Daily Devotions
Isaiah
"I knew that you would deal very treacherously"
Text: Isaiah 48:8
TREACHERY IN THE HEART
The LORD addressed a deep problem of Israel. Sadly, the nation had a problem of treachery!
“They are created now and not from the beginning;
And before this day you have not heard them,
Lest you should say, ‘Of course I knew them.’
Surely you did not hear,
Surely you did not know;
Surely from long ago your ear was not opened.
For I knew that you would deal very treacherously,
And were called a transgressor from the womb”
Isaiah 48:7-8
1. A symbol
a) When Jacob was born, he grabbed the heel of Esau, his twin.
b) This was symbolic.
i) Jacob was called “a transgressor from the womb”.
ii) He continued to deal very treacherously with Esau.
iii) He stole Esau’s birthright, and blessing of the firstborn.
2. Israel as a nation.
a) Sadly, Israel as a nation was very treacherous.
b) It turned away from God and worshipped idols instead.
c) Idols were given the glory they did not deserve.
3. To prevent Israel from sinning further:
a) God created new things that Israel did not know.
b) There were things that God hid from Israel.
c) Whatever Israel had heard from the prophets:
i) They stole that knowledge.
ii) They used the stolen knowledge and declared that as given by their idols.
iii) Thus, God prevented the idolaters from using prophetic knowledge.
4. Recent prophecies
a) These concerned Babylon and Medo-Persia.
b) No idolater could say that they knew anything about them.
i) Nobody saw the Fall of the Babylonian empire.
ii) Nobody could predict the rise of the Medo-Persians.
iii) Hence, the idols could not claim glory in these matters.
5. Thus, God declared solemnly:
“Surely you did not hear,
Surely you did not know;
Surely from long ago your ear was not opened.”
Isaiah 48:8