November 16: TRANSCENDING TIME’S BOUNDARIES

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow into it. Isaiah 2:2

Early in the book of Isaiah, he is prophesying about our time, yet this verse is concerning Judah and Jerusalem (v.1). Many of Isaiah’s messages were preached directly to the Jews of his day, and though some of those messages were rebukes — in light of all the foolhardy and presumptuous chaos they had created for themselves — others were glorious visions of God’s redeemed people of the future. The positive messages revealed true and accurate imagery for all who would be willing and obedient. Such scenes were intended to encourage, woo, and win the people back from the state of opposition to God they had moved into. Many resisted Isaiah’s preaching, deepening the guilt that already weighed so heavily upon them. But others responded, though it was only a very small remnant (1:9).

The supernatural character of God’s inspired Word transcends the boundaries that humans might tend to place upon it. Though Isaiah addressed Judah and Jerusalem, there is no contradiction between his audience and the prophetic application to the latter days. In the progressive revelation of Scripture, all who come to the Lord in repentance are Jews (see Romans 2:29) and citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, that beautiful City of God (see Philippians 3:20).

Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” Isaiah 2:3

Jacob’s God is the One, true God. During his time of great stress that had resulted from his own foolhardiness, Jacob wrestled all night with the Heavenly Messenger; he came to understand his desperate need for divine pardon and protection (see Genesis 32:24-28). Up to that point, his solutions to life’s problems had hinged upon his own questionable devices. With nothing to offer or bargain with, Jacob resolved not to loosen his grip without the assurance he was seeking. The divine voice and crippling touch proved exactly what he most needed. The resulting character transformation introduced to the world the name Israel! Overcomer With God! (See the promises of Jesus to overcomers in Revelation 2 & 3.)

The precious message of verse 3 above is that anyone who submits himself wholly to God can be confident that, although he has much to learn, God will teach . . . His ways. In the latter days, many will come to the Lord in earnest, ready to receive any and all instructions from the One who is able to make His people holy – fit for heavenly perfections. The brand-new believer will reach out to his family and his friends and even to strangers. The promised outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit will lend great power to those simple words of invitation:

“Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.”