Omnipotence and questions

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Isaiah 45:8–13 NKJV

8 “Rain down, you heavens, from above, And let the skies pour down righteousness; Let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, And let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it. 9 “Woe to him who strives with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth! Shall the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’ Or shall your handiwork say, ‘He has no hands’? 10 Woe to him who says to his father, ‘What are you begetting?’ Or to the woman, ‘What have you brought forth?’ ” 11 Thus says the Lord, The Holy One of Israel, and his Maker: “Ask Me of things to come concerning My sons; And concerning the work of My hands, you command Me. 12 I have made the earth, And created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, And all their host I have commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, And I will direct all his ways; He shall build My city And let My exiles go free, Not for price nor reward,” Says the Lord of hosts.

Verse 8 - Alien righteousness

We have no righteousness of our own for our sins have separated us from God. The cancer has invaded everything

If we are to inherit the earth, if we are to enter the kingdom of God, we must have a righteousness that comes from outside ourselves.

This is completely contrary to human thought.

But God’s promise is that this righteousness will not only be poured out, but it will be poured out over the whole earth.

This will present a problem for proud man. Abel and the publican will receive it also.

We can’t earn it, we can’t pay for it, we can’t merit it. It is received only after the cry of destitution - for mercy.

But instead, mankind will argue with God. This plan is not good enough for proud man. beyond his understanding.

This is the point of the next section

Verses 9-10 - the power of the creator

Ephesians 1 and 2 - the same creative power that created all things, that raised Jesus from the dead, also makes dead men alive - those who were dead in trespasses and sins.

Adam was not consulted before he was created. And natural man is in no position to consult with his creator before he is made new.

If God waited to consult with the pottery, we would be left broken potsherds.

Verse 10, the verbs are future, which makes no sense. That is the whole point. Before God created, does it make sense for Adam to argue with him? He didn’t exist yet.

And so with the redemption of his creation - will we argue with him before he is even begun the work?

Application 1 -

Israel could not fathom what God was doing because they didn’t have language or a format to understand it. This doesn’t mean that it was irrational. It simply means that Israel didn’t understand it.

What about the new heavens and the new earth, when everything is completed - how can we fathom what God is doing?

We cannot fathom a world where there is only righteousness, and it rains down freely. We cannot understand being free from sin and death.

But just as the broken pottery is in no position to fathom what the creator is doing, so also we are in no position to fathom what the creator is doing. But it will be far, far more glorious than anything we can imagine. Because God is doing it.

Application 3

And yet - there is another way that we argue with God. When God redeems the one who shouldn’t be redeemed, or the one who doesn’t meet our standards.

This is what a child of God looks like. You don’t look like this. Therefore you are not really a child of God.

Really? You will question God about his children? (verse 11) You are going to tell HIM what his children will look like?

Matthew 7:1–2 NKJV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Romans 14:4 NKJV

4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

Isaiah 59:8 NKJV

8 The way of peace they have not known, And there is no justice in their ways; They have made themselves crooked paths; Whoever takes that way shall not know peace.

Everyone is stirred up. Everyone is anxious. Everyone is very concerned that there might be people getting away with something.

It is a hard way to live.

God is calling us to another way. The way of peace.

HE is perfectly capable of redeeming his people, in his time, in his way, with his instruments.

We reflect his love to the world. We shine the light of Jesus. And we trust God for the future of his children.

He created this beautiful world without consulting the pottery. And he made it for us to enjoy as his children.

He stretched out the stars and commands the heavens.

And he commands Cyrus - who would have figured that one?

And who would have figured that Jesus would rise from the dead?