"Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord or what man shows him counsel? Whom did he consult and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding." Isaiah 40:13 - 14
Interesting that this chapter of Isaiah is titled, "Comfort for God's People." It's interesting because this chapter has language comparable to Job when God finally comes to Job, upon Job's request, to hear his complaint. "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding?" (38:4) It continues from there as God lays out question after question to humble Job.
We seem to have a number of experts these days speak for God. Sure, it's a political year coupled with a virus we still don't quite understand, but in truth, this year is no different than any year where believer and non-believer alike question God or speak for God. Social media lights up with comments such as "Jesus was a socialist," "God loves (fill in the blank)," "Why does God allow...?", and now, we read where one political leaning is clearly aligned with God over the other.
The pastors have done a great job this year in the midst of all the turmoil by giving us a forum to analyze these various issues through the light of the Gospel and through the lens of the Word of God. Through it, we have learned about the issues and the grace we as Christians show as we seek to be active citizens in this world, navigating the world like an untamed river, while focusing on the heavenly kingdom as well. This is not a new phenomenon through. When an advisor stated to President Lincoln that God was on the side of the Union, Lincoln replied, "My concern isn't whether God is on our side. My greatest concern is to be on God's side."
Paul says it this way, "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Corinthians 2:16) The reference note takes us to Matthew 11:27, where Christ says, "All things have been handed over to me by the Father..., and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
The comfort in this life is we are here as Christ's disciples, and in that light, we take the gospel to all to give them the words of eternal life. We know that life will give us uncertainties. In fact, we are promised that. Yet with the Spirit and what is revealed to us, we know God's grace and forgiveness and are to share that news to others. Obstacles that stand in our way are opportunities to overcome then as we seek to spread the gospel. As we look back over the last century, we see the world in constant turmoil, but Isaiah 40 ends in the message of comfort for us as we navigate the world in which we live: "Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (30 - 31)
Our prayer is for guidance from God as we face obstacles. Our prayer is for strength, wisdom and discernment as we navigate as citizens of two kingdoms, earth and heaven, and our prayer is to be witnesses to God's message of forgiveness and grace, to be lights in the world. Amen
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