Isaiah 48:7

Isaiah 48:7 is a powerful declaration from God to His people, Israel, emphasizing His unique divine nature and prophetic power. This verse serves as a crucial point in God's argument against Israel's idolatry and stubbornness, highlighting His unparalleled ability to foretell and bring to pass events.

Context

This verse is part of a broader discourse in Isaiah 48 where the Lord confronts Israel (referred to as Jacob and Israel) about their rebellious nature and their tendency to worship idols, despite having witnessed God's mighty works. God declares that He is the only one who can reveal the future, contrasting His omniscient power with the impotence of false gods. He has declared "former things" (as mentioned in Isaiah 48:3) and now introduces "new things." The "new things" referred to are prophecies concerning their deliverance from Babylonian captivity and the rise of Cyrus, the Persian king, who would facilitate their return, events that were entirely unforeseen by human wisdom or idols.

Key Themes

• Divine Foreknowledge and Revelation: God explicitly states that "They are created now, and not from the beginning." This means the events or truths being revealed (the "new things" of Isaiah 48:6) were not known or understood by Israel from ancient times. God reveals them precisely at the opportune moment, emphasizing His control over history and His unique position as the only true God who declares the end from the beginning.
• Prevention of Self-Glory: The phrase "lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them" underscores God's purpose in the timing of His revelation. He holds back these prophecies until they are on the verge of fulfillment, or until He chooses to declare them, specifically to prevent Israel from claiming credit for understanding these events beforehand, or from attributing them to their own wisdom, foresight, or the power of their idols. This ensures that all glory and recognition for these future events belong solely to Him.
• God's Uniqueness and Sovereignty: This verse, like much of Isaiah, powerfully asserts God's unparalleled sovereignty over all creation and history. He is the only one who can bring forth "new things" and declare them before they happen, demonstrating His absolute control and distinguishing Him from all false deities. This theme is echoed in other passages like Isaiah 46:10, where God declares "the end from the beginning."

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "created now" (Hebrew: nivra'u atah) emphasizes the freshness and immediacy of the revelation. It's not something ancient or previously known, but a new act of divine disclosure. This highlights God's ongoing work and His ability to bring forth entirely new circumstances and revelations, rather than merely repeating or recalling past events. The term underscores the divine origin of these prophecies – they are not human inventions or deductions, but divinely "created" truths.

Practical Application

For believers today, Isaiah 48:7 serves as a powerful reminder of God's perfect timing and His ultimate sovereignty. We are called to trust in His plans, even when they are not immediately clear or when circumstances seem chaotic. Just as God revealed "new things" to Israel at the right moment, He continues to work in our lives and in the world, often revealing His purposes in ways we could not have anticipated. This verse encourages humility, reminding us that true wisdom comes from acknowledging God's unique foreknowledge and giving Him all the glory for His interventions and guidance, rather than relying on our own understanding or claiming credit for His work. It also reinforces the truth that God is always at work, bringing forth new realities and fulfilling His promises according to His perfect will, as also seen in the new mercies we receive every morning.