Devotion 2 of 10 in the series I Am the LORD: Isaiah 44:6-8

When You Need to Know Who God Is

When You Need to Know Who God Is_Volleyball Coach

Isaiah 44:6-8 (ESV)

Besides Me There Is No God

6 Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
“I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? Let him proclaim it.
Let him declare and set it before me,
since I appointed an ancient people.
Let them declare what is to come, and what will happen.
8 Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.”

Digging into God’s Word

I have been watching 3rd and 4th grade recreational volleyball games. This is the first time most of the girls have played the game. It is a minor miracle when their serves go over the net, and a volley between two teams brings wild cheers from the crowd of parents and grandparents. At this stage, most of us adults are pretty well-behaved, applauding both teams and encouraging even the worst of players. But we don’t really know what to say. It runs the gamut from “Nice try” to “Get under it! That’s what those knee pads are for!”

Many of the students begin the season looking up to the stands for their parents’ approval after each play. But an interesting thing happens as the short season progresses: The young players start to learn that their parents know about as much about volleyball as they do, and the person they really need to listen to is the coach. Coach says things like, “Front row, get ready,” “Rotate” (a key to the game!), or, after a missed bump, “Remember to put your hands like this.”

Ah, Coach is in charge. He knows what he is talking about. The mixed advice from the crowd grows faint; the wisdom of the coach comes into laser focus.

This is what God encourages in our passage today: Remind yourself who God is, and listen to that voice above all others.

Look back at verses 6 to 8. Who is God? He is

  • the LORD,
  • the King of Israel,
  • Redeemer,
  • the LORD of hosts,
  • the first and the last,
  • the God who knows what has happened in the past and what is to come, and
  • our Rock.

He is the only God.

Why is this important? Verse 8 gives answer:

Fear not, nor be afraid.

When we forget who we are and who God is, we get sucked into all of the problems we cannot solve, and we begin to fret and worry. We listen to the mixed bag of advice from the crowd and wonder which voice to follow. Should we stand closer, move back, run for the ball, or let it go out of bounds? What if we, under our own power, can’t get the ball over the net? What then?

God says stop relying on yourself. Stop listening to the well-meaning but unknowledgeable voices. Look to God and God only. When we do that, fear slides away, and we do not need to be afraid, because He is God. There is no other. And with Him, nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26).

Digging Deeper

Reflect on these questions. If you have time, journal your answers.

  1. Which characteristic of God from Isaiah 44 is especially meaningful to you?

The LORD, the King of Israel, Redeemer, the LORD of hosts, the first and the last, the God who knows the past and the future, our Rock

Spend some time thanking and praising God for who He is.

2. Thinking back to the volleyball story, what voices in the crowd grab your attention, when instead God might have a different word for you? If you can, spend some time in silence, listening for God to speak to your heart.

3. Reread verse 8:

Fear not, nor be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
And you are my witnesses!
Is there a God besides me?
There is no Rock; I know not any.

Is something causing you to be afraid today? Ask God to alleviate your fears. Remind yourself that He is the Rock that is higher than us. Psalm 61:1-3 provides a powerful prayer for that:

1 Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
2 from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
3 for you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.

Extra Info!

If you missed the first devotion in this series, I encourage you to go back and work through it, because it sets up the context of Isaiah 44 and 45. Plus, it is very meaningful, offering an important message of hope! You can find it here. Then come back and join us for the rest of the series “I am the LORD.”

Devotions are posted on Mondays and Thursdays. Please don’t rely on Facebook posts to receive them! Sign up on the website or at THIS LINK.

Share Button
Print

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published.

Custom Wordpress theme by Jeff Roberts Web Design

Show
Hide