Isaiah 40-41

What’s Happening?  

Israel is going into exile in Babylon. Since God didn’t save them, they wonder if  Babylon's gods have triumphed over the God of Israel. But the prophet Isaiah comforts Israel, assuring them that the gods of their captors are not comparable with the God who made them and the world. Israel’s comfort in exile is this: God who created the world and their nation is stronger than Babylon’s gods, and he’s coming to rescue them.

Israel’s rescue from Babylon will be like the story of creation. In the beginning, God’s Spirit hovered over an empty and desolate wasteland and created the Garden of Eden where he and his people could live together (Genesis 1-2). Now Isaiah describes a voice crying out in a wilderness place again, preparing the way for God’s creative power to act once more (Isaiah 40:1-3). The same voice that spoke the world into existence now announces that God is coming to recreate his people out of the wilderness of exile and bring them home (Isaiah 40:4-11). 

Isaiah reminds Israel that their God is the one who established the heavens, measured the oceans, and weighed the mountains (Isaiah 40:12,21-22). He forms the nations of the world and rulers rise and fall by his word (Isaiah 40:15-17, 23-24). Isaiah challenges Israel asking if the idols of Babylon are even worth comparing to the Creator of all things (Isaiah 40:25; 41:1-5). Babylon’s gods are made by human hands, carved from wood, and nailed down so they don’t topple over (Isaiah 40:18-20; 41:6-7). These false gods cannot help themselves let alone the humans who make them(Isaiah 41:21-24). Israel can trust the God who created the craftsmen, the wood, and the stars themselves.  

Isaiah comforts Israel that God has not abandoned them in exile. The God who knows the name of every star in the universe has not forgotten his people and knows them by name (Isaiah 40:26). Even though the youngest and strongest Israelites may grow old and weak waiting for God to save them from exile. But Isaiah reminds them that God’s faithfulness to them never tires or grows old (Isaiah 40:27). God will come for them, even if their faith is too weak to believe him (Isaiah 40:28-31). God will carry them in his arms like a strong shepherd carries weak lambs from rough terrains to lush pastures (Isaiah 40:11; 41:10).

Finally, Isaiah reminds his people of when God created their nation. He reminds them of Abraham and his calling (Isaiah 41:8-9). God chose to create a new people through Abraham whom he plucked out of Babylon. If God created Israel once out of Babylon, he can do it again. Just as he called Abraham out of Babylon, he will rescue Israel from Babylon and restore them to their land (Isaiah 41:11-20). 

Where Is the Gospel?  

No matter how hopeless the exile may seem, God’s promise stands: he will save his people and bring them home. Israel did return from Babylon to their homeland, but they were still far from Eden, their final home with God. But Isaiah promised a voice would speak new creation over the wilderness. And this voice comes when John the Baptist announces that Jesus has entered Israel’s wilderness (Mark 1:2-4). Jesus is the Word of God who made the world and who comes to recreate his people and bring them to their final home in Eden (John 1:3,12).

Just as God could recreate Israel because he is more powerful than Babylon’s idols, Jesus proved his power to recreate us by overcoming the powers of evil and the grave (1 Corinthians 15:22). At Jesus’ resurrection, he defeated our ultimate exile—death (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). And when he ascended to Heaven he sat on a throne high above every power and idol (Ephesians 1:20-21; 1 Peter 3:22). From Heaven Jesus sends his world-creating, life-bringing Spirit to create new life in us and bring us into our Eden home with God (Romans 8:11).

Just as God called Abraham out of Babylon and created a new people, Jesus has called us out of the world to create a new people (1 Peter 2:9-10). Just as Isaiah comforted weak Israel with God’s strength, we can be comforted in our weakness. Jesus is strong, even when we struggle to believe he can recreate us. Like a shepherd carrying his lambs, Jesus carries us on his shoulders, bringing us safely into our final home with him (John 10:11; 2 Timothy 4:18). No matter how hopeless life may seem, God's promise stands. Jesus is recreating us through his Spirit and will resurrect us and bring us to our final home with God (Jude 24-25).

See for Yourself  

I pray that the Holy Spirit would open your eyes to see the God who comes to recreate his people in exile. May you see Jesus as the one who carries us out of death and restores us to our final home with God.