“Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God?” Isaiah 40:27

Sometimes it may seem that God does not know the troubles we face in life, that our problems are hidden from the LORD God and His help and strength are not near. But that could not be further from the truth.

Our God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. He formed each of us in the womb and gave us life (cf. Psalm 139:13-16). He paid attention to the tiniest of details and yet He is the almighty and all-knowing God.

Verse 26 reminds us of God’s creative power: “Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.”

Is there any problem or trouble too great for the LORD God who created and keeps the stars to remedy?

His Word also asks us in verses 28: “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.”

He certainly is not asleep and oblivious to our prayers! He is not weary from all his work or too weak to hear and intervene for us. And His knowledge and understanding are so great we cannot begin to search out, understand and know His thoughts toward us.

Consider the words of Psalm 139:1-6: “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

And, while it may sometimes appear that God does not know our troubles or hear our prayers, “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength” (Isaiah 40:29).

Verses 30-31 assure us: “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Is our way hidden from the Lord? Has He skipped over our case and neglected judgment in our need? Never! He knows all and gives to all of us who trust in Him help and strength to rise above our troubles and keep our eyes focused on Him! He assures that, for the sake of Christ Jesus and His cross, He forgives our sins and accepts us as His children; and He promises us: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5; cf. Ephesians 1:3ff.).

For Jesus’ sake, we have the assurance that we can go to Him in prayer with our needs and He will hear and answer our prayers in accord with His perfect will (cf. 1 John 5:14-16; Matthew 7:7-11).

O gracious and merciful God, we thank You for watching over us and keeping us in all our ways. Grant us help and strength to hold fast to You in faith until you take us to our eternal home in heaven for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. 11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, 12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land. 13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

Isaiah 6

“We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth.…” Colossians 1:3-6 (Read Colossians 1:1-8)

Though the Apostle Paul may never have visited the church in Colosse, when he heard of their faith in Christ Jesus and the resulting love these believers had for their fellow believers, he, together with Timothy, gave thanks to God for giving them the confident hope of eternal life in heaven through Christ Jesus.

The good news of God’s offer of pardon and forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life in heaven because God the Son became a true man and redeemed mankind reached the ears of the Colossians through Epaphras and, perhaps, others; and faith in Jesus was kindled in their hearts.

As the good news of God’s gracious gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in heaven for Jesus’ sake was used to generate faith in the hearts of the believers at Colosse nearly 2,000 years ago, so this same message generates faith in human hearts today. The same Gospel, that word of truth, tells us of the certain hope laid up for us in heaven, not because of anything we have done or can do, but because God’s own dear Son, Jesus Christ, came into this world and suffered and died for the sins of all and rose again in victory. God’s Word tells us that His gift to us for Jesus’ sake is life everlasting in the mansions of heaven.

Such a gracious gift of God – the forgiveness of all our sins because of His own Son’s holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead and the assurance that we have a place in His eternal, heavenly kingdom – will also move us to selfless love for other believers and fellow heirs of eternal life in heaven; but this love is the result of God’s loving gift of salvation to us, not the cause of it.

What a comfort to know that, though we have sinned and come short of the holy demands of God’s good law, Jesus fulfilled it for us and took our sins upon Himself, paying the just penalty upon the cross that we might have forgiveness and life everlasting! And this hope which we have is not an uncertain hope, but simply waiting for the things assured to us by the promises of God. God has offered and promised to us a place in heaven through faith in His Son. That place has been made certain to us by the death and resurrection of Jesus. We await that day in confidence and assurance that heaven is ours for Jesus’ sake.

When we face the end of our lives here in this world, we need not doubt and wonder if we will make it into heaven – heaven is guaranteed to us because Jesus shed His blood for us and paid in full for all our sins. If our salvation depended upon us or anything we did, we could have no certainty and no hope; but because it depends upon Jesus and His atoning sacrifice for us, we have every assurance and hope of everlasting life in the mansions of our heavenly Father’s house!

