" 'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.' " Isaiah 55:8-13
To me these verses are all about Trust. When we try to figure out why something is happening in our life or what purpose God could possibly have in allowing something to occur - we are actually trying to think on God's level. We do not know the future but God does. We do not have a plan but God does.
- God's thoughts are not our thoughts
- God's ways are not our ways
- and God's timing is not our timing
Look at the poetic way that God's provision is described: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater....." - This all takes time. God's plan is not in our modern timing of instant gratification. God has a purpose & an exact time: ".....so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." We need to trust our heavenly Father in every aspect of our life - He has the detailed plan and knows exactly what we are going through and why it is necessary. We might not learn the reason why we are put into certain situations until we reach the pearly gates of heaven! - but we still must walk in faith knowing that God is in control.
I just love this descriptive verse: "...the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands." Have you ever watched trees during a windy storm? - It really does look like they are clapping their hands! (I'm not a tree hugger but if you look closely you might even see a smiling face in the knots of the tree trunk - God's creation is amazing!!)
I believe that the "thornbush" symbolizes "thorns in our flesh" like weaknesses and illnesses and the "briers" symbolize the hardships and difficulties in our life. Only God can turn our thorns into healthy strong pine trees (or turn our illnesses into health). And only God can turn our briers into smooth and prosperous myrtle (or turn our hardships into comfort).
We need to live one day at a time and one decision at a time - always following God's plan in God's timing.
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