The Resistance - Day 32
Day 32: Tuesday, March 14
Read Isaiah 41
Highlight
In verses 13-14, God makes something very clear: his people have contributed nothing to their own salvation. They are “worms” and “little,” which are not terms meant to shame Israel but simply statements of fact. They cannot save themselves. Instead, it is God who takes them by the hand and helps them. He calls himself their “Redeemer.” The word for “redeemer” in Hebrew is “go’el,” which is a very significant term in the Old Testament. A go’el is a kinsman redeemer, a family member who is expected to fulfill certain responsibilities towards their kin, particularly those who have fallen on hard times. The responsibilities were not merely societal pressures, but rather God defined these responsibilities in the Mosaic Law. The root of go’el means to ‘redeem, buy back.’ The responsibilities of the kinsman redeemer includes avenging the death of a murdered relative (Num. 35:19), buying back family land that had been sold (Lev. 25:25), buying a family member who had been sold as a slave (Lev. 25:47-49), and looking after needy and helpless members of the family (Lev. 25:35).
Again, like so much of this section of the book of Isaiah, there is a combination of power and tenderness. God isn’t redeeming one person, he’s redeeming an entire nation. He is avenging their dead, freeing them from slavery, giving them back their land, and caring for their needs. And the context is that he is doing this because they are his and he is theirs. There is a personal relationship that is at the root of this redemption. And all of this looks forward to Jesus, the ultimate go’el, who will redeem the whole world from death and sin.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
Read Isaiah 41
Highlight
In verses 13-14, God makes something very clear: his people have contributed nothing to their own salvation. They are “worms” and “little,” which are not terms meant to shame Israel but simply statements of fact. They cannot save themselves. Instead, it is God who takes them by the hand and helps them. He calls himself their “Redeemer.” The word for “redeemer” in Hebrew is “go’el,” which is a very significant term in the Old Testament. A go’el is a kinsman redeemer, a family member who is expected to fulfill certain responsibilities towards their kin, particularly those who have fallen on hard times. The responsibilities were not merely societal pressures, but rather God defined these responsibilities in the Mosaic Law. The root of go’el means to ‘redeem, buy back.’ The responsibilities of the kinsman redeemer includes avenging the death of a murdered relative (Num. 35:19), buying back family land that had been sold (Lev. 25:25), buying a family member who had been sold as a slave (Lev. 25:47-49), and looking after needy and helpless members of the family (Lev. 25:35).
Again, like so much of this section of the book of Isaiah, there is a combination of power and tenderness. God isn’t redeeming one person, he’s redeeming an entire nation. He is avenging their dead, freeing them from slavery, giving them back their land, and caring for their needs. And the context is that he is doing this because they are his and he is theirs. There is a personal relationship that is at the root of this redemption. And all of this looks forward to Jesus, the ultimate go’el, who will redeem the whole world from death and sin.
Reflection
Every passage in the Bible, including the one you just read, is “...inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” Let the passage challenge you as you reflect on it, but always cling to the full context of Scripture, which tells us that “There is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise God!
- What truth does this passage communicate about God? About us? About our world?
- Has God used this passage to highlight something that is wrong in your life?
- What does this passage teach us to do? What is one practical thing you can do to apply this to your life?
Prayer
Let the passage we just read guide your prayers. Use the acronym ACTS.
Adoration - Praise God for the truth this passage communicated about him.
Confession - Confess to God the thing that this passage showed you is wrong in your life.
Thanksgiving - Thank God for what this passage taught you was true about you and for the ways He is already helping you to do what is right.
Supplication - Ask God for help to do what this passage teaches to do and accomplish the good works he has for you.
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