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“I WILL GO BEFORE YOU” (ISAIAH 45:2,22-25)

REFLECTION
The theme for our reflection is “I will go before you” “I will go before you” is an assurance from God to those who depend on Him for sustenance, protection and success. We shall reflect on the fact that God can use anyone for His glory and for the deliverance of His people.

Beloved in the Lord, at the time Isaiah wrote this prophecy, Israel was captured and ruled by the Babylonian empire. This brought about negative influences upon the religious life of God’s people since some of the exiles had turned to idol worship. Probably, some of the exiles thought God was unable to deliver them so they turned to Babylonian gods for solace and protection. It is in the context of the Babylonian captivity that God appointed a Persian King by the name Cyrus to liberate the people of Israel. Isaiah assured the Israelites, “This is what the LORD says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armour, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: ² I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. (Isaiah 45:1-2). In other words, Israel is assured that God will deliver them from the Babylonian empire and bring the captives or exiles home through a Persian King. Just as God used Babylon to punish Israel, He shall also use Persia to punish Babylon and liberate Israel. Beloved in the Lord God, God can use anyone for His glory and for the salvation of His people. We must understand that God’s people are those He has a covenant relationship with and has promised to deliver them when they call on Him.

When God demonstrates His power of deliverance in the lives of His people, He also does it for those who do not have a covenant relationship with Him to acknowledge His sovereignty and Lordship over the Universe. Again, God demonstrates His power of deliverance to those who have a covenant relationship with Him to restore their faith and hope as the sovereign Lord of the universe. It is for this reason He says ²² “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other…They will say of me, ‘In the LORD alone are deliverance and strength. ’” All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame. ²⁵ But all the descendants of Israel will find deliverance in the LORD and will make their boast in him. (Isaiah 45:22,24-25) The invitation to salvation is not only meant for Israel but anyone who is willing to be saved. When we have a covenant relationship with God, He remembers us in our affliction and delivers us when we call on His name. In our deliverance, He may choose to use anyone for His glory just as He used Cyrus, the Persian King to deliver and restore Israel. When we find ourselves in any form of captivity or bondage, and we call on Him, He will deliver us even if it means using unbelievers.

We must completely turn to the Lord and remain committed to Him after He has gone before us to redeem us from our bondage or captivity. Some of us are unfaithful to God. When we find ourselves in trouble or any sort of bondage, and we call on Him to deliver us, He saves us! Immediately we are delivered we soon forget who we are and our past and go back to our old ways. Dear friend, God loves us and regardless of our unfaithfulness, God has not hidden Himself from us. We are assured in John 3:16-17 that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17). God’s invitation and assurance of salvation are not only to the Jews or Israelites but to anyone in the world. This deliverance is not a military or political deliverance but a spiritual and eternal deliverance only through His only begotten son. God can use anyone to deliver us from accident, armed robbery and any form of physical harm but when it comes to our spiritual and eternal salvation, only Jesus Christ can save us through repentance, faith and regeneration. “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:11-13)

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “I will go before you” We have discovered that God can use anyone for His glory and the physical deliverance of His people but when it comes to our spiritual and eternal salvation, we can only be saved through our Lord Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God.

PRAYER
Almighty God we surrender our lives into Your hand for our deliverance and eternal salvation. Amen.