Please have a seat.
Before we turn back to Isaiah 44,
a quick reminder that we'll have a brief time of prayer
about our community open day,
our Buklu open day, Saturday the 3rd of June.
So to pray for the workings of that,
but also to pray for those who will be invited
that God would use that.
So a short time of prayer down here,
pretty much straight after the service.
For anyone who can give us a few minutes to pray,
that'd be wonderful.
So we're continuing to think about
10 things that God can't do.
Today, from Isaiah 44,
we're thinking about the truth that God can't be surprised.
And to think about why that's good news.
For us, of course, we can be surprised all the time.
Sometimes those surprises are good surprises.
We're walking down the street and we meet an old friend.
We go to a restaurant and we experience some new food
and it's good.
We find ourselves with an unexpected job opportunity, perhaps.
There are good surprises.
There are bad surprises.
You think your car is working well,
you take it to the garage and you get a steep repair bill.
You have the bad surprise of broken promises.
Promises we break.
Promises others make to us that get broken.
Boys and girls, I wonder if you've ever had
or been to a surprise birthday party.
To me, that sounds like an absolute nightmare situation.
Surprise birthday party.
The first time I went to a surprise birthday party
was my granny's when she turned 80.
That was a very high-risk maneuver.
Tell you what.
See, when she walked into that hotel room
full of her family and extended family,
there was a moment where it looked like
she might keel over with a shock.
But it was a good surprise in the end.
Why is it that we are surprised as people?
Well, partly it's because we are time-bound.
Because we don't know what's going to happen,
we have uncertainty about our future.
So, for example, the open day that we're planning for,
we don't know who's going to show up.
We don't know how things will go.
And we are surprised because we have limited knowledge.
Again, we have limited knowledge of the forces of nature.
So, we don't know is it going to be a good day or a bad day weather-wise.
We also have limited knowledge in terms of people's actions and attitudes
as they impact on us.
So, we find ourselves surprised.
And we talk about everybody having perfect vision,
20-20 vision in hindsight.
So, we can look back, maybe see and think,
oh, if I'd have known that then,
I would have done things differently.
But we don't have a perfect 20-20 vision
when it comes to the future.
But, of course, that's so different for God
because God can't be surprised.
God is not time-bound.
Rather, God is eternal.
God was there before the universe was created.
God was there before there was time.
And everything then is 20-20 for God.
He sees the future just as perfectly as He sees the present,
as He sees the past.
And, of course, as we thought about last week,
God's knowledge is perfect.
His knowledge is perfect over all the events
that take place throughout this world.
He has perfect knowledge of all people in this world.
He knows the intentions that lie in every heart.
He knows the outcome of every moment.
God is not like us.
And I hope we'll come to see that this is really good news.
In Isaiah 44, that short section that we listened to,
there were two messages that God delivers about Himself.
And especially we're going to think about the fact
that God can't be surprised is really good news
when it comes to the promises that He made.
You know, when it comes to us and promises,
we have something of an uneasy relationship to them
because sometimes we forget the promises that we make.
Other times, despite our best intentions,
we fail to keep those promises.
Other forces take over.
But in God, we have one who is never surprised,
one for whom there are no rivals,
there are no opposing forces,
and so we have a God who will always keep His promises.
So there is, in God, one who offers us comfort
for all our days.
So if you turn with me to Isaiah 44,
these first five verses that we read,
the first message we can summarize this way,
your Creator keeps His promises.
So this section, Isaiah 44,
is part of a much wider section
where Isaiah is bringing a message against the idols
because the idols are powerless,
but He's also bringing a message against the people of God
who have turned away from wholehearted trust
to begin to trust in idols.
And God wants to remind them and us over and over again
that God is the only Savior.
Therefore, God is the one to be trusted in.
But there's a wonderful message of hope as well,
that despite the unfaithfulness that God's people have shown,
there is mercy from God.
Hope exists in God because of who God is.
So, to look at verse 2,
what do we discover about God?
We discover God is Creator.
This is what the Lord says,
He who made you,
who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you.
Now, last week we were in Psalm 139,
and David was reflecting on the fact
that God formed him in the womb of his mother.
So it was a very personal reflection.
But now here we're being reminded
that God is the one who has formed His people Israel.
God has given birth, as it were,
to His people,
and it's He who will help.
He is the Creator.
He's also the covenant Lord.
Again, the language there.
