Week 24 Isaiah
Something changes in Isaiah 13 and stays changed for eleven chapters.
Something geopolitical.
I drew a rectangle on a sheet of paper, and then inside that I drew a smaller one. I wrote “ISRAEL” in the inside box and outside that I wrote “EVERYONE ELSE”.
If you’re a bible-reader you pretty much figure on spending your time in the small box alongside Abraham, the twelve tribes, Israel in the desert, Israel in the promised land, Israel the nation, Israel in captivity. Enough Israel to forget about “EVERYONE ELSE”.
But Isaiah 13-23 is a reminder that the Lord is not just a parochial deity in a jerkwater province. He’s a fair bit bigger than that. The bible’s focus on the small box isn’t saying the Lord lacks focus outside the lines.
Instead of just Ephraim-this and Zion-that Isaiah also shines a light on Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, Edom, Arabia, and Tyre. Each one important, each with opportunities, each making decisions, each acting actions that’ll have outcomes.
In chapter 14 the Lord has a plan for Assyria. And also bigger plans: I have a plan for the whole earth, for my mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken – who can change his plans?
Isaiah 13-23 is a nice reminder of the bible’s internationalism. And a nice reminder of comprehensive planning.
The bible concentrates on the insiders, so I tend to, too.
But the Lord isn’t quite as provincial.
Note: quote from Isaiah 14:26-27 (NLT version)