by Pastor Douglas Brauner
The Power of God’s Choice.
You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.
“But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off’; fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:8-10 English Standard Version
There are other Praying With The Eyes devotions which address our human condition of feeling alone, yet it is a topic we need to address on a regular basis. Why? From the beginning of the Bible, we learn that humans have been separated from God. Our feelings of human separation reflect our estrangement from God.
Israel was estranged from God when they dwelt in Babylon. The glorious temple built by Solomon, the temple God visited with glory, was nothing but ruble. Many of their relatives and friends died in the promised land. Grief was their daily companion.
God visited his people in their grief, reminding them through the Prophet Isaiah that though they felt the devasting blow of separation, the Lord’s choosing of them hadn’t changed, a choosing that came through a promise to their father, Abraham, a promise which was passed on to Isaac and Jacob.
God is always faithful to his promises even when we are not faithful to him.
The Israelites were in exile because they had turned their backs on God. The separation they felt was a result of the rebellion against God and his covenant with them. However, God, even in disciplining his people, had not left them.
Yes, all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory, but Christ has redeemed us and is always with us, forgiving us, and reminding us that because of his steafast love, we are never alone.
Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
