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This week, we are talking about experiencing and expressing Extraordinary faith. Yesterday, we looked at a part of Isaiah 40 where God, through Isaiah, was assuring the people of Jerusalem and Judah that He could restore them from the impending consequences. Today, we are going to look at a part of Isaiah 41 where God, through Isaiah, assures the people of Jerusalem and Judah that He will restore them by explaining what is going to happen.


Isaiah 41:1-20
1 “Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea. Bring your strongest arguments. Come now and speak. The court is ready for your case.
2 Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God’s service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind.
3 He chases them away and goes on safely, though he is walking over unfamiliar ground.
4 Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the Lord, the First and the Last. I alone am he.”
5 The lands beyond the sea watch in fear. Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war.
6 The idol makers encourage one another, saying to each other, “Be strong!”
7 The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. “Good,” they say. “It’s coming along fine.” Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won’t fall over.
8 “But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend,
9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’ For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
11 “See, all your angry enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing.
12 You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing.
13 For I hold you by your right hand - I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.


With. The “king from the east” that Isaiah was talking about was a Persian ruler known as Cyrus the Great (check out Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1). Seventy or so years after Isaiah’s death, the Babylonians would conquer Judah and take the people of Jerusalem into exile (2 Kings 24:1-14). Seventy years after that, Cyrus would conquer the Babylonians and allow the people of Jerusalem to return and begin rebuilding the Temple (check out Ezra 1:1-7). It must have been so much easier for them to experience extraordinary faith. They knew exactly what was going to happen. Okay, it may have taken 140 or so years to be fulfilled; but everything worked the way God said it would. If only we had a heads up on the difficulties we would face (check out John 16:33) or some assurance that someone would be with us through those difficulties (check out John 14:15-20), then our faith could be extraordinary.