Isaiah 40:12-17
The scripture before us is a message from God. Isaiah was the delivery boy. Isaiah delivered God’s message to the nation of Judah during the reigns of four kings — Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Isaiah prophesied a long time. This message, however, is not specific to them who heard the words which God gave to him. This message is directed to them who erred in their thinking.
The book of Isaiah begins with the statement that the ox knows his owner but Israel does not know God (Isa. 1:3). This message is directed to the ears of them who mistakenly think that they know God.
In the text before us, God implores His people to know Him. Through Isaiah, God asks: “Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand . . .” (v. 12). The waters which God holds in the hollow of His hand are measured by Him and, physically, consists of all water which He caused to come into existence (Gen. 1:1). God is the Creator of all things. All things have measure because God has given measure to all things. God gave measure to the heavens, to the dust of the earth, and to the dimension and mass of hills and mountains.
All men view creation and marvel at its greatness. God declares His greatness to all men, both to them who know Him and those who do not, through His creation. God is greater than His creation. God wants all men to look upon His creation and know Him.
In verse 13, God, through Isaiah, asks: “Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counselor hath taught him?” The answer is obvious. The Lord directs the Spirit of the Lord and the Lord is without a counselor. If there were to be a counselor to the Lord, the counselor would, by necessity, be of God’s making.
In Isaiah’s day, God spoke to His people through His holy prophets. Isaiah was made holy by God (see Isa. 6:1-7). Isaiah knew God. Those to whom Isaiah prophesied did not know God. Not knowing God, they rejected the message which the Spirit directed Isaiah to deliver. Judah claimed to know the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but did not hear the words which He spoke. In scientific verbiage of today, Judah possessed the DNA of Abraham according to the flesh but not according to the Spirit. All who know God hear the Spirit speak and obey.
In verse 14, Isaiah focuses upon the source of God’s knowledge and understanding. God does not receive counsel or instruction from anything or anyone. God counts belief for righteousness (Gen. 15:6) because God is God. New Testament believers know the “who” that directs the Spirit of the Lord because the Son said, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (Jn. 14:26). The Holy Spirit, in teaching and in bringing into remembrance that which Jesus said, makes God known to us. We rejoice because we know the Father through the Son. The Son is the Word who was with God and was God (Jn. 1:1). We know that all things were made by Him and without Him nothing came into being (Jn. 1:3).
God, by the power of His voice, spoke all things into existence. New Testament believers know the power of God because we have been changed by it. Verse 15 is for them who do not know God’s power. Men measure power with their eyes. Men behold nations of great wealth and military might and see power. God sees that same wealth and military might and sees a speck of dust upon a balance. A speck of dust possesses the power of a speck of dust. It does not tip the scales. God wants men to know His power. It is a small thing for God to take up the isles. It is a small thing for God to do the impossible. One cannot know God if one does not know that God can do and does the impossible. Again, New Testament believers personally know God because He has done for us what it is impossible for us to do for ourselves.
In verse 16, God speaks to them who mistakenly think they know Him. In Isaiah’s day and in days to follow, men prided themselves in the offerings which they presented to God. God wants men to know the insufficiency of their offerings. The offering up of Lebanon (its massive forests and abundant wildlife) is not sufficient. If a man believes that his best is enough, he does not know God. Again, God wants men to know that their best is not sufficient. Man’s best cannot do the impossible. God wants all men to call upon Him to do the impossible. Man cannot save himself from himself.
“All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity” (v. 17). This is not a statement of opinion. It is a statement from God. God wants all men to know that all who trust in nations — the power of wealth and military might — trust in nothing. God gave these words to Isaiah to deliver to them who did not know Him. God would have all men call upon Him, believing.
Isaiah delivered these words to Isaiah during the days of king Hezekiah. Hezekiah knew God because he saw God do the impossible. Hezekiah saw God smite 185,000 Assyrians in one night (II Kings 19:35) and witnessed the shadow of the sun move backward ten degrees (II Kings 20:11). New Testament believers know God because He has given us the Comforter, the Spirit of truth (Jn. 14:17).
Let us tell others of that which we have received.
