Day 267

Isaiah 43:14-45:10; Ephesians 3:1-21; Psalm 68:1-18; Proverbs 24:1-2

By the Power at Work Within Us

When Israel was desolate and imprisoned in Egypt, God showed Himself to be “Father of orphans and protector of widows” (Psalm 68:5-6). He rose up and scattered His enemies (68:1), providing rescue and a homeland for His people. That remembrance constantly called forth praise: “Sing to God, sing praises to his name” (68:4).

When, hundreds of years later, their stubborn sin took God’s people into a new Egypt, Babylon, the same rescuing Lord promised that He would do “a new thing” (Isaiah 43:19) – a second rescue: destruction of their idols (44:9-20), forgiveness of their sins (43:25; 44:22), return to their land (44:26), and the gift of his life-giving Spirit (44:3). Astonishingly, the God of rescue wouldn’t even need a believer to serve as His people’s redeemer. Rather, He used the Persian king Cyrus (44:28). Even the heavens and the earth have to sing in awe of such a God (44:23).

What the Old Testament pointed to in a “mystery” – in hints and riddles – the apostle Paul proclaims as established fact (Ephesians 3:1-6). What God has done in Christ is to provide redemption, forgiveness, inheritance, and His Spirit (1:7,11,13,14). In Christ, God has rescued us from the prince of the power of the air – a walking death that was worse than Egypt or Babylon (2:1-10). Small wonder the apostle Paul praises the Father who has displayed such love and power toward us (3:17-19). Indeed, God “is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine” (3:20-21).

Reggie Kidd