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Chapter 26
"Behold Your God!"
IN Isaiah's day the spiritual understanding of mankind was dark through misapprehension of
God. Long had Satan sought to lead men to look upon their Creator as the author of sin and
suffering and death. Those whom he had thus deceived, imagined that God was hard and
exacting. They regarded Him as watching to denounce and condemn, unwilling to receive the
sinner so long as there was a legal excuse for not helping him. The law of love by which
heaven is ruled had been misrepresented by the archdeceiver as a restriction upon men's
happiness, a burdensome yoke from which they should be glad to escape. He declared that
its precepts could not be obeyed and that the penalties of transgression were bestowed
arbitrarily.
In losing sight of the true character of Jehovah, the Israelites were without excuse.
Often had God revealed Himself to them as one "full of compassion, and gracious,
long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." Psalm
86:15. "When Israel was a child," He testified, "then I loved him, and
called My son out of Egypt." Hosea 11:1.
Tenderly had the Lord dealt with Israel in their deliverance from Egyptian bondage and in
their journey to the Promised Land. "In all their affliction He was afflicted, and
the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He
bare them, and carried them all the days of old. Isaiah 63:9.
"My presence shall go with thee," was the promise given during the journey
through the wilderness. Exodus 33:14. This assurance was accompanied by a marvelous
revelation of Jehovah's character, which enabled Moses to proclaim to all Israel the
goodness of God, and to instruct them fully concerning the attributes of their invisible
King. "The Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God,
merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy
for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means
clear the guilty." Exodus 34:6, 7.
It was upon his knowledge of the long-sufferance of Jehovah and of His infinite love and
mercy, that Moses based his wonderful plea for the life of Israel when, on the borders of
the Promised Land, they refused to advance in obedience to the command of God. At the
height of their rebellion the Lord had declared, "I will smite them with the
pestilence, and disinherit them;" and He had proposed to make of the descendants of
Moses "a greater nation and mightier than they." Numbers 14:12. But the prophet
pleaded the marvelous providences and promises of God in
behalf of the chosen nation. And then, as the strongest of all pleas, he urged the love of
God for fallen man. See verses 17-19.
Graciously the Lord responded, "I have pardoned according to thy word." And then
He imparted to Moses, in the form of a prophecy, a knowledge of His purpose concerning the
final triumph of Israel. "As truly as I live," He declared, "all the earth
shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." Verses 20, 21. God's glory, His
character, His merciful kindness and tender love--that which Moses had pleaded in behalf
of Israel--were to be revealed to all mankind. And this promise of Jehovah was made doubly
sure; it was confirmed by an oath. As surely as God lives and reigns, His glory should be
declared "among the heathen, His wonders among all people." Psalm 96:3.
It was concerning the future fulfillment of this prophecy that Isaiah had heard the
shining seraphim singing before the throne, "The whole earth is full of His
glory." Isaiah 6:3. The prophet, confident of the certainty of these words, himself
afterward boldly declared of those who were bowing down to the images of wood and stone,
"They shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God." Isaiah
35:2.
Today this prophecy is meeting rapid fulfillment. The missionary activities of the church
of God on earth are bearing rich fruitage, and soon the gospel message will have been
proclaimed to all nations. "To the praise of the glory of His grace," men and
women from every kindred, tongue, and people are being made "accepted in the
Beloved," "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus." Ephesians 1:6; 2:7. "Blessed be the Lord God, the God
of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name forever: and
let the whole earth be filled with His glory." Psalm 72:18, 19.
In the vision that came to Isaiah in the temple court, he was given a clear view of the
character of the God of Israel. "The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,
whose name is Holy," had appeared before him in great majesty; yet the prophet was
made to understand the compassionate nature of his Lord. He who dwells "in the high
and holy place" dwells "with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit,
to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Isaiah 57:15. The angel commissioned to touch Isaiah's lips had brought to him the
message, "Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." Isaiah 6:7.
In beholding his God, the prophet, like Saul of Tarsus at the gate of Damascus, had not
only been given a view of his own unworthiness; there had come to his humbled heart the
assurance of forgiveness, full and free; and he had arisen a changed man. He had seen his
Lord. He had caught a glimpse of the loveliness of the divine character. He could testify
of the transformation wrought through beholding Infinite Love. Henceforth he was inspired
with longing desire to see erring Israel set free from the burden and penalty of sin.
"Why should ye be stricken any more?" the prophet inquired. "Come now, and
let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though
they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." "Wash you, make you clean; put
away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do
well." Isaiah 1:5, 18, 16, 17.
