These perspectives are brought to you by the volunteers that Hands at Work in Africa. Each week's audio is three minutes long, and you can find it right here on the "Meanwhile In Africa..." podcast channel.
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
These beautiful words are spoken in chapter 40 in the book of Isaiah – a story that is all about how God saved his people from themselves. Right before these words are 39 long chapters that speak of the judgement of God. The prophet Isaiah tells us again and again of how people from different lands turned away from God. But now the prophet poses these questions: Do you not know? Have you not heard? God is an everlasting God, who has unending understanding for His people. And what’s more, that hope can be found in Him.
At this time of the year, we can’t help but think of who Isaiah points to in his book – announcing news of a Saviour who would come to earth for people like me, and people like you. Isaiah refers to Jesus as a great light, illuminating the path for those walking in darkness. He was sent by that everlasting God who put the stars in the sky and by His hand marked off the Heavens, to you and me. And He didn’t come as a King in a palace, but as a child, in meekness. This always leaves me with such hope! Jesus didn’t come for the saved and the strong, but for the lost and the weak. If we ever needed a reminder of that, consider how Jesus arrived on this earth. His family were lost in Bethlehem, with no place to stay. He was laid as a helpless new-born in an animal feeding trough because there was no other place for Him to lay down. His news was even announced to the least of these – night-time shepherds. Jesus came for people such as us – ordinary, weak and in need of a Saviour. And Isaiah reminds us that His gift to the world was hope – hope that He would remain forever, hope that there would be peace on earth, and hope that His kingdom would last forever.
