Trusting God's Promises

By Dean Collins

If you are or have ever been a business owner or a senior executive of a business, you know the saying that it is easy to borrow money when you are flush with cash, but when you need money a loan is hard to come by! Managing a business, a church, a college, or a family when things are tight is a real challenge. When you have been called to a leadership position and believe in the mission, you long for the resources to fulfill the mission. Without strong faith in God and the promises of his word, then navigating hard times becomes exceedingly difficult, if not impossible.

Many bible scholars believe that the book of Isaiah is broken into different sections. One section is called the Book of Comfort and contains chapters 40 through 55 and was likely written to the exiled Jews in Babylon. The last chapter of this section, chapter 55, would have been received by those who had returned to Jerusalem and were trying to figure out life in their cherished city whose walls and temple were found to be in a state of rubble. In that context, consider the word from the prophet:

“Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”

Even with the backing of Cyrus, as the faithful remnant began to rebuild the city, they were overwhelmed with what needed to be accomplished and how to stretch a dollar to provide for their basic needs. Maybe as you read these same verses, you are dealing with some level of scarcity or difficulty and want to feel some sense of comfort, even as you navigate your situation. As we read these words many questions come to mind: 

How do we buy food and the basic necessities if we have no resources? 
How do you pay the salaries of your employees when you are not sure how to work out your challenges?

As we ponder these questions, the word of God from Isaiah tells us to listen diligently to God and hear his promises. The prophet continued reminding those who faced hardship that they would have surprise help from places they couldn’t imagine. The returning Jewish audience would have never imagined that a Babylonian king would supply resources to rebuild Jerusalem! 

There are important reminders and comfort for us in these verses:

We must seek the Lord while time allows.
We can call upon the Lord in any and all situations.
God is both compassionate and forgiving.
Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts.

One of the passages I memorized earlier this year and repeat out loud every day is from the first chapter in this “comfort section” of Isaiah:

”Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.“ (40:28-31)

Here in chapter 55, I think the prophet is calling the reader to remember and know that God is all powerful, always at work, and works in mysterious ways to accomplish his purposes in and through his children. While it makes no sense that we could come and buy wine, milk, and bread without resources, we are assured that God sees our needs and will provide what is needed as we obediently surrender to his care and watch for his provision to appear. 

Now in the last half of my sixties, I can testify to God’s provision time and again in the middle of scarcity. God’s providence is vast and ongoing. He knows our needs and will meet us in the middle of our problems with his presence and his provision.

As believers, we must also stay open that God may call each of us to use resources he has provided to us to meet the kingdom needs of others. Our job is to remain humble and open to when and how God wants to use us to fulfill his kingdom plans.

Father, we are grateful for the beautiful promises contained in your word. We are grateful that your word is not just poetic, but it is fully reliable and sufficient for every situation and at all times. Today, we come to you, asking that you meet our every need. We also ask you to use us anyway and anywhere that you choose. We offer our lives and our resources to be used for your glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your Time with God’s Word
Isaiah 55:1-13 ESV

Photo by Rodolfo Clix: https://www.pexels.com/photo/silhouette-image-of-person-praying-1615776/
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