No! God’s precepts do not change with culture.

Vs.12-17 “Do not call conspiracyeverything this people calls a conspiracy; do not fear what they fear…” The Lord is the one to fear. “He will be a holy place; for both Israel and Judah he will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” Vs.14 is quoted both in the New and Old Test. Lk.2:34 “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against…”’ Isaiah: “I will put my trust in him.” 

V.18 “Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.” This is Jesus (here am I) and the children the Lord has given me. (Jesus and the Old and the New Testament church) John 10:29 “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than alI; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” Praise God!

Vs.19-22 Light and Darkness. Should someone “consult mediums and spiritists… should not a people inquire of their God?… If anyone does not speak according to this (His) Word, they have no light.” Apart from the Word, both the living Word and the written Word there will only be distress, darkness, fear and confusion when push comes to shove. But  for those of us walking in the light, we thank God and we trust Him for the blessings of our Savior in this New Year. Amen!

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# 01 2025 Dev. Ex.21: “The Commandments Details” Read all of chapter  twenty one first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ex.21 Chapter 21 expands on the fifth and sixth commandments. This is based on the culture of the time; parents are to be respected, people were bought and sold as slaves, murder and accidents are covered. There is no slavery in our country today however, there is exploitation, sexual, economic and physical (discrimination). In fact there has been a large increase of this kind of slavery. But for working people these two rules also touch upon the relationship of employers to employees. 

Vs.1-6 “if you buy a Hebrew servant…” The rules were different, they had been slaves once and had no rights whatsoever but if one had bought a Hebrew servant, after six years of service he was free to go with his wife and children. But if he choses to stay with his master, that would be for life. Servitude often was to pay a debt or demanded by a judge for some indiscretion. Before this time Moses did all the judging and often asked God to adjudicate a difficult cases. 

V.7-11 “If a man sells his daughter as a servant, she is not to go free as male servants do.” They have intrinsic value that is in high demand and is subject to abuse. But if the owner was not happy with her she may be redeemed. If she was not redeemed, the owner  must continue to care for her, even if he buys another woman. If he does not provide for her she goes free. Today’s standards would consider that misogynistic but it was for their protection. In those days women could not be independent, often, their only option would be to sell their bodies. 

Vs.12-36 “Personal injuries. Anyone who strikes a person with a fatal blow is to be put to death.” But if one dies by accident  if “God lets it happen…” they are to flee to a place of refuge. Once they were in the land, cities of refuge were set up. “Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death. Anyone who kidnaps someone is to be put to death. Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.” Those who are aggressive will be held responsible and will pay restitution. Even if one beat a slave the owner responsible must compensate the slave/servant for the damage. Pregnant women are protected. 

“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,  burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” What that means is that; “Consideration must be had of the nature, quality, and degree of the wrong done, that reparation may be made to the party injured, and others deterred from doing the like; either an eye shall go for an eye, or the forfeited eye shall be redeemed by a sum of money.” (Mathew Henry’s Commentary.) The punishment must be appropriate for the crime. Commuting the death sentence of murders violate any normal standard today and certainly God’s standard, and is a complete adulteration of justice, promoting more violence as we are experiencing right now.

Owners of livestock are responsible for any damage caused if the animal is not penned up. That goes for us as well. The issue here is accountability, we trust God and we expect accountability to be practiced in this land. May God bless you, your family, all people of this country  and the free countries of the world in this New Year. 

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# 00 2024 Dev. Isa.7:13. Rumors of War! Read all of chapter seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 7:13 “Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also?”

Isa.7 After the commissioning of Isaiah in chapter 6, sixteen years later, after the righteous King Jotham, Uzziah’s son dies and his son Ahaz is on the throne, Jerusalem was unsuccessfully attacked. Ahaz was not a righteous king. But God wanted to extend His grace to the house of David. A larger army was rumored to be on the way and “Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees of the forest are shaken by the wind.” God sent Isaiah and his son to meet Ahaz and tell him that this larger army would not prevail and he is told to ask God for a sign. “But Ahaz said, ‘I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.”’ Verse 13 tells us what Isaiah thought of that answer. 

Vs.1-13 All of Jerusalem is disturbed, fearful, and had lost all hope. God sends Isaiah to meet with the king Ahaz. God tells Isaiah to take along his son, Shear-Jashub, his name meaning: “a remnant will return”. God is sending Ahaz and his people a message; there is grace and salvation but there also are consequences. Isaiah, speaking for God says, this attack “will not take place. It will not happen… Within sixty-five years”, within God’s timing , the people opposing you will no longer be a people to oppose you. “If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.”

Standing firm is a strong message for today, for us, for you! Faith is believing what you cannot see. Faith is a sure knowledge of God’s presence with us and the assurance of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Ahaz is told to act on faith; “Ask the Lord your God for a sign”, any sign. Ahaz refuses, the spirit he has does not allow him to ask, “I will not put the Lord to the test.”  He is afraid to practice faith. How about us, how about you?