But now listen, in verse 1,
Jacob, my servant Israel,
whom I have chosen.
The use of Jacob,
a reminder that to Abraham and Isaac and to Jacob,
to that family,
God made covenant promises.
Verse 2,
this is what the Lord says,
the personal covenant name of God.
This is their personal God
who is speaking.
And it's this God,
the one who chose them,
the one who made them,
is the one who will help them.
Now, how will God help
this people,
this people who had wandered away from Him?
God will help
because God will keep His promises.
In verses 3 to 5,
we have this wonderful picture
of transformation of life
that God brings.
Let me read verse 3.
For I will pour water
on the thirsty land
and streams on the dry ground.
I will pour out my Spirit
on your offspring
and my blessing
on your descendants.
So we can think about
a desert
springing to life
after the rains.
We can think about
our peace lilies
being revived
after a good watering.
God turns to His people
and says,
I'm going to do
that kind of transforming work
in your hearts
and your lives.
That their sin,
their stubborn hearts
will be changed
by God's grace.
So towards the end
of this chapter,
chapter 44,
verse 22,
God says,
I have swept away
your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist,
return to me
for I have redeemed you.
The stubborn wandering people
are called to return
and are promised forgiveness.
And God says also
He'll keep His promises
in sending His Spirit.
This is a great hope
for the people of God,
especially a hope
for the new covenant.
Looking forward to this time
when the power
and the presence of God
would be with His people
in a life-giving,
life-transforming way.
And God says,
I will bring change.
I will bring change
to your offspring.
I'll bring change
to your descendants.
Future promise
by His gracious,
redeeming love.
And related to that,
there's this sense
of a new identity
for the people
in verse 5,
so that some will say,
I belong to the Lord.
Others will call themselves
by the name of Jacob still.
Others will write
on their hands
the Lord's
and will take the name Israel.
Again,
here's a picture
of a heart
that's transformed.
Instead of wanting
nothing to do
with their Lord,
they're glad to say,
I belong to the Lord.
That this is
a restoration
that's going to happen
within Israel,
but there's also
this promise
that beyond Israel,
as God keeps
His saving promises,
people will be drawn
to Him.
So the Lord presents
this hope
for their future.
You will not always
live in exile
far away
from the promised land.
You will not always
be hard-hearted
towards God.
Instead,
you'll be restored
and you'll receive
my Spirit
and you'll belong
to me once more.
It's a great promise.
And the question is,
can this promise
be trusted?
And the answer,
this promise
can be trusted
if God can be trusted,
if He can be trusted
to work
and to save,
if God can be trusted
that nothing
can throw His plans
off course,
then there is real
and living hope
for the people of God.
You know,
we can say to people,
don't worry,
things will get better,
things won't always
be like this,
but so often
we know
that we lack
the power
and the knowledge
to bring that guarantee.
Is God like us
or is He unlike us?
Then becomes a question
that really matters.
If we are to entrust
ourselves
for our lives
and for our salvation
to God,
then we need to know
that He is a Creator
who keeps His promises.
That takes us
towards message
number two,
intended to give hope
to the people of God,
verses six to eight,
which we can summarize
this way,
your God and King
knows the future.
In these verses,
we have the character
of God
and His greatness
in contrast
to the idols.
One of the great themes
of this larger section
in Isaiah.
And again,
the purpose here
is so that
God's people
might turn back
to Him,
so that God's people
might live with trust
in Him.
So, it's a message
that still is relevant
for us today.
What truths about God
do we discover
in here
that would help us
to trust Him?
Well, notice
all the language
that speaks to us
of God being powerful.
Verse six,
this is what the Lord says,
Israel's king.
Here is
the one
true ruler.
This is what the Lord says,
Israel's king
and
redeemer.
They knew this
in their history.
God rescued them.
God rescued them
from slavery.
God rescued them
from their enemies.
Their king
and their redeemer
is the Lord
Almighty,
the Lord of hosts,
the Lord of heaven's
armies.
This powerful God
is the God
who says,
I keep my promise.
And their history,
of course,
as they look back,
as we look back,
gives us lots of evidence
that God
is all-powerful,
that God
is mighty
to save,
therefore,
we can
and we should
trust Him.
He's a powerful God.
He's also
the eternal God.
See that there
towards the end
of verse six?
I am the first
and I
am
the last.
This idea
of the
timelessness
of God,
the one who was there
before creation,
the one who will
outlast
creation,
just as we have
about Jesus
in the book of Revelation,
the Alpha
and the Omega.
