“I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking to me about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!” Isaiah 65:24 (NLT)
Answered prayer. That is the issue. How do we get God to respond to us? And even more importantly, how de we get him to respond favorably with blessings?
God used Isaiah to inform his people of their diminishing relationship with him. And to their credit, the people of God took responsibility and repented. After thanksgiving and confession, they began to pray and beg God to give them another chance, to have mercy on them, to acknowledge them, and to save them. They wanted God to save them from themselves (63:17) and from the enemy (18-19). While they acknowledged their failures, they also hinted that it was God’s fault for letting it happen. Why didn’t he keep them from sinning? Why didn’t he stop what was happening?
Then the prayer turns more urgent as they asked for a manifestation of God’s presence like those of Moses’ day (64:1-12). They begged God to not wait any longer. Show his power and produce terror in their enemies. Doesn’t this sound like modern believers? We want God to demonstrate himself with undeniable evidence. Yet the question is not whether God exists or is able or if God will. The question is: Will we believe even if he doesn’t give us a miraculous demonstration?
Finally, God responds to their prayer in chapter 65. First, their rebellion, idolatry, and pride have to be dealt with. Second, they are offered both warnings and promises. The inference being that his warnings must be heeded in order to receive the promises. Third, the remnant who heeds his warnings will see a better day. This is always the challenge for God’s people. We live in the realm between the promises and the fulfillment. Through this prophet, God assures his people that present conditions are only temporary. Old conditions will be forgotten. A new heaven and a new earth are coming. All sorrow will be gone. There will be no death and no violence in the holy city. We will enjoy our achievements and our children. And in this new Jerusalem, God will respond to our prayers almost before they are spoken.
What a day that will be! Until then I’ll carry on in faith. No amount of positive affirmations will change the realities of this life. Our words will not change God’s.
“the righteous will live by faith.” Romans 1:17 (NIV)
“We live by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV)
Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Thank you for the promise of your new Jerusalem, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Empower us with faith and perseverance. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his plan and live to achieve his purpose,