“Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh all things…that confirmeth the word of His servant, and performeth the counsel of His messengers.” Isaiah 44:24,26
One of the principle ways that we confirm, and certify, the words of the Bible as being inspired of God, is their fulfillment in history, in particular with regard to the Lord Jesus, His coming, death, and resurrection. Throughout the book of Isaiah, there are numerous prophecies concerning the Lord Jesus, that are of such a specific nature, and descriptive accuracy, that there is no denial as to their divine origin. An example of this is seen after Pentecost, when the Spirit was moving mightily in Israel, that Philip the evangelist/disciple, was told by the “angel of the Lord,” to go toward the south, into Gaza, which was desolate. There he was instructed to go, and join himself to a chariot where was found an eunuch, the treasurer of the Queen of Ethiopia. He was reading the book of Isaiah, which had been written about seven hundred years before. Upon hearing the eunuch reading aloud the book, Philip asked him if he understood what he was reading. The passage he was reading from was Isaiah, chapter 53, the very inspired declaration, and description, of the Son of God, the Lamb of God, who was like a “…sheep led to the slaughter.” (v.32) Philip, responding to the invitation of the Eunuch, climbed into the chariot with him, and “…preached unto him Jesus.” The recent events in Jerusalem, the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Christ, had caused a monumental stir in the city, as well as in the nation. The Spirit had begun to move mightily in all language groups represented on the day of Pentecost, and thousands of devout Jews were saved. Now, from a passage found in the book of Isaiah, in a desert place, we find a lone individual who is reading about the suffering Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. God, having worked in his heart, creating the desire to know the truth of both the man, Christ Jesus, and what this passage in Isaiah meant, as it might apply to Him, responded to Philip’s “preaching” by desiring to be baptized. The ancient message by the mouth of the prophet Isaiah, given by God approximately seven hundred years before, had been fulfilled. It was by God’s work, by the Spirit, in convincing the Eunuch of his need, and the veracity of what he was reading, that the man would be saved, and go on his way, rejoicing. God’s purposes, according to His word, would be fulfilled, not only from a prophetical standpoint to reveal the veracity of who Jesus Christ was and is, but from a salvation standpoint, where the individual comes to be convinced, and convicted, of his need of Him, and of God’s willingness to move in his heart to save.
One of the great and very simple phrases that the Apostle Paul used, when he was writing to the Thessalonians, which illustrates the certainty of God performing, or accomplishing, His word and purpose is found in Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. He writes: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly: and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (5:23) This declaration is the unveiling of what God intends, and wills, to do in the heart and life of the believer. The whole of the truth of this declaration is based upon the finished work on Calvary, and the active work of the Spirit in the life. Paul goes on to write, concerning the fulfillment of these words: “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” (v. 24) The simplicity, and certainty, of this declaration is mirrored by the words of David, written long before Paul penned his letter to the Thessalonians: “Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.” (Psalm 37:5) God will perform that which He has promised.
Dear Father, Give us grace to believe Thee wholly according to Thy word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.