The Steam Roller

     We think of the Steam Roller as a large heavy road machine that flattens the asphalt & leaves it smoking hot. The Book of Isaiah in the middle of the Bible is similar. It has majesty & grandeur and rolls over questions like “Who made the universe?”, “Who made the earth & owns it?”, “Who has power over death?”, “What about other gods & faiths?”. Isaiah shows the throne of God, man’s accountability to Him, His disdain for astrologers, disdain for human pride, much predictions of J. C. & Christ’s 2nd coming, was most quoted by Jesus & the Apostles, AND the resurrected Christ in Revelation. To add “insult to injury” Isaiah is a microcosm of the whole Bible by having 66 chapters. (The Bible has 66 books.) The following clips show something of God’s attitude & frankness.
     Starting with the THRONE in Chapter 6:1 “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple.” That description of God goes on & on; and is awesome & the phrase “Lord of Hosts” is used, which is a reference to stars or angelic armies/universal power. “L of H” is repeated numerous times in the following 20 or so chapters. Then we have the judgment of the earth in chapter 24 (which parallels Matthew 24 - also dealing with the end of time). It takes a SOVEREIGN God to OWN and judge this planet . . . In chapter 25 we see the power to eliminate death & remove all tears. Then in chapters 36 & 37 is a historical reference to God being CHALLENGED by the king of Assyria – Sennacherib & his great army of 185,000 soldiers. This AMAZING incident is also recorded in 2 Kings 18 and 2 Chronicles 32 which suggests the weight of it. (God won the challenge by eliminating the army & the king.) And Isaiah himself was there to witness the event. Chapter 44 shows us that God has no competition, v 6. - “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.” (J. C. quoted/claimed this after His resurrection - three times.) Moving along to chapter 45:22 we have this, “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.” (Now according to scripture, people & nations can have a sophisticated & slick religion, but no god. What a sad picture that is.) Isaiah steam rolls astrologers in chapter 47:13-14. In chapter 53 we have the gospel of Christ 700 years B.C., v.5 - “he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities . . .” all of that page is INTENSE. Isaiah/God steam rolls human pride in chapter 57 v. 15. (And the scope of this essay abbreviates MUCH of the glory of this choice Old Testament book of scripture.)
     Now this God of Isaiah claims to be VERY great, but why is He not self-displayed in this day & age? Too often God seems to be subdued/ hidden & we have to search/seek for Him. The Apostle Paul was encouraged by the resurrected J. C. at night, Acts 23:11. That same Almighty Christ could have promoted/defended himself easily in broad daylight. Maybe we see the humble, kind NATURE of God in His patience. Maybe His overwhelming power & glory & character is gradually revealed to us, to humble us today. Isaiah 45:15   At any rate Isaiah's God is still the LORD of Lords and KING of Kings.
    Even though making a stand with Isaiah sometimes leaves our critics “smoking hot”, I want to believe in Isaiah's Biblical God because if it’s true, it makes ME a King’s kid. And God HAS confirmed my faith in Him for over 48 years, which is why I write Gospel-notes. Would YOU like to be a King’s kid? Would YOU like to put human pride & ego on the back burner & just go for it? It’s possible even though there is opposition inside us AND all around us. But the touch & blessing & destiny of God is worth it, “because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”   Romans 10:9   Choose Jesus, He is Alive.  See also “What is Saved?” link 39.

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