Hast Thou Not Known ? Hast Thou Not Heard ?
It is approx 550 years before the birth of Christ. The people of God are in Babylon. They have endured great hardship which has taken a tremendous toll upon them. V 27 pretty much sums up the attitude of the people of God during this time. They felt that God had abandoned them, that he did not understand what they were experiencing. God answers their complaint, and their charges by reminding them of some very important things which they had apparently forgotten. This morning there are some tremendous truths from Isa 40 that all of us need to review, and need to be reminded of. We all go through difficult times. Though we do not face near the difficulties of these people, we experience things in our life which cause us to question where God is, what he is doing, and does he understand.
Be reminded this morning that........
I. His Person Cannot Be Equaled V. 21-25
V. 25 "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal ? saith the Holy One"
Exo 9:14 ........"there is none like me in all the earth."
1 Chron. 17:20 O LORD, there is none like thee, neither is there any God beside thee........"
a. He sits upon the circle of the earth. V.22
Did you ever play "King of the Hill" when you were young ?
God sits upon the circle of the earth !
b. He stretched out the heavens as a curtain. V. 22
c. He superintends in the affairs of man. V 23-24
God ordains, and disposes of the princes of the earth !
He is sovereign in heaven and in earth !
I love V 11-12 God is the shepherd, and the Sovereign Lord. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. The one who shepherds us is the same sovereign Lord over all the earth. He measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance !
What a awesome God ! There is no comparison !
Joke: Dust to Dust
On their way home from attending an Ash Wednesday service, little Johnny asked his mother, "Is it true, Mommy, that we are made of dust like the minister said tonight?" "Yes, darling," his mother answered. "And is it true that we go back to dust again when we die?" "Yes, dear," his mother replied. "Well, Mommy, when I said my prayers last night and looked under the bed, I saw someone who is either coming or going?"
II. His Presence Cannot Be Escaped V27
"Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God ?"
Psa 119:7 "Whither shall I go from thy spirit ? or wither shall I flee from thy presence ?"
a. He knows our course.
They said........My way is hid from the Lord
b. He understands our condition.
......."my judgment is passed over from my God ?
c. He hears our complaints
III. His Power Cannot Be Exhausted V.28
" Hast thou not known ? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary ? ........."
V 26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.
Illust. King Canute was once ruler of England. The members of his court were continually full of flattery. "You are the greatest man that ever lived...You are the most powerful king of all...Your highness, there is nothing you cannot do, nothing in this world dares disobey you." The king was a wise man and he grew tired such foolish speeches. One day as he was walking by the seashore Canute decided to teach them a lesson. "So you say I am the greatest man in the world?" he asked them. "O king," they cried, "there never has been anyone as mighty as you, and there never be anyone so great, ever again!" "And you say all things obey me?" Canute asked. "Yes sire" they said. "The world bows before you, and gives you honour." "I see," the king answered. "In that case, bring me my chair, and place it down by the water." The servants scrambled to carry Canute’s royal chair over the sands. At his direction they placed it right at the water’s edge. The King sat down and looked out at the ocean. "I notice the tide is coming in. Do you think it will stop if I give the command?" "Give the order, O great king, and it will obey," cried his entourage "Sea," cried Canute, "I command you to come no further! Do not dare touch my feet!" He waited a moment, and a wave rushed up the sand and lapped at his feet. "How dare you!" Canute shouted. "Ocean, turn back now! I have ordered you to retreat before me, and now you must obey! Go back!" In came another wave lapping at the king’s feet. Canute remained on his throne throughout the day, screaming at the waves to stop. Yet in they came anyway, until the seat of the throne was covered with water. Finally Canute turned to his entourage and said, "It seems I do not have quite so much power as you would have me believe. Perhaps now you will remember there is only one King who is all-powerful, and it is he who rules the sea, and holds the ocean in the hollow of his hand. I suggest you reserve your praises for him."
Source: Retold from "The Book of Virtues" Editor: William J. Bennett
a. He cannot fail.
Isa 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged........."
b. He will not faint.
c. He does not forget.
IV. His Perception Cannot Be Examined V. 28b
........"there is no searching of his understanding."
We cannot totally comprehend the mind of God ! He is the source of all wisdom ! His thoughts far exceed ours !
V. His People Can Be Encouraged V. 30-31
90 % of the eagles waking hours are spent in the air. Yet, there is a time in there life where they will spend time in the wilderness.
a. He will enliven us.
b. He will empower us.
c. He will elevate us.