Vs.14-17 Ahaz lacked faith. Often we lack faith as well, but that does not stop God’s will in our lives, in our families or in our country. God Himself gives Ahaz a sign; like Isaiah son’s name, it contains a message to Ahaz and to us today. “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. He will be eating curds and honey when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, for before the boy knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.” The message is that God will be with us and that he is with  us now, Immanuel, God with us. We celebrated that 2 days ago. Ahaz and his people will be saved, saved from war. We are being saved, from sins, our short comings, and God, who is always in the eternal present, is with us now and always will be with us by faith. And in Ahaz’s case, still with him in his lack of faith. Faith is gift of the Holy Spirit.

Vs.18-25 “Assyria, the Lord’s Instrument.” God will save Jerusalem and Judea by sending the Assyrians to conquer Aram, Samaria and much of Judea, but not Jerusalem. At that time Hezekiah, a righteous man, was the King in Jerusalem. The rest of the chapter describes the devastation caused by the Assyrian invasion, allowed by God, to punish unrighteous governments and people. This is a warning to us as well, God has blessed our land and I believe He will continue to bless but only because we are on the cusp of a religious revival. Pray for that to accelerate in our lives, in our town and cities, in our country and in the world as well. We praise God! 

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# 52 2024 Dev. Ex.20:2 “Freedom!” Read all of chapter  twenty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ex.20:2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

Ex.20 At the end of Ch.19 God calls Moses and Aaron back up on the mountain. This chapter gives us the words of the Decalogue, Ten Words, The Ten Commandments. In many churches, these commands are read at the beginning of the service, followed by a time of confession and a passage  of assurance of forgiveness. Now different passages are used in place of the Ten Commandments, there are many of God’s precepts throughout Scripture. I have found that people pay more attention when the passage is changed up with the many passages of God’s law.

Vs.1-11 speaks to the expected relationship of the people to God. “I am the Lord your God.” He is God and He is our God, He sets us free from the slavery of sin. “You shall have no other gods before me.” This comes with a warning. Do we have other gods today? Yes! We do! Really? What is the most important thing in your life? The warning: “punishing the children for the sin of the parents…” The blessing: “but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Amen! “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God…” This law may be the one most abused ever; gee, gosh, dang.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” This was enforceable in the Old Testament, but the New Test. gives us this advice: Rom 14:5-12 “One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.  Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord.” One day to worship and to rest is good for our health and  glorifies God. Read all of the Rom. passage.

Vs.12-21 speaks to our relationships to each other. “Honor your father and your mother,” This is the only command that has a promise “so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”   The next five commands are self-explanatory. “You shall not murder.” Mt. 5:21-22 “You shall not commit adultery.” Mt. 5: 27-30 “You shall not steal.” Ex 22:1-15 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Pr. 6:18-19 “You shall not covet.”Lk 12:15 Click on these passages for the deeper meaning of these relationship laws.

Vs.22-26. Idols and Altars. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the Israelites this: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:” God, here, gives worship instructions; sacrifices that foreshadow the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. God also gives instruction on the kind of altar to build. Worship was as it is today; fellowship, rejoicing and receiving blessings,  in the presence of our God, particularly in this Christmas season.  Blessed Christmas!   _{© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved}

# 51 2024 Dev. Isa.6.1.8b ‘Here am I. Send me!” Read all of chapter six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isaiah 6:8 “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!”’

Isa.6 records for us the commissioning of Isaiah. It is established in history, “In the year that King Uzziah died “(750BC). Isaiah sees God on his throne and he sees seraphim calling to each other: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth s full of his glory. At the sound of their voices the doorposts and the thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.” Isaiah is sanctified, called, and he answers the call. After all that the Lord tells Isaiah what to tell the people. The call of Isaiah foreshadows the call to all followers of Jesus. This call is the demand of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

V.1-7 At the sight of God on the throne and the sight of the flying seraphim, Isaiah responds, “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips… one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal…See, this has touched your lips, your quilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”   

Vs.8-9a “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I… Send me!” Our guilt has been taken away, we have been atoned for in Christ Jesus. Who will go for Him? Yes we will go! Will you?

Vs.9b-10 “Tell these people:” Hebrew; Septuagint ‘You will be ever hearing, but never understanding; / you will be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ / This people’s heart has become calloused; / they hardly hear with their ears, / and they have closed their eyes. “(Footnote)

The New Testament enlightens us, only those who have the Spirit will understand. In Mt.13:13-15 Jesus says: “This is why I speak to them in parables: ‘Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:”’ This is applied today, we could be speaking of our country, especially  at this time.

Vs.11-13 “Then I said, “For how long Lord?” God answered “Until; the cities lie ruined… until the Lord has sent everyone far away…But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” There is hope and a part of that Prophecy has been realized today, see, Isaiah 11:1-16. That is what Christmas is all about, praise  be to God!

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