And the God
who is eternal
is the God
who sees
all history
perfectly
in a single moment.
He is all-powerful
and He is all-wise,
therefore,
He is able
with certainty
to bring about
His purposes
and His promises.
God is powerful
and eternal.
God is also
unique.
End of verse six.
Apart from me,
there is
no
God.
End of verse eight.
You are my witnesses.
Is there any
God besides me?
No,
there is no
other rock.
I know
not one.
There are no
rivals
to God's throne.
He doesn't share
His glory
or His rule
with anyone.
Therefore,
because He is
supreme
in majesty
and glory
and authority,
no one can
challenge Him,
no one can
shake His plans,
no one can
halt His
purposes.
This God
can't be
surprised.
And this is the
God who is
good.
This is the
God who
makes covenant
promises.
This is the
God who
saves.
And so,
He gives them
some truths
about God,
about Himself,
but then He
also wants to
draw attention
to His
uniqueness
compared to
the idols
in a different
way.
So,
we need to
think about
the test
that God
sets.
We are in
exam season
in schools
and universities
and that's
always a
stressful time.
Part of the
stress,
of course,
is not knowing
what's going to
come up
in an exam
paper.
That question,
have I
focused on
the right
topics?
Imagine how
different your
study and exam
experience would
be if you
knew the
questions ahead
of time.
Look at the
test that God
sets.
Verse 7,
Who then is
like me?
Let him
proclaim it.
Let him
declare and
lay out
before me
what has
happened since
I established
my ancient
people and
what is yet
to come.
Yes,
let them
foretell
what will
come.
So,
in this
test that
God sets,
there is
one topic.
Who can
declare the
future?
Who can
bring the
future to
path?
Taking
this test,
there is
the one
true and
living God
and there
are the
idols.
So,
God says
to the
idols,
show me,
give me
evidence
that you
knew what
was going
to happen
since the
time I
called my
people to
myself until
now,
and show me
some evidence
you can
foretell the
future.
It's God's
way of saying
to us,
of course,
I do that.
I've never
been surprised,
and I never
will be
surprised.
That's why he
says,
Is there any
God besides
me?
No,
there is
no other
rock I
know,
not one.
When it
comes to
knowing the
past,
the present,
and the
future perfectly,
in this test
that God
sets,
God gets
a hundred
percent,
and the
idols get
zero.
They have
no power,
therefore,
they should
not be
trusted.
But God
can always
be trusted.
in the
Old Testament,
one of the
tests of a
prophet to
assess,
are they
speaking for
God or
not,
do their
words come
true?
If they do,
they're speaking
for God.
If not,
they don't,
because God
can't lie,
God can't
be surprised.
The Old
Testament
contains
hundreds of
predictions
about future
history,
whether that's
to do with
individuals or
nations.
Not one of
those has
failed or
will fail.
So when he
spoke to
Abraham,
made great
promises,
but said,
before your
descendants receive
the land,
they'll be
imprisoned in
Egypt for
hundreds of
years,
and then
they'll be
released.
Well,
that happened.
When God
speaks to
Jeremiah and
says,
here's the
message for
the people,
Babylon is
going to
come and
defeat the
nation and
make you
slaves for
70 years,
future
prediction,
that happened.
When Isaiah
in chapter
45 records
this message
from God
that King
Cyrus will
be raised
up to
let the
people go,
to give
freedom to
the exiles,
that happened.
All the
Old Testament
predictions that
we have about
Jesus,
Messiah,
the detailed
prophecies about
his birthplace,
about his life
and ministry,
about his death
and resurrection,
all come true.
Our God
can't be
surprised,
and his
word and
his character
therefore can
be perfectly
trusted.
And God
sends Isaiah
to the people
in his day
to show
them that,
to call
them back
to himself.
And God
would show
us that,
to show
us his
great character,
his trustworthy
character,
that he cannot
be surprised,
that he is
all-glorious,
that we too
would trust
him.
Let's
think together
about three
ways this
truth that
God can't
be surprised
is good
news.
We're going
to think,
first of all,
when it
comes to
salvation.
A couple
of fascinating
texts,
one from the
Old Testament,
one from
the New.
Think about
the story
of Joseph.
Do we know
about the
story of
Joseph?
Genesis
37 to
50 give
us the
story of
this brother
who was
sold into
slavery by
his jealous
brothers,
lands up in
Egypt,
becomes a
prisoner in
Egypt.
