Isaiah 1
The Heart of the Father!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Wednesday, December 13.
Today, we begin a 250-day journey through the seventeen books of the Old Testament prophets. Just like in the New Testament, where you can find the historical context of each of Paul’s thirteen letters in the early church history book of Acts, the backdrop of each of these prophet’s ministries can be found in the history books of the Old Testament. The prophetic books should not be read as stand-alone works, to be taken out of their historical context, but as companion accounts of God’s salvific history. As you go on this journey with the ancient prophets of Israel, may you hear the heart of God the Father anew, for yourself, as He called out to His beloved children, “Come Home – Return to Me!”
A prophet is a person inspired to proclaim or reveal divine will or purpose. They are real people, with real faith, in real history, who, at great personal cost, gave the message as God gave it to them. Isaiah was called the Prince of Prophets, and his book is the largest, covering sixty-six chapters. According to Isaiah 1:1, his ministry was set during dangerous days of destruction, specifically, “during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah” (ref. 2 Kings 15-20 and 2 Chronicles 26-32). In this historical context of religious rebellion, national decline, and international instability, God’s heart was put on center stage, as He cried out to Israel in Isaiah 1:18, “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.’”
Seize the moment and may your life proclaim the heart of the Father – “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
God bless you!
If you would like to receive a personal phone call today, all you have to do is dial the phone number below right now and one of us will call you soon.
YOUTUBE:
If you prefer a video, Pastor Jerry reads his devotion on YouTube as well. Click HERE to visit the page.