The Gift of Prophecy
Isaiah 13 is a very interesting chapter. It is in this chapter that God promises Israel deliverance from Babylon. This is nothing new some may say, there are many such promises in the Bible. However put yourself in the place of those who received this prophecy. At the time their fears where Syria (Aram) and Northern Israel. The growing super power of the time was Assyria and waning one Egypt. In this context God give Isaiah a message about the ‘little known’ Babylon. Consider this even before a superpower would rise God declares it. He is aware that it will enslave his people. He is also aware that at some point his people will go free so he tells them before all this came to pass. He even mentions the name of the nation that would overcome them ahead of time in Isaiah 13:17. Even the metals mentioned the king of Babylon would later dream.
Stop and consider this for a while. While you are concerned with one thing God has already ticking off things many steps ahead and setting up a path for you. As the Israelites went into the Babylonian captivity they knew that even this superpower would pass. They knew it would be the Medes would do this. Again the Medes may appear small, as small as Babylon when this prophecy was given but their rise was just as sure as Gods word had always been.
Is it possible that Gods word has a message for the geo political times we live in. Many see corruption abound and loose hope. Could it be in Gods word there is a message that even those who appear haughty today, tomorrow will be replaced by those not counted today. Do you feel minimised, no exit point Gods word is waiting to give assurance even today. It is not that God is unaware of your pain it is just there is a greater plan at play.
As people we readily sacrifice some things today for a better tomorrow. So it is with God, he permits some things to befall us today. Not because it was his desire but the choice of his creation has led down this path and he will not force it. But even as things spiral downwards, he has a message of hope that draws us upward. It shall not continue like this indefinitely. But while it does his word is there to stregnthen us.
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.
2 Peter 1:19
