Spiritual Spinach

SPIRITUAL SPINACH

Isaiah 40:27-31

Popeye. What spinach did for Popeye physically is what God can do for us spiritually. Now, I need to incorporate a disclaimer here: just because the Lord is the source of supernatural power doesn’t mean there’s going to be an instantaneous reaction like Popeye after eating a can of spinach; it might be a more of a gradual fill. Regardless, we need it no matter how it comes to us. Let’s see how we can us get some spiritual spinach.

1) God is the source (27-28).

• We can have doubts (27).

The book of Isaiah is divided into two parts. The first 39 chapters deal with impending judgment, and the second part deals with forgiveness and deliverance. Isaiah is writing prophetically regarding the coming Babylonian captivity. The Israelites were frustrated because God hadn’t rescued them yet. They were no doubt also fearful, having gone astray, that perhaps God wasn’t going to rescue them. And after a while they were thinking that God didn't care anymore and therefore he wasn't going to do anything to help them. We can feel that way too sometimes; especially if we've disobeyed God and if we've asked for help and it hasn't arrived.

The chapter starts out by declaring comfort for God’s people. 40:1, “Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.” As we read on we see how God will provide comfort for his people. His care and concern over our welfare is a comfort for us. His power, ability and strength are a comfort to us. God’s supplication of these things to us when we are weak and weary is a great comfort to us.

• But we shouldn’t (28).

Asking rhetorical questions to which the answer is yes, we do know and yes we have heard but yet we are acting as if we hadn’t. So the question is-where is our faith? Why do we complain that God isn’t doing anything? Why do we think he won’t help us? Why do we have doubts?

Luke 18:1-8, “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

We see that if we are persistent in prayer it means we continue to believe he can do what we asked. This judge gave in because he was concerned about getting worn out. God is not like that. He will not get weary with our coming to him neither can we wear him down until he gives in. So, we can keep coming to him with what’s on our heart and until he makes it clear the answer is ‘no’ we should not give up.

“His understanding no one can fathom”. We, as finite beings, can’t claim to know the infinite mind of God. We shouldn't think that we know what's right and best. We have a limited view and a limited capacity for analyzing and problem solving. Who are we to think we should dictate how things should go to an all-knowing, all-powerful God? He is the creator-not us. He has dominion over everything-not us. We need to have humility and patience. Things like faith and trust, humility and patience will keep us strong.

2) Spiritual spinach (29-31).

• Strength to the weary (29-30).

Since God is full of spiritual spinach he is the only one who can give us spiritual spinach. The fact is we all get weary and weak. When we realize that (because there are times we are unwilling to) and when we acknowledge that God is the one who can help us, he will strengthen and empower us.

Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”.