Introduction

Good morning, family! I'm so glad to see all of you here today, ready to dig into God's word and see what He's got to say to us. You know, there's something really special about this gathering of believers, this community of faith. We're all here because we believe in God's love, His grace, His mercy, and His power. We're here because we want to learn more about Him, and we want to grow in our relationship with Him.

Now, I've been thinking a lot about our sermon for today, and I've been praying that God would use it to speak to each one of us, right where we're at. Today, we're going to be looking at a passage from Isaiah, and I think it's got a lot to say to us about understanding our present circumstances, about the deliverance of God, and about God as the Way Maker.

Before we get into that, though, I want to share a quote with you. This one comes from Gift Gugu Mona. She said, "God will not only perform miracles, He will also deliver people from bondage. Because no miracle is bigger than total deliverance from bondage." Isn't that something?

Let's keep that in mind as we read our passage for today. It's Isaiah 43:14-21:

"Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: 'For your sake I will send to Babylon and break down all the bars, and the shouting of the Chaldeans will be turned to lamentation. I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.' Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 'Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.'"

Understanding Our Present Circumstances

In the passage we just read, we see the people of Israel in a situation that's far from ideal. They're in exile, living in a foreign land under foreign rule. It's not where they want to be. It's not where they thought they'd be. But it's where they are. And God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, meets them right there, in the midst of their present circumstances.

God doesn't ignore their situation: He doesn't gloss over it or pretend it's not happening. He acknowledges it. He sees it. He understands it. And He promises to act in it. He promises to make a way in the wilderness, to bring rivers in the desert. He promises to bring about change, to bring about deliverance, right in the midst of their present circumstances.

A reminder for us today: We may find ourselves in situations that are far from ideal. We may be facing challenges, struggles, hardships. We may be dealing with loss, with pain, with uncertainty. We may be in a place we never thought we'd be, a place we don't want to be. But just like He did with the people of Israel, God meets us right where we are. He sees our situation. He understands it. And He promises to act in it. Now, this doesn't mean that our circumstances will immediately change. It doesn't mean that our problems will instantly disappear. But it does mean that God is with us, that He's working in our situation, that He's making a way even when we can't see it.

Recognizing God's presence: God is not distant or detached from our lives. He's not unaware of what we're going through. He's right there with us, in the midst of our circumstances, working for our good and His glory.

Acknowledging God's sovereignty over our circumstances: God is not surprised by what we're going through. He's not caught off guard by our situation. He's in control. He's sovereign. He's working all things according to His perfect plan and purpose.

Trusting in God's promise to act in our circumstance: God is not idle or inactive in our lives. He's not just sitting back and watching things unfold. He's at work. He's making a way. He's bringing about His purposes, even in the midst of our present circumstances.

Looking for God's purposes in our circumstances: God is not random or arbitrary in what He allows into our lives. He's purposeful. He's intentional. He's using our circumstances to shape us, to grow us, to draw us closer to Him, to make us more like Jesus.

The Deliverance of God

As we continue to reflect on the words of Isaiah, we find ourselves drawn to the image of God as our Redeemer ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO