Day 4: Waves of peace
This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea" (Isaiah 48:17-18).
Sovereign Lord of Creation, You created time and space, and you are constrained by neither. You are the Everlasting God who knows no past, nor present, nor future— the Alpha and Omega, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8).
From ancient times You described Your eternal existence: "I am He; I am the First and I am the Last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together” (Isaiah 48:12-13).
And from Your lofty throne, holy and glorious (Isaiah 63:15)— the place of Your infinite knowledge and wisdom, You attest to Your own sovereignty, omnipotence, and eternal power, in order to show Your trustworthiness to Your people and to provide them with the help, the direction, and the safeguards they need to navigate what is unknown to them, but fully known to You:
“I foretold the former things long ago, My mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass. For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze” (Isaiah 48:3-4).
Our Father and our God who does not change, You hold out Your same message of love to humanity today that You gave to Your ancient people: "I am the Lord Your God who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go..." (Isaiah 48:17). And You still sigh over the ways of pain we choose— ways of darkness and danger, when You sent us One who is the light of life (John 8:12), One who is the Way (John 14:6)
As You did for Your people then, You also gave us foreknowledge of Your plan, ample evidence of its execution, and confirmation of its continuance. You tell us as You told them,
“From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there” (Isaiah 48:16).
And even now as we face the flood, the turmoil, and the turbulence You told us would be a part of this life, You still long to teach us what is best for us, to direct us in Your Way. You long to wash over our necks of iron and foreheads of bronze with rivers of peace and waves of wellbeing.
You long for us to take hold of the grace You offer. You long for us to seek You, and to pray to You, Direct me in the path of Your commands, for there I find delight (Psalm 119:35).
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