“Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. ” (Isaiah 44:6, NASB95)

WOW!  Is this the book of Isaiah or the book of Revelation? But if the book of Isaiah is the Bible within the Bible, then it is no surprise that we hear the Lord describing Himself the same way in both books.  Look at the wonderful consistency within books of the Bible written 500 years apart. But more importantly, listen to what the Lord has to say.  “I am the first and the last…”; these are the words of Jesus to the 7 churches in the early chapters of the Book of Revelation. The Lord is the great “I AM”; He has no beginning and He has no end. He is unchanging in His love and grace. These were meant to be comforting words to the churches in the book of Revelation; the same is true here in the book of Isaiah.

The Lord is ultimately the King of Israel and He will be their leader and redeemer.  He will reach for the protected remnant and bring them back to the Promised Land.  He is also our King and Redeemer.  Jesus clearly told Pilate that He was a King but that His kingdom was not of this world.  Kingdoms rise and fall here on the Earth.  God is the King of a Kingdom that will never fall or fade away.  The Lord, the First and the Last, guides, governs and directs our lives according to His good will and according to our ultimate good.  At times, that is very hard to see, but nonetheless it is true.

We need to be comforted today that He is our God, and there is no God beside Him. He alone is the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and our hearts as well.

Peace!

Pastor Tom

www.firmlyrooted.church