August 15, 2001

Reading: Isaiah 43:1-13

 

“I work, and who will reverse it?” (13)

 

Everything God does and says are directives from His throne, but there are some Divine statements that exude Sovereignty; decrees that make us perk up our ears, stand to attention and say, “Yes, Sir!” So many of God’s promises are conditional upon the obedience of His people, i.e. “If you will, then I shall”, but others, such as our text, come to us with such authority and power that there is no room to ignore them.

This entire chapter is spoken in such authority: “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you” (1); “I, even I, am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior” (11). “I have redeemed you”; “I have called you”; “I am the LORD your God”; “I have loved you”; “I am with you”; “I have created (you) for My glory”; “I have declared and saved”; “I have proclaimed”; “I am God”; “I am He”; “I work, and who will reverse it?” All of these sovereign statements are found in the thirteen verses of our reading and this theme continues through the entire chapter.

Men and nations join forces to oppose Jehovah and prove Him to be less than Sovereign, but in His sight they are but grasshoppers (Is: 40:22) and He laughs at their vain attempts to dethrone Him (Ps: 2:4). This is He who said, “’Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen: 1:3).

This is also He who said, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt: 16:18). I wonder if these words were in the minds of the disciples as they watched their Master abused and crucified? Where now is the authority with which He healed the sick and raised the dead? It was wonderful while it lasted but look at Him now! Bruised, battered and bloody; helpless as He hung dying on a cross. Where is Your sovereignty now, oh Creator of the world? In less than three years hell has not only opposed Your efforts to build Your church, but it has prevailed!

Oh worldly eyes, can you not see that His suffering and death was the death blow to hell and Satan? Are you so blind that you cannot see the Rock of our salvation is being hewn to become the “Chief Cornerstone” of His church? “’Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.’ Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone’" (1 Peter 2:6-7).

When Jesus told His disciples that He was to be put to death in Jerusalem He added one very important, sovereign statement; “And the third day He will rise again" (Matt 20:19). Never did a more sovereign declaration come from the throne of God. From tragedy to triumph! From death to dominion! From the cross to a crown! From rags to riches! “The gates of hell shall not prevail”! “I work, and who shall reverse it?” Never was there a time when Jesus was not Sovereign. Human eyes look at the tragedy, but Divine eyes saw the triumph. Now, by the grace of God, we who are among the redeemed, also see the Sovereign hand of Almighty God as He carefully and precisely worked out the plan of salvation.

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer” (Is: 43:14): There is no principality or power or might or dominion; there is no name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come (Eph: 1:21), that can reverse the work of God!