But then,
in the fullness
of God's
time,
he is raised
to be
prime minister
of that
country,
rescuing
the nation,
rescuing
many nations,
rescuing his
family from
famine,
so that
he can,
so that
God is
shown to
be faithful
in his
promises.
But anyway,
once Joseph's
father dies,
Joseph's
remaining
brothers are
nervous.
Is Joseph
going to
turn on
us now
that our
dad isn't
around?
And we
have that
wonderful
statement in
Genesis 50,
as Joseph
reflects on
the actions
of his
brothers all
those years
ago when
they sold
him into
slavery.
He said
to them,
you intended
it for
evil,
but God
intended it
for good,
for the
saving of
many lives.
So he
says to
the
brothers,
you did
what you
wanted,
you were
free agents,
and you
did what
was evil,
but what
does he
say about
God?
God
intended it
for good.
God
stood behind
and above
their actions.
This God
who can't
be surprised
was able
to turn
that evil
into good.
That God
in his
wisdom
brought
salvation
and kept
his promise
to Abraham's
family.
salvation.
The fact
that God
can't be
surprised
is good
news when
it comes
to salvation.
When we
think in
the New
Testament,
we think
about Jesus.
We began
our service
with Acts
chapter 2.
What did
we hear
about there
again?
We heard
about wicked
men doing
what they
pleased in
putting Jesus
to death.
But we
also heard
about God,
that God
had predetermined
and planned
the death
of his
son as
God's
way to
save
sinners.
So again,
we have
ultimate
evil turned
to ultimate
good by
this God
of all
knowledge who
can't be
surprised to
bring salvation
for many
lives.
So we
can trust
God when
it comes
to God's
saving plan
to recognize
that truly
it is
unstoppable.
There is
no wickedness,
there is
no force
that will
derail
the saving
purposes
of God.
Joseph's
story,
not in
Jesus'
story,
not in
the story
of Jesus
building his
church in
the world.
We were
hearing recently,
weren't we,
about Iran.
And Iran
before the
Islamic
revolution of
the late
70s
probably only
had hundreds
of believers.
But since
that revolution
and since
persecution,
those believers
now number in
the hundreds
of thousands
because God's
saving plan
is unstoppable.
And that's
also good
news when
it comes
to our
trust for
God's work
in our
lives.
Think about
Paul's message
to the
Philippians
where he
could write
in chapter
1 and
verse 6
of his
letter,
being confident
of this,
that he
who began
a good
work in
you will
carry it
on to
completion.
God has
begun the
work of
salvation by
calling us
to put our
trust in
the Lord
Jesus.
And Paul
reminds us
that our
hope for
eternal
salvation
is sure
and steadfast
because it
rests with
our all-powerful,
all-wise
God.
So,
those who
are trusting
in the
Lord Jesus
can have
confidence
that nothing
can separate
us from the
love of God
that is in
Christ Jesus.
God can't
be surprised.
There are
no forces
that can
derail his
saving plan
for his
people.
That's good
news.
That God
can't be
surprised is
also good
news when
it comes
to security.
Again,
Israel is
being encouraged
to put
their trust
in God.
Israel,
like us,
lived in
changing
times.
There were
military
forces
always
maneuvering,
empires
always
looking to
conquer.
They were
a farming
society,
so there
was seasonal
changes and
fluctuations.
And one
of the
things you
discover in
Israel's
history is
that temptation
to turn to
idols as
an insurance
policy.
So they
would continue
to go to
the temple
and they
would continue
to offer
sacrifices to
God, but
they would
also offer
sacrifices to
the idols in
the hope that
perhaps they
would provide
peace or they
would provide
good crop.
those changes
and insecurity
led them
often away
from God.
Our world
looks different,
of course,
but we
recognize, too,
that threats
and uncertainty
are everywhere.
Whether people's
fears are
related to
climate,
whether it's
the growing
health care
crisis,
whether it's
fears about
an economy
and our
jobs,
it's easy
to be
fearful,
it's easy
to lose
hope.
And the
temptation
that we
face as
Christians
today may
be similar
to an
Old Testament
believer to
look to find
our insurance
policy in
something beyond
God also.
Find rest
my soul in
God alone
was the
message of
Psalm 62.
But can't
we be
tempted
to say,
well, I
feel like
if I can
just find a
good secure
job,
then there's
where I'll
find the
security I
need.
