Isaiah 40:12-21

Isa 40:12

Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

 

Then Isaiah gives questions which are the same caliber as the questions that God had asked Job.  Here Isaiah is extolling the great power of God as he uses the creation as his example.  These verses would also have brought hope to the captives who would be brought to Babylon and that they should depend upon God and not look around at their present circumstances.  Isaiah states that all the waters of the earth including the vast oceans are no more than a few drops in the palm or hollow of God’s hand.  Then he meted or measured out the heavens with the span which is a precise measurement of the heavens.  We experience that exactness every morning when the sun comes up as it continues in its daily divinely programmed course.  Then he measured the dust of the earth which speaks of the earth itself which is but dust.  Even if it speaks of the dust of the earth, God would know exactly how much there was and how many particles of dust there are which makes up the earth.  Just like the sand of the sea is divinely numbered.  Then the great mountains like the Himalayas or the Rocky mountains are no more of a problem to be weighed as if a man put a pound of rocks on a scale to weigh them and he may put a one pound weight on the other side of the scale which would be the hills of the earth that would balance out the scales.  These show how perfectly God has held the mountains and hills together as if he placed them in a scale.

 

Isa 40:13

Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counseller hath taught him?

 

No human would ever have the ability or knowledge to be able to direct the Spirit of God.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:8)  Just like those who are born of the Spirit, no one knows where he will be working next or what he is doing at present.  Then Isaiah asks who has been the counselor of the LORD or his Spirit?  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)  No one knows what the mind of the LORD is fully.  He has revealed some in his word but not everything and therefore to be able to direct his Spirit, you would have to know the mind of God fully and no human being has the mental capacity for that.

 

Isa 40:14

With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

 

God does not need the counsel of man but man needs the counsel of God.  No one has the ability to instruct God in anything because our knowledge and understanding are severely limited because of our darkened sinful minds.  Has anyone taught God in the way of judgment, that is, how to proceed with his affairs whether it be the running of the universe or the earth?  What mere human being has the ability to impart any knowledge to God about anything since man is a created being and not the creator?  Can a person give God understanding, that is, the understanding about how things work or how to execute his powers and judgment upon the earth and universe?

 

There is a false teaching which is around today called “Open Theism” which teaches that God does not know everything but continues to learn each day.  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. (Acts 15:18)  Acts 15:18 refutes the false belief of open theism.  There is also a false teacher who believes that God came to him and asked him for his advice.  (I heard this with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes)  Jesse Duplantis actually believes God came to him and asked him for advice on something.  Beware of anyone who claims they talk to God for the purpose of counseling him or giving him advice.

 

Isa 40:15

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

 

The nations of the world are a drop in the bucket to God.  Nations such as Assyria, Babylon, or Rome are nothing compared to the power and immensity of God.  And yes, that includes the United States and if we don’t get our house in order, we can expect the full judgment of God to fall on this country.  These major countries are nothing but small dust on the balance which would be smaller than the dust on the balance representing the entire earth.  Then he mentions the isles or the islands which are throughout the world and they also are considered a very little thing.  In other words, the earth and all it contains is but a very small thing to God, no matter how powerful they may seem to other nations.

 

Isa 40:16

And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering.

 

If a person was to actually search for an offering worthy of the Lord’s magnificence, there is nothing in this world that can fulfill that task.  Lebanon with all its magnificent cedars would not be able to be that sacrifice.  If one could find the cleanest beast of the world, even that would not be counted worthy enough for a sacrifice.  God is exalted way above all the sacrifices that man could muster from any realm.

 

Isa 40:17

All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

 

The nations before him are as nothing and he showed his power when he destroyed the army of Assyria.  In comparison to the power of God, the nations are as if they did not exist, like they were invisible.  In fact, they are less than nothing.  That is how God sees the arrogance of the nations of the world.  If you have nothing, it is an impossibility to have less than nothing and that is how the nations are in comparison to God.  The nations are also vanity, especially those who think they are something when in essence can be crushed by one word from the LORD.

 

Isa 40:18

To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

 

In light of all the things which Isaiah has revealed about God, would the people be able to compare him to anyone, whether in the heavens or on earth?  Is it possible to make any comparisons between God and any of the false gods which God destroyed?  Can he be compared to any of the false gods of the surrounding nations?  What have any of these false gods done which can be compared to what God has done?

 

Isa 40:19

The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains.

 

Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. (Habakkuk 2:19)  Then Isaiah details to the people how a false god is made and that is why they have no power because they are only figments of the imaginations of people.  It does not matter how much gold or silver is used, or how many gold chains they throw around it, it will never come to life and will remain only a piece of artwork.

 

Isa 40:20

He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved.

 

People that were so poor that could not afford to bring any gold or silver to have a false god fashioned for themselves would go to the forest and find a piece of wood that would not rot or decompose.  Then this person would seek out a workman to fashion the false god in such a way that it would not be moved and would remain stationary in their home or grove.  Imagine a god so weak that it has to be fastened by a man so it would not fall.  However, the Philistines found out that even fastening the false god would not help.  And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again. (1 Samuel 5:3) Dagon was a weak false god since he had to have men fasten him back up after he fell.

 

Isa 40:21

Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

 

Then Isaiah focuses his questions upon the idolaters.  First he asks them have ye not known?  Known what? That the idols they were fashioning were actually subject to the makers and they had no divinity within them since they were just dumb idols.  Secondly, he asks them if they have not heard?  Heard what?  Heard from the ancient forefathers especially those who walked with Moses and Joshua how idols were nothing and only the true God of Heaven was real.  Then he asks had they not been told from the beginning?  The beginning of what?  The beginning of the creation in which the stories of how God dealt with idolatry from the beginning of not only creation but of those countries who adopted idolatry.  Then they are asked have ye no understanding of what has happened from the foundation of the world?  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (Romans 1:20)  Who was the one who laid the foundations of the earth and who planned the expanse of the universe?  It wasn’t their false gods because there were none when the earth and universe were first formed.

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