Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.
Isaiah 48:12-13 (NIV)
“Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called: I am he; I am the first and I am the last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.”
Isaiah 48:12-13 (MSG)
“Listen, Jacob. Listen, Israel—I’m the One who named you! I’m the One. I got things started and, yes, I’ll wrap them up. Earth is my work, handmade. And the skies—I made them, too, horizon to horizon.
When I speak, they’re on their feet, at attention.”
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“Listen to Me, O Jacob, and Israel, whom I called; I am He, I am the First, I am the Last. My hand founded and established the earth, and My right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand together [in obedience to carry out My decrees].” -AMPLIFIED
“I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last…. My right hand has stretched out the heavens: To answer any resentment among His people, God reminded them why He allowed things for His glory and to further His praise. He can do it because of who He is – the only True God, the God of all glory, the God of all eternity, the God of all Creation.” ~David Guzik
The beginning of Isaiah 48 has been focused on the stubborn rebel hearts of Judah, who seemed to be intent on dishonoring Adonai. In fact, in yesterday’s text we found God telling Israel that He would not allow them to ruin His reputation, nor would He allow His glory to go to another:
“For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it [I refrain and do not completely destroy you];
For how can My Name be defiled and profaned [as it would if My chosen people were completely destroyed]? And I will not give My glory to another [by permitting the worshipers of idols to triumph over you].” -Isaiah 48:11 (AMP)
As we begin the second half of the chapter, we find God promising Israel that the end of their captivity will come. Not because they have done anything to merit it, but because of His might, His power, His desire, for He is, “I AM”.
“Listen to Me, O Jacob, Israel whom I’ve specially named, specially chosen, and not without purpose. I Am the first of all things, and I will be the last. It is by My power, My desire, My doing that the earth was anchored. My hand flung the skies. I established them, and when I call, they pay the strictest attention.” -(VOICE)
Once again, we find God instructing His people to “listen up”, to “pay attention” to what He is about to tell them. This is an important reminder to the people. God proceeds to point out a few things that Israel seemed to have forgotten:
1.) That He alone is God:
“I am the One and Only, the First and the Last.” -(TPT)
2.) God created the whole earth:
“With my mighty hand I laid the foundation of the earth…” -(TPT)
3.) God created the whole universe:
“…with the span of my right hand I spread out the cosmos.” -(TPT)
4.) God deserves our respect:
“And when I speak to them, they both stand at attention.” -(TPT)
As we dig into God’s Message to Israel, we too will be reminded that the God who had called them, will not abandon them. He will continue to watch over them and take good care of them. And the God who created the world, and the whole universe, is, and will always be, in control, over all things. He is Sovereign, and what He says will happen, will indeed happen. You can take Him at His word.
“Listen to me, my people, my chosen ones! I alone am God. I am the First; I am the Last. It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth; the palm of my right hand spread out the heavens above; I spoke and they came into being.” -(TLB)
“Does it bother us to know that God allows trials and His refining fires in our lives for His own sake? We should remember that we are not at the center of the universe, but God is. Everything He does and allows furthers His eternal purpose.” ~David Guzik
In the Old Testament, when God revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush, God introduced Himself as “I Am” and He told Moses to tell the people of Israel this as well.
“I AM WHO I AM. This is what you should tell the people of Israel: “I AM has sent me to rescue you.” -Exodus 3:14 (VOICE)
The fact that God told Moses to use this name unquestionably meant that Israel would know who it was that had sent Moses. In the Hebrew “I AM” is “Yahweh“. It is the holiest name of God in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, we find Jesus, the Son of God, using this title as well (which made the religious leaders angry). Jesus identified Himself in this way:
“Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too. And from now on you will realize that you have seen him and experienced him.” -John 14:6-7 (The Passion Translation)
When all is said and done, we will find that the Lord is still “I AM”, for we find John recording for us in the book of Revelation these words:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End],” says the Lord God, “Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].” -Revelation 1:8 (AMP)
And,
“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).” -Revelation 1:17-18 (AMP)
And,
“And He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts I will give [water] from the fountain of the water of life without cost.” -Revelation 21:6 (AMP)
And a final one which ends with a promise,
“Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness). I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].” Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.” -Revelation 22:12-14 (AMP)
“Jesus, the Great I Am, the Light of the World, Immanuel—God with us, promised rest for the weary, and to unyoke our heavy burdens.” ~John Jessup
My friend, Jesus is the Great “I Am”, our Savior and our Lord. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and there is no other way to the Father, but through Him. In the end, when all is said and done, Scripture tells us that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. He is Supreme, Sovereign over all. Best that we learn and understand this truth now.
“Two small words, three simple letters, “I AM.” The Lord tells us repeatedly in His Word that He is the great “I AM.” I wondered why He never added anything else to the statement. I felt like God was being vague and leaving out all the important details and awe-inspiring adjectives He could have used to enhance His own resume or curriculum vitae. Yet, He chose not to. At no better time do the words “less is more” or “simple abundance,” hold more truth. God’s unvarnished, powerfully simplistic, two small words say more about this most awesome God than a whole novel ever could. They assure us no traits defining our God could ever be left out. “I AM,” says it all. The magnitude of that is amazing – HE JUST IS!” ~Nina Keegan
My Prayer:
Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, you are Sovereign over all, the Great “I AM”. The One who has been from the beginning and will be till the end. You alone are God. No one else can make that claim but you, and you deserve the respect and honor that is due you. I humbly ask that you allow me, the created one, to serve you, the Creator. May my life be a testament to your goodness, and faithfulness, all the days of my life. As I journey through this life, I know that you are with me, every step of the way, for you have promised. Help my trust in you to grow. Help me to remember always who you are. Thank you for being “I AM”.
Growing with God 