There is a passage of scripture in the book of Isaiah that always had me puzzled... Most of the passage made it look as though followers of God were protected by the Almighty, but one verse seemed to contradict this. That same verse has been misused by many well-meaning believers/teachers over the years, causing God's people to think God has the Devil on a leash--that the Devil's evil was/is done at God's bidding... I pray the following insights will clear this up for you as my studies into the Word did for me...
The King James' translation shows the passage as follows:
Isaiah 54:14-17, "(14)In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. (15) Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. (16) Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. (17) No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
I don't know about you, but to me verse 16 seems to stick out like a sore thumb! The other 3 verses talk about how oppression, fear, and terror will not come near us--but, rather, will fall for our sakes and that no weapon formed against us will prosper! That sounds like my God to me! But, verse 16 seems to say just the opposite--until you look more deeply...
If you dig into the original Hebrew (a Strong's Concordance and Interlinear Bible are great tools), you will find the following:
* The term "have created" actually means "have cut down" (just the opposite of creation!).
* The term, "smith" refers to a "fabricator" -- a fabricator is one who lies. John 8:44 calls the Devil the father of lies.
* The term, "bloweth" means "disesteems" -- or takes away esteem...
* "Coals in the fire" refer to the coals taken from the Meadows of Acacias -- where they obtained coals for making the fires for burnt offerings unto God. This reference is to those who are pure before God.
* The phrase, "to destroy" actually means "to writhe in pain."
Now, let's translate and meditate Verse 16 again with our new, more accurate understanding:
"Behold, I have cut down the devil (father of lies) that disesteems those who are pure before Me, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have cut down the waster so he will writhe in pain."
Wow! Now it fits, doesn't it! God doesn't have the Devil on a leash. He kicked Satan out of heaven a long time ago. It says here very clearly that God will not put up with any attempts of the Devil to come against those who are pure before God.
So, if we are established in righteousness (God's righteousness--2 Corinthians 5:21) and are walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh (Romans 8:1-4), then we can be assured, according to God's Word, that we shall be far from oppression, we shall not fear (2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18), and from terror--they shall not come near us. We can be assured that if fear, terror, or oppression gather together against us, they shall fall for our sake. We can be assured that God will cut down the Devil who tries to diminish or damage our esteem or if he tries to bring forth an instrument to do us harm. We can be assured that if the Devil comes at us while we are walking in righteousness that God will cut him down until he writhes in pain. We can be assured that no weapon or tactic that comes against us will prosper and that any tongue that rises against us in judgment will be proven wrong. HALLELUJAH!
This is our heritage! Our righteousness if of God! We need to know who we are in Christ!
I pray that this helps you to better understand our awesome God as well as to better know who you are in Him. I also pray that this brings a fervour to you to study God's Word more closely. In 2 Timothy 2:15 it says for us to STUDY to show ourselves approved--it doesn't say to listen or read to show ourselves approved. God expects His children to study His Word. May this give you a good example of why this is so important. God bless you!
