Lord, open our hearts and minds
by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that we may hear your Word with joy. Amen.
In the beginning the earth was “formless and empty” (Gen 1:2). That Hebrew word for “formless” is tohu (like “tofu” with an h), and it appears in 18 verses in the Old Testament. 11 of those are in Isaiah. One of those is 41:29, and it is translated “confusion” here. Idols aren’t just worthless; they lead people in the direction of primordial chaos. Chapter 42 is the counter to that. It is a passage that shows who Jesus is. Notice the contrast in 42:5 between God the creator and the idols in 41:29. A big theme I see in today’s reading is God as creator and redeemer. Everything belongs to God because he created it, and God in love also redeemed his people (bought them back). (Tohu is also the “nothing” in 44:9, the “empty” in 45:18, and “in vain” in 45:19 and 49:4.)
Many people have trouble with the idea that God chooses us before we choose him. I think this happens particularly in those places where personal freedom is stressed. I’m not simply trying to hammer in Reformed doctrine here, but today’s passage is a great example of how God does not sit and wait to see what people will do. God proactively works in salvation and redemption. God gives; we receive. It is all God, and that is grace. (46:10 sounds like God saying, “believe it!”)
Back in Deuteronomy I pointed out a passage that stood out grammatically from everything around it. Isaiah 46:4 is similar. 5 times the emphasis is on the “I.” God is emphasizing the fact that he alone is the one who makes these things happen.
Paul quotes Isaiah 49:8 in 2 Corinthians 6:2 and adds, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” Amen! It is one thing to read good news, but it is another thing completely to know that it is our Good News! These good promises and words of hope are promises and words that God gives to us.
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