Bible Studies

Isaiah 48:4-5 “Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass;
5 I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them; and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.”

We pick back up in the studies today, and I hope that you took time every day to read and study and pray and worship the Lord no matter what!

Today’s verse is one I have to remind myself often actually. We see the Lord explaining to us WHY He tells us things! The Lord also makes it very plain and clear that He knows how we are. He knows we can be rebellious and hard headed and stiff-necked (meaning we don’t want to turn our heads to another way). This is the problem with having a sin-nature. Blame Adam and Eve! . . . Kidding, we can only blame ourselves for the sin we decide to commit. The wonderful thing is, through Christ we have been set free from this sin-nature! We actually do NOT have to give in anymore to sin. We can really live a sin-free life from the day we get saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The problem is . . . that during our life outside of Christ we developed bad habits and our flesh was in control and got to do whatever it wanted. And now that we get saved, it still wants that control! So . . we struggle against sin because our flesh loves it and wants to boss us around instead of letting us be led by the Holy Spirit! This is why we need to remind ourselves to do as Paul had to: crucify the flesh every single day in Galatians 2:20 and 1 Corinthians 15:31. So if your flesh wants to use this verse as an excuse to be hard-headed and all that, remind it that it is DEAD to you so it has no power or control anymore. Put it under your feet where it belongs!

Today’s verse though is a great reminder of something: Why does God tell us certain things in advance?

I remember a good while back being told quite often by some Christians, that they wish God would just stop telling us things so far in advance because they hate having to wait to see it come to pass. I can definitely understand that. However, there’s a very good reason He tells us things in advance: He knows how we are! If God didn’t tell us something would happen, then more than likely when it happened we would just take it with a grain of salt and say, “Ah, well” and wouldn’t give it much thought. We may even give credit to either your own works saying YOU did such a great job, or the works of others. But if God foretells us that this or that thing will happen, then when it happens we remember that God told us it would be this way long ago, so let’s glorify God for upholding His Promises, and causing this to happen. If He warns us in advance of something troubling that will happen, then instead of getting discouraged when it happens, we can realize “Hey, God knew this would happen, He saw it ahead of time and even warned me about it! So . . . God really DOES watch out for me and He must know that I am able to go through this!” Why did Jesus forewarn that the disciples would suffer tribulation and hardships? So that they would have peace and joy in Him to know that He knew it in advance, and since God knew it would happen then obviously it’s something God can handle.

I have to remind myself this often. Not because of the troubles I go through or anything like that. I know God warned me from the very start that the path I was choosing and asking Him to place me on would be the most difficult thing I’d ever experience. No, what I have to remind myself is that when God tells me to say something, I need to say it. If I don’t speak what God wants me to speak, then I am giving someone the chance to not realize that God knew it in advance and when it happens they will either not know to glorify God for His Promise, or else in the realm of troubles they will be discouraged and perhaps even fall away. I have used this example before, but I’ll say it again of how years ago, I did not say and warn a dear brother about something God wanted me to tell Him. He ended up turning away from the truth and today is in a cult.

If God tells us to say something, or even write something down, or even tells us something for our own selves, we NEED to remember to obey and say, write, or remember it because God has a very good reason for telling us. We will NEED that reminder, and others will NEED to know it for their own walk with God! Don’t take it lightly, and don’t dismiss it. Hold tight to what the Lord has said! Remember, God is worthy of being trusted too, so when He says something, we can most certainly put our confidence in what He has said!

I love you dearly and pray for you daily. Please let me know if I can pray for you for anything. I pray that you continue to read the Word every day and study and pray every day. I pray also that you don’t neglect getting into the Presence of God through worship every day too! May God continue to bless you, and may you bless Him in return!

Love always in Christ,
Your brother,
And friend,
Michael

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Psalm 119:89 “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.”
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