Blessings From Recognizing Jehovah's Sovereignty

After this description of future joyful blessings, the tone of the prophecy changes abruptly, and Isaiah pronounces a double woe:  "Woe to the one that has contended with his Former, as an earthenware fragment with the other earthenware fragments of the ground! Should the clay say to its former:  'What  do you make?'  And your achievement say: 'He has no hands'?  Woe to the one saying to his father:  'What are you in birth pains with?' "  (Isaiah 45:9, 10)  Apparently, the sons of Israel object to what Jehovah foretells. Perhaps they do not believe that Jehovah will allow his people to go into exile.  Or maybe they find fault with the idea that Israel will be liberated by a king of a heathen nation instead of David's house. To portray the absurdity of such objections, Isaiah compare objectors to discarded lumps of clay and scraps of pottery that would dare to question the wisdom of their maker. The very thing the potter has formed is now stating  that the potter has no hands or power to form.  How foolish!  The objectors are like little children daring to criticize their parent's authority.  

Isaiah gives Jehovah's reply to such objectors:  "This is what Jehovah has said, the Holy One of Israel and the Former of him:  'Ask me even about the things that are coming concerning my sons; and concerning the activity of my hands you people should command me. I myself have made the earth and have created  even man upon it.  I-my own hands have stretched out the heavens, and all the army of them I have commanded.  I myself have roused up someone in righteousness, and all his ways I shall straighten out.  He is the one that will build my city, and those of mine in exile he will let go not for a price or for bribery,'  Jehovah of armies has said." -Isaiah 45:11-13.

Describing Jehovah as "the Holy One" stresses his sanctity. Calling him "the Former" emphasizes his right as the Creator to decide how things will work out.  Jehovah is able to inform the sons of Israel about things to come and to take  care of his handiwork, that is, his people.  Once again the principles of creation and revelation are shown to be related. As the Creator of  the entire  universe, Jehovah has the right  to guide events in the way he decides.  (1 Chronicles 29:11,12)  In the case being discussed, the Sovereign Ruler has decided  to raise up Cyrus, a heathen, as liberator of Israel. Cyrus' coming, although still future, is as certain as the existence of heaven and earth. Which son of Israel, then, would dare to criticize the Father, "Jehovah of armies"?

These same verses of Isaiah contain yet another reason why God's servants should subject themselves to him.  His decisions are always in the best interests of his servants.  (Job 36:3) He made  laws to help his people benefit themselves.  (Isaiah 48:17)  The Jews in Cyrus' day who accept Jehovah's sovereignty find this to be true. Cyrus, acting in harmony with Jehovah's righteousness, sends them home from Babylon so that they can rebuild the temple.  (Ezra 6:3-5) Likewise today, blessings are experienced by those who apply God's laws in their daily lives and who submit to his sovereignty. -Psalm 1:1-3; 19:7; 119:105; John 8:31, 32.

Next time: Blessings for Other Nations

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001