I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 48-51.

Today’s passage contains a Messianic prophecy, much of it can be seen as applying to Jesus.  However, elements of it may apply to Cyrus the Persian and other elements could apply to Isaiah himself.  And in some ways this prophecy contains directions for those who choose to follow the Messiah.  The place I want to start at in this is chapter 49 verse 4:

But my work seems so useless!
I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.
Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;
I will trust God for my reward.

My first thought on that is that it seems so accurately to sum up Jesus’ ministry on earth.  He spent three years teaching, never traveled more than 100 miles from where He grew up, and left behind a few hundred followers, at most.  Yet, 100 years later His name was spoken and His teachings followed as far away as India, Ethiopia, and Spain by large numbers of people.  In a similar way, we should not view our success or failure by how rich or influential we become in our lifetime.  Let us do as God teaches us and follow the paths to which He leads us, then leave the results to God.

Later, Isaiah tells us that God’s Law will be proclaimed and His Justice will become a light to all nations.  If we have allowed God to teach us right from wrong we need not fear the scorn of others.  If we determine to do His will we will not be disgraced.