Day 08 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 28
Written by Jana Howerton
Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?
ISAIAH 50:2A
YOU'RE NEVER OUT OF GOD'S REACH
Every week, Josh and I have the honor of praying with many people. We pray in faith for God to move in each situation. But sometimes intermingled with the hope of what God can do, someone will confess that they fear they or their situation is beyond God’s reach.
If that is you, I want to encourage you that no one is beyond God’s reach! In Isaiah 50:2a, God says, “Why, when I came, was there no man; why, when I called, was there no one to answer? Is my hand shortened, that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver?”
God is reminding His people that He came for them. He called to them, but no one came, and no one answered Him. The reason Israel did not come and did not answer was because they thought they were beyond His redemption.
They thought they had fallen too far this time. They had sinned too much, and surely God was done with them. They thought this time they had put themselves beyond God’s reach.
But God, in His great mercy, reminds them that His hand is not too short to reach them. He can get to where they are, and not only that, He has the ultimate power to deliver them.
In deliverance, He takes them from where they are and brings them to where they are meant to be: with Him. We are never truly beyond God’s reach—except when we choose to be. When we purposely cut ourselves off from Him.
When we don’t come to Him, when we don’t respond to His call.
Isaiah 50:1 would have been Israel’s reminder that God doesn’t divorce Himself from His kids. He is a loving Father who always offers forgiveness to those who repent. His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
So, whatever your situation, or wherever you find yourself, you are not out of God’s reach.
All that is needed is to repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15) —that Jesus came, died and rose to bring forgiveness and new life for you. The same hope given to Israel then is available to us now. Run to Him. He wants you to encounter Him today.
PRAY
Father, I want to encounter you.
Help me to release anything holding me back from deepening my relationship with you. Help me to release any wrong thinking about who you are and believe the truth of the gospel: I am more sinful than I dare believe, but the fullness of your love for me was settled on the cross.
Father, please do what only you can do in my life and the rest of our Church body. We want to encounter you.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
