God's Invincible Power

For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back? (Isaiah 14:27)

Isaiah 14:24-27; Ps. 37:23-24; John 10:25-29; Matthew 19:26

What Is God Saying?

In this portion of Isaiah (chapter 14), Israel faces the staggering power of Assyria. This is bad news, and it gets worse. Israel needs reassurance that God is on the throne and equal to the task. They need to believe in God's invincible power. They need to know that He still cares and can. Does the God of Israel still have a plan for the good of Israel?

At this point, they were given these words, ‘The Lord of hosts has sworn: As I have planned so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand ... for the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who will turn it back?’ They needed to hear, ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?’

How Does This Apply To Us?

If any enemy of what is right, true, and good seems to be gaining the upper hand, we need to discover or re-discover the reality of God's invincible power. We need to know that while many adverse circumstances can and do come upon us while we trust God, nothing can annul God’s purpose. Let us pray in that spirit of faith and confidence.

Pray With Me

Lord of hosts, be the Lord of my heart! I would expose to You every thought. I would bring all my plans under the light of Your purpose. The morning light fills a whole room even though it comes through a single window. So fill my whole being with Your presence.

Set up Your throne in my heart, O Lord of hosts. Then I shall live each moment convinced that I am in tune with One whose purpose cannot be turned back. I shall be with You in prevailing strength. I shall not be against You in foolish resistance. When Your conquering grace has subdued me, I will share in the victory of the Resurrection.

I tried to turn back your hand when it reached out in love. I have fancied that Your will could be thwarted. But now, Almighty Lord, persuaded by Your love in Christ, I see the beauty and the rightness of Your purpose. I see in Your hand as it reaches out, nail wounds that speak eloquently of One who, having loved His own, loved them to the end. This hand I will never turn back. I will not seek to thwart this purpose. To walk in the path of that will is my only hope. To rest in the shelter of that hand is my only glory.

Through Jesus Christ, in whom Your perfect will and the redeeming power of Your outstretched hand is perfectly known. Amen.

Moving On in the Life of Prayer

Trust in God, pray to Him in faith, and all stumbling blocks will become stepping stones, all apparent defeats will become real victories, and all trials will lead to triumphs. Let God's hand stretched out in love and power have its way in your life: to support, guide, and bless. Nothing can annul God's invincible purpose, but in prayerlessness, we can come close to thwarting that purpose even while His hand is stretched out to bless us and make us a blessing.