Paul wrote this letter while he was himself a prisoner because there were those who were seeking to rob these believers of the assurance and hope they had in Jesus by placing other demands upon them – suggesting such things as the worshiping of angels, eating of certain foods or observing certain days. Today, too, there are many false teachers who would suggest and say that to be true Christians people must exercise certain gifts, eat certain foods or observe certain days. The apostle’s message, the true gospel, is that we are complete in Jesus – our salvation and everlasting life is certain in Him – there is nothing we need add to His redemptive work!

Dear Father in heaven, thank You for graciously bringing to us the word of truth, the saving gospel of forgiveness of sins and life everlasting through faith in Your Son, Christ Jesus. By Your Spirit, move us to believe and take heart and be assured that, for Jesus’ sake, our sins are forgiven and, for Jesus’ sake, we have life everlasting with You in heaven. Amen.

[Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.

“I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” Deuteronomy 18:18-19

When God gave the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai and the people saw the lightning and heard the thunderings, they told Moses: “Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die” (Exodus 20:18-19).

In accordance with their words, God promised to raise up a Prophet from among them like unto Moses who would be the mediator of a new covenant with God. He would be the mediator between God and His people by fulfilling all righteousness for us and then suffering and dying on the cross to make full atonement for the sins of all.

And, as God promised, He would put His words in the mouth of this Prophet like unto Moses and this Prophet would speak all that God commanded Him.

We know that Prophet, “like unto” Moses, is none other than Jesus Christ, God’s only-begotten Son sent into this world to make atonement for our sins and redeem us. As the Apostle John writes, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:17-18; cf. Acts 3:19-26; 7:37; John 5:45-47; 3:14-15; 6:14; 7:40).

And, Jesus’ preaching and teaching are none other than the teaching of God the Father in heaven. His message to the people of this world is God’s message to us in this fallen world (cf. John 14:24). Jesus condemned sin and demanded perfect righteousness — greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees and perfect like God the Father in heaven (cf. Matthew 5:20; 5:48) — but Jesus also offered God’s mercy and forgiveness to all who look to Him in faith (John 3:14ff.; Luke 24:46-47; John 5:24; 8:24; Mark 16:15-16). Jesus provided that righteousness by His perfect life, and He atoned for our sins by His perfect sacrifice in the cross. And to all who look to Jesus and His cross in faith is imputed the perfect righteousness of Christ (cf. Romans 3:21-26).

And what is the result of not heeding Jesus’ words and repenting of sin and rebellion against God and looking in faith to Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness? It is as Moses wrote: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.” And Jesus said, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day” (John 12:48; cf. v. 44-50; Matthew 17:5).

The question for us to consider today is what do we do with Jesus’ words? Do we believe that He is, as He claimed to be, the eternal Son of God in human flesh come into this world to be lifted up and die on the cross for the sins of the world? Do we believe that He rose again and gives life to all who believe in His name? Do we repent of our sinful and rebellious ways — our disobedience to God’s commandments — and look to Him for pardon, forgiveness and life everlasting?

If so, we have the promise of forgiveness and life eternal in His name. It is as Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24; John 3:16, 36; Mark 16:15-16). If not, His words — the words given Him by God the Father — will judge and condemn us on the Last Day! Cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; John 3:18,36; Mark 16:15-16.

Dear Lord Jesus, our God and Savior, grant us faith to hear and heed Your words that we might repent of our sins and iniquities and trust in You and Your cross for mercy and forgiveness and life everlasting. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Monday marks the 45th year of the Roe v. Wade decision and legalized abortions in the United States. Are we — you and I — accountable for the millions and millions of unborn babies murdered in our land since the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973? Estimates place the number at more than 60 million! Are we accountable even if we did not directly contribute to a single abortion? While many would like to think, “No,” a principle laid out in Old Testament civil law makes me think otherwise.

So that you understand what I’m saying, let me explain that the Old Testament contains three basic types of law: 1) The moral law which was written on man’s heart at creation and is summarized in the Ten Commandments and other passages of Scripture as a reminder to us fallen creatures of what God requires of all people of all time; 2) The civil law which set forth specific applications of God’s moral law for the nation of Israel and dictated punishments for those who violated those laws; and 3) The worship law of Israel, which spelled out the requirements for Old Testament Israel’s worship of the Lord God, including sacrifices, feast days, festivals and the Sabbath observance.

