2023_12_04 Insight Post- Kim Feld

This week’s Bible Reading Plan gives us some pretty heady reading. From now until the end of the year, everything we read falls under the heading of “Anticipating the Day of the Lord.” Our focus in Isaiah 65-66 is the new heavens and new earth that scripture tells us are coming. These chapters form the peak of the book of Isaiah. All of creation is to be renewed. Let that sink in for a moment. Everything will be made new (see Revelation 21).

Of all that Isaiah 65 portrays, the greatest to me is found in verse 24. Let’s take a look:

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.”

The Expositor’s Bible Commentary (Barker and Kohlenberger, 2004) says that this verse indicates complete harmony between the prayers of the people and God’s will. Unity will also exist between His desire to provide and the people’s dependence on Him for provision. Essentially, our relationship with God will finally work the way it’s supposed to without the impact of our sinful flesh. We will be in sync with God in a way I can only imagine now.

There’s so much that I don’t know or understand when I pray. I can and do pray for people and situations, but there are always pieces that I’m missing. God knows and sees things from a vantage point that I lack because I’m not God. Often, I want the pain to stop because I don’t understand what God is doing in the midst of it. Only He knows how the challenges you and I face can develop our character and perseverance.

While I deeply believe He never wastes a single moment of our pain, I often struggle to see beyond my circumstances. I love the picture Isaiah 65:24 paints of our God answering us before we even voice our prayers. But I especially love the second part of that verse. My prayers are often thoughts in progress. This verse tells me that while I’m trying to get my thoughts together, God will hear. And not just hear but understand.

Let’s be sure we don’t miss the most crucial part of this verse: a change in God is not indicated. God does not change (see Numbers 23:19; Psalm 55:19; Hebrews 13:18). It’s a change in us. God is always ready to answer us even before we call, and He listens and understands our hearts. We are entirely SEEN by our God. This new harmony between our prayers and God’s will indicates a significant shift in us. We are part of His creation that will experience profound renewal. We were made new creations when we believed in and accepted Christ (see 2 Corinthians 5:17). However, when the new heaven and new earth come, the struggle between the new and old within us will be over. I can’t wait.

Kim Feld
Executive Director of Education and Outreach

Reference: Barker, K. L., & Kohlenberger, J. R. (2004). The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Old Testament. Zondervan Academic.