Journey Three - Beyond Time and Space - Omniallinfinitude

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Isaiah 40: 21-31 – New International Version (NIV)
Omniallinfinitude Beyond Time and Space, page 8
The Big Picture
Part of your reading assignment this week was Isaiah 40. Please reread verses 21-31 in the two
different versions below and then summarize in a couple of sentences what you think is going on.
21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not
understood since the earth was founded? 22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its
people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a
tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No
sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he
blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.
25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look
to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them
each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is
disregarded by my God"? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can
fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow
tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the LORD will renew their
strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be
faint.
Isaiah 40:21- 31 – The Message
21 Have you not been paying attention? Have you not been listening? Haven't you heard these stories
all your life? Don't you understand the foundation of all things? 22 God sits high above the round ball of
earth. The people look like mere ants. He stretches out the skies like a canvas — yes, like a tent canvas
to live under. 23 He ignores what all the princes say and do. The rulers of the earth count for nothing. 24
Princes and rulers don't amount to much. Like seeds barely rooted, just sprouted, They shrivel when
God blows on them. Like flecks of chaff, they're gone with the wind.
25 "So — who is like me? Who holds a candle to me?" says The Holy.
26 Look at the night skies: Who do you think made all this? Who marches this army of stars out each
night, counts them off, calls each by name— so magnificent! so powerful! — and never overlooks a
single one?
27 Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying, "GOD has lost track of me. He
doesn't care what happens to me"? 28 Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening? GOD
doesn't come and go. God lasts. He's Creator of all you can see or imagine. He doesn't get tired out,
doesn't pause to catch his breath. And he knows everything, inside and out. 29 He energizes those who
get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. 30 For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in
their prime stumble and fall. 31 But those who wait upon GOD get fresh strength. They spread their
wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don't lag behind.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights
reserved.)
Copyright © 2011 by M.A. Helland, Stockton, CA USA, All Rights Reserved.