June 30th~I Have a Plan

2 Kings 16:19, 20


2 Chronicles 28:26, 27

Isaiah 13:1-16:14

We read Isaiah’s prophecies regarding Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, and Moab. While these may seem pointless to us, they are not. When read- ing prophecies, we must understand that there is usually a double meaning and there are in- cluded some amazing descriptions of God. Such was the case with those we read today.

For example, though God was describing the fall of Babylon’s king (14:12-15), scholars believe this passage to be a description of Lucifer’s re- bellion in heaven. “How you are fallen from heaven, O shining star, son of the morning! You have been thrown down to the earth... For you said to yourself, ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars... I will climb to the highest heaven and be like the Most High.’ But, instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths.”

What I find amazing in prophecies is that, while these events have not happened yet, God de- scribes them as if they have already happened. For example, though Israel has fallen, the nation of Judah has not. The Lord will save their de- struction for the people of Babylon. Still, God prophesies of the fall of Babylon to the armies of the Medes (13:17). “Babylon, the most glorious of kingdoms, the flower of Chaldean culture, will be devastated like Sodom and Gomorrah... and will never rise again” (13:19, 20).

What is even more amazing is that not only is God able to foresee future events but He is in control of them. He makes them happen the way He wants them to happen. For example, in the prophecy of the fall of Babylon by the hands of the Medes, He said, “See the flags waving as the enemy attacks. Cheer them on, O Israel! I, the Lord have assigned this task to these armies... I have called them to satisfy My anger. The Lord Almighty has brought them here...They are the Lord’s weapons; they carry His anger with them...” (13:1-5).

Why is that so amazing? God sees the future as well as He does the past; and, He is in control of all events, fulfilling His purposes. These truths speak of His incredible sovereignty and providence, His orchestration of events to His will. “I have a plan for the whole earth,” He says, “for My mighty power reaches throughout the world. The Lord Almighty has spoken. Who can change His plans? When His hand moves, who can stop Him?” (14:26, 27).

Daily Reflection

What do truths like these make you think? How do they encourage you and give you hope?

If God has such knowledge of the past and future, and if He is in control of all the nations of the earth, is He not also in control of your life? Does that not give you confidence, hope, joy, and peace?

American Founder Benjamin Franklin once said, “The longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men; and, if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?”

God sees everything; nothing escapes His notice. God knows everything; nothing escapes His knowledge. God controls everything; nothing happens without His permission. History is His Story and everyone plays a part. Praise God for His power! Praise Him for His plan.

BiAY.org | Day 181 — 184 Days to Go

June 29th~Skim Off Your Slag

Isaiah 1:21-5:30

Now that the Kingdom of Israel has fallen to the Assyrians in the north, the Lord turned His attention to the Kingdom of Judah in the south. His people there had also turned their backs on God, neglected His statutes, and worshiped idols. The only reason that He did not destroy Judah with Israel is for a few good kings that did what was right (Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah).

However, these righteous kings only delayed the coming judgment; and, that judgment was a prevalent topic in Isaiah’s prophecies. Similar to the fate of Israel, God told Isaiah that an army from far away would come and destroy the kingdom and exile the people. The only thing that would change God’s mind was if His people would repent of their sins and do what’s right.

“See how Jerusalem,” He said, “once so faithful, has become a prostitute... I will pour out My fury on you. I will turn against you. I will melt you down and skim off your slag. I will remove all your impurities... Judah and Jerusalem will lie in ruins because they speak out against the Lord and refuse to obey Him. They have offended His glorious presence among them...” (1:25; 3:8).

Sometimes words or phrases catch my attention more than others. Today it was “skim off your slag.” Slag refers to something that is useless or unnecessary. When a metal is heated or melted down, the slag, dross, or scum separates from that which is useful. That’s why the Lord says, “I will melt you down and remove all your impurities.” With impurities, a metal is weak; with less impurities, a metal is stronger.

In the Christian life, God’s intention for us is to conform us to the image of His Son. This process is called sanctification, a refining of our lives to “skim off our slag,” our impurities. “For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity but in sanctification” (1 Thess. 4:7). “Therefore, consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed... In them you once walked, but now put them all aside — anger, wrath, malice, slander, abusive speech...,” etc. (Col. 3:5-7). “Immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among the saints” (Eph. 5:3 NASB).

While the Lord has done a great work in our hearts, through salvation in Christ, we are still trapped in our sinful flesh. Therefore, with His help, we must overcome our flesh, work with Him to “skim off our slag,” and become more and more like Christ.

Daily Reflection

How are you doing with skimming off your slag? If you compared your life with that of Christ, what impurities are marring that image?

God does not expect you to reach perfection, although that is your aim. He knows that you will never be able to attain perfection until your sanctification process is completed in heaven. However, He does expect you to look more like Him today than you did yesterday.

How exactly do you work with the Lord in your refinement? Confess those areas that are impurities; surrender them to the Lord and turn away from them. Pursue what you know is pleasing to God; abandon those things that are not. Then, trust the Lord to take you through the heat of difficulty, and He will skim off your slag!

BiAY.org | Day 180 — 185 Days to Go

June 28th~Useful or Useless?

Isaiah 28:1-29

2 Kings 17:5


2 Kings 18:9-12

2 Kings 17:6-41

Isaiah 1:1-20

After reading days of prophecies regarding Israel’s fall to the Assyrians, it finally happened. King Shalmaneser besieged the capital city of Samaria for three years until he breached the walls, captured the city, and deported the people into exile. All of these things took place because several generations of the people of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. Though He warned the people by sending His prophets, they would not listen. His patience had run out.