For example, Old Testament civil law required the death penalty for those whose ox crushed or gored someone to death if they knew their ox tended to push and gore but did not keep such a dangerous animal safely penned or tied (Exodus 21:28-29). It also required the building of parapets around the roofs of their homes to prevent someone from accidentally falling off a roof and being hurt or killed (Deuteronomy 22:8). While we are not required to have the exact same laws and punishments for such things today, the principle remains that God desires to protect human life — life which He created — and holds us accountable for the shedding of innocent blood and not protecting human life. Even before the Ten Commandments were given on Mt. Sinai, God held Cain responsible for his brother’s death (Genesis 4) and required death for those who committed murder (Genesis 9:5-6).

This brings me to the passage in question, Deuteronomy 21:1-9. Though it was civil law for Israel and includes worship law (a sacrifice), it sets forth a principle regarding accountability for the shedding of innocent blood: “If one be found slain in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him: then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain: and it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take an heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke; and the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer’s neck there in the valley: and the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried: and all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley: and they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. Be merciful, O LORD, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel’s charge. And the blood shall be forgiven them. So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD.”

While no such commandment for the sacrifice of a heifer is required of us today — a lot of heifers would have to be killed if it was — an important principle is set forth for us to note. Even though the people did not commit the murder, God held them accountable for not bringing the murderer to justice. Had they seen or known of the crime, they would have been required to put the murderer to death (Genesis 9:5-6; Exodus 21:12; Leviticus 24:17). But even though they did not know who had committed the murder, the people and nation were still accountable — thus, the heifer was killed, an oath was taken they knew nothing of the crime and atonement was made for their failure to punish the murderer.

Certainly, God takes very seriously the shedding of innocent blood. He created man in His image and continues to form and give life to each human being in the womb (cf. Genesis 2:7; Psalm 139:13-16; Ecclesiastes 11:5), and He holds us accountable to protect each human life He has given.

Now apply this principle to the murders of today. Our land is full of bloodshed and very few receive the punishment God commanded from the book of Genesis onward. And consider the millions of unborn children God was forming in the womb who have been legally murdered in the U.S. since the Roe v. Wade decision. Who is responsible?

Obviously, the mothers seeking the abortions and the doctors and clinicians performing the abortions are guilty of shedding innocent blood and destroying God-given human life. Their punishment under Old Testament law was death. Oh, that they might repent and receive mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ and not suffer the eternal consequences of their sins!

But what about the rest of us who know the murders are taking place and have not risen up to stop this horrific crime against human life — a crime which exceeds the Holocaust of Nazi Germany and the killing of millions by dictators in communist and socialist regimes? Are we innocent? Were the German people innocent of what took place there under rulers they placed in power?

The principle of Deuteronomy 21 teaches us that we are not innocent of the blood which is shed in our land and on our watch. God holds us accountable for failing to punish the murderers and for allowing the killing to continue.

So, what are we to do? We can’t take an oath over a heifer and claim we didn’t know because we do! We can’t claim innocence! We can and should acknowledge our sin and guilt before the Lord God and plead for mercy based upon the sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God the Son in human flesh. And, we can be assured that through faith in Jesus Christ we have God’s pardon and forgiveness.

But, knowing this is a crime against God the Creator Himself, do we allow this atrocity to continue? How can we simply say it’s the law of the land and do nothing? There is a time to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29), a time for each of us as citizens, and for our elected representatives, to say no to the immorality endorsed by ungodly judges.

I do not advocate taking the law into our own hands, but it is time for our weak-kneed governors, legislators, prosecutors and sheriffs to do what is morally right and stand up to the ungodly dictates of federal judges and say, “Not here, you don’t.”

It’s time to prosecute those obtaining and performing abortions on murder charges and to carry out just punishments to stop the murdering. It’s time for us to remove, whether by recall, impeachment or by our ballots, all who are unwilling to defend human life, born and yet unborn!

Why? Because we are accountable to God, our Creator and our Judge, for this innocent blood shed among us!