Day 144 – Isaiah: Introduction

“Listen to the Lord, you leaders of “Sodom.” Listen to the law of our God, people of “Gomorrah.” Isaiah 1:10 NLT

Slowly, he rose, and the crowd fell silent. Those at the back leaned forward, straining to hear. The atmosphere was electric. He spoke, and his carefully chosen words flew like swift arrows and found their mark. The great man, a spokesman for God, was giving a warning – and condemning. The crowd became restless, shifting positions, clenching fists, and murmuring. Some agreed with his message, nodding their heads and weeping softly. However, most were angry, and they began shouting back insults and threats.

Such was the life of a prophet.

The gook of Isaiah is the first of the writings of the prophets in the the Bible, and Isaiah, the author, is generally considered to be the greatest. At the beginning of his ministry, he was well-liked. But, like most prophets, he soon became unpopular because his messages were so difficult to hear. He called the people to turn from their lives of sin and wickedness and warning them of God’s judgment and punishment. Isaiah had an active ministry for 60 years before, tradition says, he was executed during Manasseh’s reign.

As we work through Isaiah, we will see prophecies not just about Israel, but about Jesus the Messiah, and some pointing to the end times.

Prayer: Thank You, Father, that You equipped the prophets with Your Word for not only warning the people then but warning us today too. May we heed the warnings that speak to our lives and bring our sins for forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. Open our minds and hearts to understand the prophecies and gain a deeper knowledge of Your Word. Amen.