The Lesson of Origin

Scriptural text: Isaiah 51:1-3

The Lesson of Origin: Look Where You Came From

Origin Of “Ben Hur”

Two infidels once sat on a railroad train, discussing the life of Christ. One of them said, “I think an interesting romance could be written about him.” The other replied, “And you are just the man to write it. Tear down the prevailing sentiment about His divinity, and paint Him as a man—a man among men.”

The suggestion was acted upon and the romance written. The man who made the suggestion was Colonel Ingersoll, the noted atheist. The writer was General Lew Wallace, and the book was called Ben Hur.

In the process of constructing the life of Christ, Gen. Wallace found himself facing the greatest life ever lived on earth. The more he studied, the more he was convinced Christ was more than man. Until one day, he was forced to cry “Verily, this was the Son of God!”

INTRODUCTION: Prophecies to God’s people during their exile in Babylon (40:1–55:13)

God still cares for Israel and will forgive (40:1–48:22)

God will rebuild Jerusalem (49:1–55:13)

God suffering Servant was commission in the 49th chapter. Poor Israel. The faithful people of Zion felt the rise of old fears and new doubts:

The Fear of Being Forgotten(49:14-20);

The Fear of Being Childless (49:21-23)

The Fear of Being Annihilated (49:24-26)

Because God’s Servant will be now become the light to the Gentiles. However Israel was assured that they have a vital roll in God’s plan.

But the trillion dollar question is this, “How can sinful Israel be delivered from the law?” As long as the fear of the law hangs over their heads, Israel cannot be free to learn.

“A student must be free from fear in order to learn. Otherwise, fear will dictate a defensive response. stifle creativity, and squash the rising hopes for the future that learning will stimulate.” (Commentator)

For those who fear the Lord, obey His voice, and long for light in their darkness, the Servant is their model for trusting His Lord and relying upon His God.

In Isaiah, Israel was not fully convince that the Lord can deliver them, they need to hear the most basic of truths by looking back to their origins:

“Isaiah 51:1 (NKJV) 1“Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, You who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were hewn, And to the hole of the pit from which you were dug.

A call to Israel to remember your history

…If we want to understand who we are today, we need to know who we were yesterday and how far we have come. Likewise, in our spiritual development, we need to begin with a reminder of our past condition , our progress over time, and our current status… (James Conant, past president of Harvard)

“The children of Israel had come from the poorest of the poor and the weakest of the weak to be chosen as God’s covenant people. On this fact, they can build their faith.”

Jesus Christ transforms the past and sets people free to live in a new way. God’s people should remember former blessings but not return to former sins.

Recalling God’s work in the past:

Remembering God’s work of creation Ex 20:11; Ps 104:5–9; Ps 136:1–9

Psalm 136:1–9 (ESV) — 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; 4 to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Remembering God’s saving works (Ps 105:5; Dt 8:2; Jos 24:2; 1 Sa 12:6; Ne 9:7; Ps 106:6; Ps 114:1; Ps 136:10; Ps 143:5; Is 51:1–2; Mic 6:5)

Psalm 105:5 (ESV) — 5 Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,

Learning from the past (Ro 15:4; Dt 4:9; Dt 32:7; Zec 1:4; 1 Co 10:6; 1 Co 10:11; Heb 12:16; 1 Pe 3:5–6; 1 Jn 3:12

Romans 15:4 (ESV) — 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Rediscovering God’s word from the past (2 Ki 22:8–13; 2 Ki 23:1–3; 2 Ki 23:21–23)

Leaving the past behind

Jesus Christ sets believers free from the past (2 Co 5:17; Is 65:16; Ga 4:3–5; Col 1:13–14)

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) — 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Warnings not to rely on or be preoccupied with the past (Is 43:18; Php 3:13–14; Php 3:13–14

This can mean either that God is not to be restricted to his past actions or that Israel should forget their former sins.

Isaiah 43:18 (ESV) — 18 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.

Philippians 3:13–14 (ESV) — 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Dangers of the past

The danger of ignoring the past (Ps 78:11; Ex 1:8; Dt 32:18; Ps 106:13; Ps 106:21; Ho 2:13)

Psalm 78:11 (ESV) — 11 They forgot his works and the wonders that he had shown them.Ex 1:8; Dt 32:18; Ps 106:13; Ps 106:21; Ho 2:13