Mar 5, 2019
There is only one kind of salvation that really matters: The kind that comes from the hand of God Almighty. Any other kind of salvation is short-lived and insufficient to bring lasting results. The people of Judah might find temporary relief from the threat of Assyrian invasion by trusting in the Egypt, but it wouldn’t last. Especially since the destruction they faced was coming from God Himself. Isaiah knew that the only hope for Judah’s salvation was if the people repented or God relented. The first one showed no signs of taking place. Isaiah had begged and pleaded with the people of Judah to repent and return to God, but to no avail. And so, the only option available was if God decided to extend mercy to His rebellious people. In Isaiah 33:7-24, the scene is bleak and the prospects look grim. But in the midst of the doom and gloom, God sheds a light of hope. He promises to show His power and might. And He pledges to deal with the Assyrians, turning the tables on them and making them the victim, not the victor. In spite of Judah’s failure to repent, God promises to restore them one day. He announces a time when He will be their Mighty One – their king, judge and lawgiver, restoring them to a right relationship with Himself – out of His love, mercy and grace.