Connect
Stream
The first lesson presents a prophecy against Babylon which happens to be the ultimate threat to Judah at the time
After God has declared his anger against Israel and spoken about redemption through the Branch, He turns to the surrounding nations
Isaiah reveals that God has commanded those he prepared for battle and summoned warriors to carry out his wrath against Babylon
He speaks of the day of the Lord being near; an army of war will come from faraway land to destroy the whole country
This day of the Lord is a cruel day, with wrath and anger, not only to make the land desolate but to destroy the sinners within it
In this prophecy of Isaiah, Babylon may have also represented the world because the judgment extends to punishment to the world for its evil
The destruction will be severe such that Babylon will not be inhabitable again
In the second lesson, Paul speaks of God’s purpose in election, based on promises and its condition
God is not unjust in his election of Isaac through the promise to Sarah and his preference for Jacob against Esau
For he says to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
Therefore, God is sovereign, showing mercy on whom he chooses, not dependent on human desire or effort.
God also hardens whom he wants to harden so that His name might be proclaimed on all the earth, as in the case of Pharaoh.
People further ask, if we are here to carry out God’s sovereign will, then we are not guilty of the things we do, God should not blame us
In response, Paul argues that we must affirm both God’s sovereignty and human responsibility; faith and human decision are significant