Isaiah 45:11

“Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.”

Context:To better understand the verse, it’s important to consider its surrounding context. In Isaiah 45, the prophet Isaiah is delivering a message from the Lord to King Cyrus of Persia, who would be used by God as a vessel to bring about the deliverance of the Israelites from Babylonian captivity. In this chapter, God reveals His sovereignty and power, proclaiming Himself as the one true God.

The Holy One of Israel:In this verse, God identifies Himself as “the Holy One of Israel.” This title emphasises God’s holiness, His separateness from sin, and His unique relationship with the nation of Israel. It signifies God’s faithfulness, righteousness, and His commitment to fulfil His promises.

God’s Maker:The verse also refers to God as “his Maker,” emphasising His role as the Creator of all things. It highlights God’s authority and power over His creation. This description reinforces the understanding that God has the ability to bring about events and determine the course of history according to His will.

Asking God of Things to Come:The verse invites people to approach God and seek His guidance regarding future events. It suggests that God is willing to provide insights into the future and desires for His people to seek Him for wisdom and understanding. This indicates God’s intimate involvement in the affairs of His people and His desire to have a personal relationship with them.

Commanding God:The latter part of the verse may seem puzzling at first: “concerning the work of my hands command ye me.” However, it is crucial to interpret this statement in the context of the entire Bible. It does not imply that we can boss God around or issue arbitrary commands to Him. Instead, it reflects the idea of expressing our desires and requests to God confidently and boldly. It is an invitation to approach God with faith and trust, knowing that He listens and responds to the prayers of His people according to His perfect will.

Overall, Isaiah 45:11 encourages believers to seek God’s guidance and to trust in His sovereignty and power. It reminds us that God is intimately involved in the affairs of His people and invites us to approach Him with confidence, knowing that He desires a personal relationship with us and is willing to provide wisdom and understanding concerning future events.