Text: Isaiah 40:1-8
“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” —Isaiah 40:8
They referred to it as “miraculous,” and “divine intervention”—after a driver and his Bible survived a fiery car crash on State Route 385 in Memphis, Tennessee. A Jeep Laredo veered off the road after being swiped by another vehicle, then crashed into a metal post and burst into flames. Several good Samaritans came to the rescue, pulling the trapped driver from the vehicle just before it exploded. Later, a Bible was recovered from the car, unscathed by the fire and ashes, though the car ended up a total loss.
Anita Irby, witness to the crash, wrote “I just saw GOD on 385… I’m always in (awe) of his wonders but today just blew my mind.”
Isaiah 40 offers great comfort for God’s people. We are assured, “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (v.5), and though the natural elements may wither and fade, “the word of our God will stand forever” (v.8). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:35).
God’s Word can be trusted because God’s Word has been tested—over and over again throughout the annals of history. Bernard Ramm noted:
“A thousand times over, the death knell of the Bible has been sounded, the funeral procession formed, the inscription cut on the tombstone, and committal read. But somehow the corpse never stays put.”
In contrast to the frailty and fleeting glory of man, the word of our God stands forever—His glory untouchable. His enduring Word assures us of His unfailing love. No man can thwart God’s imperishable Word just as no sinner can extinguish His unrelenting love—it’s what theologians refer to as God’s immutability.
As we face fiery trials, we can lean into the unchanging nature of God. We can trust Him in times of distress. God will never abandon us to our circumstances; therefore our heart song can rise to the tune of hope—one of endless praise to His glory, because “you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God” (1 Peter 1:23). His DNA is in you!
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Word. Thank You for its truth, its timelessness, and the guidance You give us by that Word. Help us believe and trust everything You speak into our circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:
- Have you ever witnessed a miracle? Explain.
- When have you ever endured a situation you didn’t think you would? What did that produce in you?
- In what ways do you think people are weak, weary, or fatigued today?
- How can meditating on the immutable nature of God be comforting and sustaining?
- Which of Isaiah’s portrayals of God’s power over nature speaks most clearly to you?
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