I HAD A DREAM (ISAIAH 47)

(Originally posted on Feb. 12, 2009)

It is rare for me to recall a dream, so what happened recently got my attention. Most of the time when I awake, a faint memory of my dreams may remain but then fade away like the mist on a warm, humid summer morning.

One morning last week I vividly recalled an incident in a dream. A man was standing facing away from me but I heard him say, “Isaiah 47.” I don’t know what I replied, but whatever it was caused the man to turn toward me and say very clearly a second time, “Isaiah 47.”

I started my day as usual but couldn’t shake what I had heard. I sat at my desk and read Isaiah 47, which in my study Bible is captioned, “The Humiliation of Babylon.”

I have struggled with whether or not to write this article, but I finally decided to share some of the main points with you and let you be the judge. There is no way for me to properly exegete this chapter in 700 or 800 words so I will simply give some of the main points and let you arrive at your own understanding. It will be helpful for you to read the entire chapter.

Verse 1 — I believe Babylon is the world system that in our lifetime has been personified by Wall Street, Madison Avenue, Hollywood, and the increasingly secular and morally bankrupt American lifestyle. Babylon is referred to as the “virgin daughter,” indicating that her walls had never been breached by an enemy. That was about to change!

Verses 1-3 — God has judged the wickedness of Babylon and declared that her sin will be uncovered and judged. Babylon will be removed from her throne and made to sit in humility in the dust on the ground like a common person.

Verse 4 — Israel is the church/God’s people.

Verse 6 — God has let His people be dominated by Babylon because of their disobedience.

Verse 8 — This is a warning to the arrogant who say, “We are great and nothing can happen to us; we will succeed.” Sounds like some of the political hot air coming from Washington!

Verse 9 — Indicates that the destruction will come suddenly. Who would ever have thought that our world would be teetering on the brink of a financial meltdown? Two years ago everything seemed rosy and even last year at this time, there was no great concern about the economy. The prevailing mindset seemed to be, “We’re the strongest, most advanced nation in the world and we can handle anything!”

Verse 10 — The wicked thought they could get away with their private displays of financial and material greed. Does this remind anyone of some of the investment scams and the corporate greed that have come to light in the last few months? Blatant almost beyond belief! Tragically, some did know what was going on and yet they turned away or did nothing.

Verse 11 — This verse stopped me in my tracks! “Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall on you that you cannot ward off with a ransom; a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you” (NIV).

When I read this verse I realized that I had no option but to share this, and those who have ears to hear will hear and those that don’t, won’t.

In the New King James, the phrase in verse 11 is, “You will not be able to put it off.” This is speaking of the calamity/humiliation. In the original language the words “you will not be able” means that there is no way to prevail, no hope of overcoming. The phrase “put it off” means “to cover, to make atonement for, to be pardoned.” God says, “When I declare judgment, the payment of a ransom to stop it is not an option!”

Could the ransom in verse 11 possibly be referring to the “Stimulus Package” now in the news? Is what we are watching anything more than a display of extreme arrogance that believes that intelligence, coupled with an obscene use of money, will stave off calamity? To that arrogant spirit God replies in verse 15, “I think not. No one shall save you!”

This word does not frighten me and I am not afraid for my wife, my children or my grandchildren. I rest in the faithfulness of the God I love and serve. A few days ago I wrote about the miracle of the manna and God’s faithfulness to His children on their forty-year trek through the wilderness. God did not run out of provision when the Jews got to the Promised Land.

No matter what the future brings for us, God’s grace and mercy will be more than sufficient. He will take care of His children! Don’t let the unfolding storms drive you away from the Lord; instead, let them spur you to press in like never before. If you need to, go back and do your first works again. Some of you reading this may need to refresh your relationship with Him. This is not the time to be living like a distant relative.

God is faithful and He unconditionally loves you.