The God whom they had been claiming to serve, but whose character they had misunderstood,
was set before them as the great Healer of spiritual disease. What though the whole head
was sick and the whole heart faint? what though from the sole of the foot even unto the
crown of the head there was no soundness, but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores?
See Isaiah 1:6. He who had been walking frowardly in the way of his heart might find
healing by turning to the Lord. "I have seen his ways," the Lord declared,
"and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him. . . . Peace,
peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal
him." Isaiah 57:18, 19.
The prophet exalted God as Creator of all. His message to the cities of Judah was,
"Behold your God!" Isaiah 40:9. "Thus saith God the Lord, He that created
the heavens, and stretched them out; He that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh
out of it;" "I am the Lord that maketh all things;" "I form the light,
and create darkness;" "I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even
My hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded."
Isaiah 42:5; 44:24; 45:7, 12. "To whom then will ye liken Me, or shall I be equal?
saith the Holy One. 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."
Isaiah 40:25, 26.
To those who feared they would not be received if they should return to God, the prophet
declared:
"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? 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? there is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to
them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their
strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint." Verses 27-31.
The heart of Infinite Love yearns after those who feel powerless to free themselves from
the snares of Satan; and He graciously offers to strengthen them to live for Him.
"Fear thou not," He bids them; "for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I
am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with
the right hand of My righteousness." "I the Lord thy God will hold thy right
hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye man
of Israel; I will help thee, saith the Lord, and thy Redeemer, the Holy One of
Israel." Isaiah 41:10, 13, 14.
The inhabitants of Judah were all undeserving, yet God would not give them up. By them His
name was to be exalted among the heathen. Many who were wholly unacquainted with His
attributes were yet to behold the glory of the divine character. It was for the purpose of
making plain His merciful designs that He kept sending His servants the prophets with the
message, "Turn ye again now everyone from his evil way." Jeremiah 25:5.
"For My name's sake," He declared through Isaiah, "will I defer Mine anger,
and for My praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off." "For Mine
own sake, even for Mine own sake, will I do it: for how should My name be polluted? and I
will not give My glory unto another." Isaiah 48:9, 11.
The call to repentance was sounded with unmistakable clearness, and all were invited to
return. "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found," the prophet pleaded;
"call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the
unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy
upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55:6, 7.
Have you, reader, chosen your own way? Have you wandered far from God? Have you sought to
feast upon the fruits of transgression, only to find them turn to ashes upon your lips?
And now, your life plans thwarted and your hopes dead, do you sit alone and desolate? That
voice which has long been speaking to your heart, but to which you would not listen, comes
to you distinct and clear, "Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because
it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction." Micah 2:10. Return to your
Father's house. He invites you, saying, "Return unto Me; for I have redeemed
thee." "Come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an
everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Isaiah 44:22; 55:3.
Do not listen to the enemy's suggestion to stay away from Christ until you have made
yourself better, until you are good enough to come to God. If you wait until then you will
never come. When Satan points to your filthy garments, repeat the promise of the Saviour,
"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. Tell the enemy
that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin. Make the prayer of David your own:
"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than
snow." Psalm 51:7.
The exhortations of the prophet to Judah to behold the living God, and to accept His
gracious offers, were not in vain. There were some who gave earnest heed, and who turned
from their idols to the worship of Jehovah. They learned to see in their Maker love and
mercy and tender compassion. And in the dark days that were to come in the history of
Judah, when only a remnant were to be left in the land, the prophet's words were to
continue bearing fruit in decided reformation. "At that day," declared Isaiah,
"shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of
Israel. And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands, neither shall respect
that which his fingers have made, either the groves, or the images." Isaiah 17:7, 8.
Many were to behold the One altogether lovely, the chiefest among ten thousand.
"Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty," was the gracious promise made
them. Isaiah 33:17. Their sins were to be forgiven, and they were to make their boast in
God alone. In that glad day of redemption from idolatry they would exclaim, "The
glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams. . . . The Lord is our
judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; He will save us." Verses 21,
22.
The messages borne by Isaiah to those who chose to turn from their evil ways were full of
comfort and encouragement. Hear the word of the Lord through His prophet:
"Remember these, O Jacob and Israel;
For thou art My servant:
I have formed thee; thou art My servant:
O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of Me.
I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions,
And, as a cloud, thy sins:
Return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee."
Isaiah 44:21, 22.
"In that day thou shalt say,
O Lord, I will praise Thee:
Though Thou wast angry with me,
Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me.
"Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and not be afraid:
For the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song;
He also is become my salvation. . . .
"Sing unto the Lord; for He hath done excellent things:
This is known in all the earth.
Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion:
For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee."
Isaiah 12.
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