Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20040418.htm

ISAIAH: GOD'S DIRECTIVES TO THOSE TROUBLED AT GOVERNMENTAL APOSTASY
Part XXXIX: God's Salvation As He "Sends Us Out On A Limb"
(Isaiah 52:1-12)
  1. Introduction
    1. Most of the time, God wills to work with us, His people in gentle, ordinary ways in our everyday lives; this is why Paul urges us to pray for peaceful lives so we can spread the Gospel out to others in gentle, unassuming and peaceful ways, cf. 1 Timothy 2:1-2, 3-6.
    2. However, God sometimes "stirs up the nest," urging us to take what humanly appears to be a risk for the sake of making a significant change in our routine as Isaiah 52:1-12 reveals.
    3. Heeding this passage equips us to discern when God is the One Who "sends us out on a limb" as opposed to some false force within or without, and what we are to do to be blessed in the process:
  2. God's Salvation As He "Sends Us Out On A Limb," Isaiah 52:1-12.
    1. God urged the future captives of Israel in Babylon to AWAKEN out of their relative complacency or depression in their Babylonian Captivity, for she would never again (in the Messianic Kingdom) be invaded or polluted, Isaiah 52:1, 2.
    2. He reminded the captive nation that He had delivered her from past national bondages, and announced Israel would be returned to the Land without price just as she had been captured without price, Isa. 52:3-6.
    3. Thus, God urged Israel to be motivated with JOY in receiving this news of future deliverance, 52:7-10.
    4. God again urged Israel to LEAVE Babylon, to leave its worldly, temporary security and take God's sacred temple vessels back with them to JERUSALEM, Isaiah 52:11!
    5. Lest Israel feel threatened in making such a bold move away from her captors, her Babylonian overlords, God offered to supply her security in the process of making this departure from Babylon, Isa. 52:12:
      1. God promised security to the people of Israel would not have to rush in flight out of Babylon as though a superior foe was after them to recapture them, Isaiah 52:12a.
      2. He promised to lead them, to open doors of opportunity for Israel as she left Babylon, Isa. 52:12b.
      3. God promised to protect the nation's rear guard in case the Babylonian overlords decided to pursue the nation once it was released from their control much like Pharaoh sought to pursue Israel in her initial exodus, cf. Exodus 14:8-9 with Isaiah 52:12c!
        1. When Israel initially left her Egyptian overlords, Pharaoh pursued her to retrieve them, Ex. 14:8-9!
        2. However, God kept Pharaoh at bay all night long with His protective cloud that left the Egyptians in total darkness and immobilized from pursuing Israel, and then He destroyed Pharaoh's army with the closing of the Red Sea behind His people's march, cf. Exodus 14:19-20, 21-27.
        3. Accordingly, God promised once again to be Israel's rear guard so that even the weak and straggling who trailed at the back end of the march out of Babylon would enjoy God's protection, Isa. 52:12c!
Lesson: When God's will demanded a RADICAL and HUMANLY RISKY move on Israel's part that departed from her USUAL, EVERYDAY routine of life in the Babylonian Captivity, God wanted His people to STEP OUT in FAITH in His leading, trusting HE would make their EVERY step succeed!

Application: (1) Usually, God calls us to a stable, peaceful lifestyle of excelling in the ordinary, 1 Tim. 2:1-4. (2) However, SOMETIMES He calls us for a HUMANLY RISKY CHANGE, that we go out on a limb with His will in faith in His provision en route, Acts 6:8-11; 7:1-53. IF the LATTER is our assignment from God, He wants us (a) NOT to HESITATE, but AFFIRMATIVELY to DO His will, (b) trusting HIM to provide what we need in the process, cf. Matt. 10:18-20! (3) Yet, we must be SURE the HUMANLY RISKY path REALLY IS God's will, and here is how to tell: (a) seek Scripture input as a priority, Ps. 119:105; (b) if Scripture is silent about the issue, seek multiple, godly human counsel, cf. Prov. 11:14; (c) if that is insufficient, note God's leading in CIRCUMSTANCES, giving Him TIME to close errant options and reveal the right pathway, Acts 16:6-10. (d) If there is no clear divine guidance in any of these steps, trust God to MAKE us WANT to go in the way He wills that we go, Phil. 2:12-13. However, be SURE to be in fellowship with God before trusting this INNER compulsion, Gal. 5:16-23!