August 22, 2024
Redeeming Israel -- Part 4
Isaiah 29:22
08/22/2024
22 Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed
Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob: ``Jacob
shall no more be ashamed, no more shall his face
grow pale.'' (ESV)
Isaiah, the prophet, foretells the future by looking at the
past. ``Therefore thus says the LORD, who redeemed Abraham,
concerning the house of Jacob: `Jacob shall no more be ashamed,
no more shall his face grow pale.'''
God called Abraham from a pagan land, from worshiping idols,
to be the patriarch of the people from whom the Messiah would
come. Abraham believed God's promises, left Ur of the Chaldees,
and traveled to Canaan. He trusted God, Abraham had faith, and
that was counted for righteousness in God's sight.
God also called Jacob's descendants from Egypt and settled
them in the land once promised to Abraham. Isaiah, who foretold
the Babylonian captivity, showed that God would again return His
chosen people to Jerusalem.
In the same way that we were held captive to sin and death,
we also were redeemed, returned to God, by the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ. We, who are no longer ashamed of
our sin and rebellion, for we have been declared righteous in
God's sight, can call upon our heavenly Father in times of
trouble, and praise Him with songs of thanksgiving.
May the God who redeemed Abraham and Jacob bring us also the
blessings of His salivation from sin, death, and the power of the
devil. Amen.