Or if I've
got a
healthy bank
account,
then I can
deal with
some of the
fluctuations
that are
happening and
I can feel
a sense of
security.
Or maybe if
I have a
strong family
or a network
around me,
then there's
where I'll
look to for
my security
instead of
finding rest
my soul
in God
alone.
We
recognize
that each
of those
are limited.
Every
created thing
is subject
to change
and can
be lost.
But our
God,
verse 8,
there is
no other
rock.
perfect sense
all those
hundreds of
years ago
when Edinburgh
Castle was
being built
that they
would situate
it on
Castle Rock.
There's a
strong place,
there's a
stable place,
there's a
place for
security.
It makes
sense for
us to
look to
our greatest
source of
security,
to trust
and to rest
in our
God,
the rock,
the one
who can't
be surprised,
the one
who knows
how the
story ends
and all
the uncertainty
of our
futures.
There is
one who
knows.
That's
God
himself.
He knows
how the
story of
salvation is
going to
end,
that there
is a
certainty
that Jesus
is going
to return
as king
and judge,
that Jesus
will establish
the new
heavens and
the new
earth,
that Jesus
will dwell
with his
people forever.
That's where
our certainty
and security
is to be
found.
That's why
we must
never forget
the future
promises of
the gospel,
that we
look back
with such
gratitude to
what Jesus
did on the
cross.
But we
also need
to look
forward,
always with
hope,
to what God
will do in
Jesus when
he comes
back again,
because those
promises are
rock solid.
Because our
God can't
be surprised,
his purposes
cannot be
derailed.
One last
thing about
how this
truth that
God can't
be surprised
is good
news.
It's good
news when
it comes
to our
service of
him.
In verse
8,
we find
this,
do not
tremble,
do not
be afraid,
did I
not
proclaim
this
and
foretell
it long
ago,
you are
my
witnesses.
Is there
any God
besides me?
No,
there is
no other
rock.
God
calls his
people to
be his
witnesses,
to bear
witness to
the reality
that he
is that
unchanging
rock in
changing
time,
that he
is the
one who
has made
rock-solid
gospel
promises to
us in
the Lord
Jesus.
And so,
as Christians
and as a
church,
we are
invited to
live and
to speak
to show
that there
is a
place of
security,
that there
is living
hope,
even in
uncertain
times.
And to
recognize,
as we
seek to
live as
witnesses,
as we
go into
our
Monday
morning,
remember
that God
will not
be surprised
by any
situation we
find ourselves
in.
God will
not be
surprised
by any
conversation
we find
ourselves
having,
even if
we are,
and often
we are.
And in
those moments,
we can
trust his
promises,
because we
know he
doesn't
change,
and we
know he
can't be
surprised,
so we
can trust
his promise
to be
with us,
trust his
promise to
help us,
trust his
promise to
give us
the words
to speak
through the
Holy Spirit
just when we
need them.
So if we
find ourselves
surprised by
opportunities
this week,
we're
invited to
pray with
trust to
the God
who saw
that, to
the God
who planned
that, because
our God
can't be
surprised.
He is the
only rock,
he is the
king, he
is the
redeemer.
Let's pray
to our God
tonight.
Lord, our
God, we
thank you
for the
truths that
you give
us in
your word
that are
intended to
give us
confidence in
you and in
your character
and in your
word of
promise.
We thank
you that
you give
us these
images of
strength and
of life
to show
to us
that security
and salvation
come from
you and
from you
alone.
Again, we
confess our
temptation and
tendency to
look to
other things
apart from
you to
find our
source of
security and
hope.
May you
cause us
to find
rest in
God alone.
May we
increasingly
understand
the hope
that we
have
from trusting
in a
God who
sees and
knows all
things,
that you
are able
to guide
us and
to keep
us and
to help
us,
that all
of your
promises are
yes and
amen in
Jesus,
that not
one of the
precious
promises we
find in
your word
will ever
fail.
So, Lord,
as we go
into this
new week,
we thank
you that
while we
don't know
what's
going to
happen,
although we
make plans,
you know
exactly what
will happen.
Help us to
trust in
you, help
us to
call on
you, help
us to
worship you,
we pray.
In Jesus'
name, amen.
now let's
close singing
the hymn
Christ the
Sure and
Steady Anchor
to remind
us of the
basis of
our confident
trust and
let's stand
as we sing
together.