God Does the Unexpected – Isaiah 49:23

Growing with God: A daily devotional with Tonia Slimm.

Isaiah 49:23 (NIV)

“Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground; they will lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed.”

Isaiah 49:23 (MSG)

“Kings will be your babysitters, princesses will be your nursemaids. They’ll offer to do all your drudge work—scrub your floors, do your laundry. You’ll know then that I am God. No one who hopes in me ever regrets it.”

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“Kings will be your attendants, and their princesses your nurses. They will bow down to you with their faces to the earth and lick the dust of your feet; and you shall know [with an understanding based on personal experience] that I am the Lord; for they shall not be put to shame who wait and hope expectantly for Me.” -AMPLIFIED

“God had not forgotten Israel. Even though He would leave her for a time, He would re-gather all her children from all over the world to Himself. Therefore, she should continue to trust in Him.” ~Thomas Constable

Yesterday we learned that God is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord is our Banner.

“This is what Lord Yahweh says: “Soon I will raise my hand and signal to the nations,
    and they will come with your little boys bundled in their arms and your little daughters carried on their shoulders.” -Isaiah 49:22 (The Passion Translation)

Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, was speaking to Israel, telling them of how all their children, they thought were lost, would return to them. He had earlier instructed them to “Look up, and see!” For He was about to do great and wonderful things for them, things, things that they would not have expected.

NOTE: We need to remember that this passage applies not only to Israel’s near future, but its far future as well. In other words, this applies to the Millennial period as well.

In today’s passage, we once again find unexpected things happening. God tells Israel:

“Kings will tend the children of Zion, and their queens will nurse and nurture them. These greats will humble themselves before you. They will bow and lick the dust off your feet, and in the course of it all, you will remember that I am the Eternal. Whoever trusts in Me will never be put to shame.” -(VOICE)

We find God telling the people of Israel that something strange and unusual will happen when they return home to their homeland, Israel. They will find out that kings had been caring for their children, and queens had been their wet nurses. Kings and queens will have been attending to, and babysitting their children, like guardians. (How unlikely this all sounds, but God tells Israel the unseen truth that they will find out for themselves.)

God goes on to say, “With faces bowed to the ground, they will lick the dust of your feet.” -(TPT) This is not to say that these kings and queens are literally licking the dust, but that they are bowed low in honor and homage to the people of Israel.

“A posture indicating the profoundest reverence. This is the common posture of showing great respect in the East. An act denoting the utmost possible respect and veneration for the church and people of God.” ~Albert Barnes

This is a sign of respect to someone that you view as higher in authority. How or why would this be? Because these nations will want to know more about the Most High God, and they know that Israel is the one to tell them.

“All the nations are flowing to Jerusalem to bow at her feet, yes, to beg mercy for the wrongs done, and yes, to bring back with apology those who had been dragged away, but also to try to learn something of this amazing God who has been able to lift his people from barren widowhood to being the laughing grandmother of nations.” ~Oswalt

Finally, in the last sentence of our text, we find God telling Israel that if they trust Him, they will never be brought to shame. They may not understand what He is telling them, but if they are obedient to Him, He will bring it to pass. The Passion Translation interprets this last sentence in this way:

“Then you will know that I am Yahweh, and I will never disappoint those
    who entwine their hearts with mine.” -(TPT)

To be entwined is to be interwoven together, inseparable, joined, united, connected, or merged. Think about that for a moment. God will never disappoint those whose hearts are joined, or connected to His.

“Kings and queens shall serve you; they shall care for all your needs. They shall bow to the earth before you and lick the dust from off your feet; then you shall know I am the Lord. Those who wait for me shall never be ashamed.” -(TLB)

“To wait for God entails an ultimate trust in Him, not becoming impatient when His timetable for final salvation differs from ours.” ~John MacArthur

Earlier in the book of Isaiah, we found him prophesying of a time when Israel will finally come to the realization that Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, has been working, in unexpected ways, on their behalf. Isaiah foretold of Israel’s response:

“Also at that time, people will say, “Look at what’s happened! This is our God!
We waited for him and he showed up and saved us! This God, the one we waited for!
Let’s celebrate, sing the joys of his salvation. God’s hand rests on this mountain!” -Isaiah 25:9-10a (MSG)

We also need to learn that God’s ways are not our ways. His ways are higher, bigger, better.

“This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.” -Isaiah 55:8-9 (TLB)

“As you reflect this Christmas season on your life, your struggles, your disappointments, your victories, your faith, and your hope, remember that God is God and we are not. Jesus’s death on the cross was simultaneously foolishness to the wise in the world, to those who are perishing, and a demonstration of the power and wisdom of God to those of us who believe. He doesn’t always do things the way we might expect or wish he would, but when it comes to God, shouldn’t we know by now to expect the unexpected?” ~Alexander Stewart

My friend, God has great plans for your life, plans that probably are totally different from your plans. They are unexpected, but they are good plans. If you are not looking for His hand at work in your life, you might miss the signs, but never doubt, He is at work. Be ready, and looking for what God is doing in your life today, and stop trying to put Him into a box.

“I don’t know what you’re facing today, but it’s time to stop looking at the stones that seem immoveable. It’s time to stop looking down and look up! It’s time to stop looking back and look up! It’s time to stop looking around and look up! Look up to the resurrected Christ because where you look is where you will go, and it’s time to go forward and fulfill all that God’s has created you to be and called you to do. It’s time to expect the unexpected.” ~Christine Caine

My Prayer:

Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, help me to be expecting the unexpected from you. Forgive me for thinking that I have everything all figured out. I should know better. You always think outside the box, and I need to stop trying to fit you into my box. You ways are bigger, greater, higher than anything that I could ever think of. I am choosing to trust you will and ways. Help my heart to be intertwined with yours, and help me to be looking for your hand at work, so I am quick to follow your leading. Your way is always the best way. I submit to your leadership in my life.