After Shalmaneser emptied the nation of Israel, he transported his own people from Assyria to live in Samaria. Thus, the land was full of both Assyrians and left over Israelites. Over time, the two groups would learn how to live together. They would intermarry and have children, thus becoming a mixed breed and compromising the pure Jewish bloodlines. This hybrid group became known as Samaritans, who were despised for their intermarriage and idol worship. Even in Jesus’ day, some 800 years later, Samaritans were hated for their impurity and idolatry.

If you will recall, when Samuel was the judge and prophet, the people of Israel rejected God and called for a king. The basis of their request was so that they could be like all of the other nations around them. The fall of Israel is the fulfillment of this request. Though they were chosen by God to be His people, an instrument in His hand to reflect His glory and goodness to the nations of the earth, His people rejected Him and His purposes to be like surrounding nations. The author of 2 Kings put it this way, “They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves. They followed the example of the nations around them, disobeying the Lord’s command not to imitate them” (17:15).

Once again, in the midst of judgment, God promised a small ray of hope. “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem. It is firm, a tested and precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never run away again” (Isaiah 28:16). This Cornerstone is a prophecy of the Messiah, who is the only sure foundation upon which to build (Acts 4:11, 12).

Daily Reflection

As Christians, we are “not to love the world or things of the world...” (1 John 2:15, 16). We are also not to conform to the world’s mold or thinking but to be transformed (Romans 12:2), to be separate, “to be in the world but not of the world” (John 17:16). Why do you think the Lord has these expectations for His children?

When the Israelites became like the world, they worshiped worthless idols and became worthless. How would this apply to you today?

The Lord has called you out of this world to be His follower, His child, His representative, His ambassador and voice, to reflect to a lost world His glory, the difference only He can make in someone’s life. If you resist the world system, that which the devil himself has constructed, then you will remain useful in God’s hands to do His work. However, if you compromise and be- come like the world, you forfeit your usefulness and become, in a way, “worthless” or useless. Are you useful or useless?

BiAY.org | Day 179 — 186 Days to Go

June 27th~Put Your Hand to the Plow

Hosea 9:1-14:9

We finished the book of Hosea. God used this prophet to warn His people of their impending judgment and to plead with them to repent and return to a faithful relationship with Him. “O people of Israel,” He said, “you have been unfaithful to your God, hiring yourselves out like prostitutes... Now you will be carried off to Egypt and Assyria... Plant the good seed of righteousness and you will harvest a crop of My love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that He may come and shower righteousness upon you. But you have cultivated wickedness and raised a thriving crop of sins. You have eaten the fruit of lies... You have become satisfied and proud, and you have forgotten Me” (9:1, 3; 10:12, 13; 13:6).

These are sad words, indeed; and, the more I think on them, the more I realize that they could describe us, if we are not careful. How does a nation like Israel, who started so well, end up provoking the wrath and judgment of God? How do we avoid the same mistake?

In the passage above, the Lord through Hosea gave us a glimpse into how this happens. Hearts do not harden overnight; rather, by long dry spells, fresh soil turns to fallow ground. It happens one day at a time, one step from the Lord at a time, and, after a while, we realize that we are some distance away.

First, we become satisfied and proud. We become prosperous and successful in the world’s eyes. Life becomes easy to manage; we do not face difficulties regularly, and we believe that we can handle things on our own. We do not need the Lord. This leads to arrogance and self-reliance; we become prayerless, spiritually apathetic, and disinterested in God and His Word.

Second, having become prideful and callous, we grow curious in the wisdom of the world, less discerning of the truth and, instead, more keen on the ways which seem right to men. Before long, we are eating the fruit of their lies — we must have what they have, we must look like they look, we must listen to, follow, and watch what they do. We must believe what they do and put down the archaic beliefs of our past.

Finally, after we have wandered away from the faith, we begin cultivating wickedness and raising a crop of sins. It starts small, but we are good at hiding things from others. Then, the path leads us to bigger, more bold sins, but still we keep them out of sight. Before we know it, we have committed acts that we would have never dreamed of, not realizing how far the enemy has taken us.

Daily Reflection

Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever allowed your heart to become hardened ground, so brittle that no one, not even God, could get your attention? How did it happen? How long did it take? How far did it take you?

The Lord gives you the solution to a hard- ened heart — plow it up! Always keep your soil loose and fresh, so that the Lord can plant seeds of righteousness, shower you with His kindness, and reap a harvest of love. But, this is easier said than done. How do you do this? What does this look like?

BiAY.org | Day 178 — 187 Days to Go

June 26th~Following the Leader

Hosea 2:14-8:14

We continued reading the prophecies of Hosea, which are not uplifting at all. The Lord asked him to marry a prostitute to demonstrate Israel’s unfaithfulness to Him. While He has remained faithful, they had been adulterous. Here is an example of God venting His wrath:

“Here the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has filed a lawsuit against you, saying ‘There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land! You curse and lie and kill and steal and commit adultery... Alcohol and prostitution have robbed My people of their brains. They are asking a piece of wood to tell them what to do! They think a stick can tell them the future. Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute, serving other gods and deserting their God... For they have betrayed the honor of the Lord, bearing children that aren’t His’” (4:1, 2, 11, 12).

The Lord goes on to lay the blame on Israel’s leaders, their kings and priests. “Listen, all you men of the royal family. These words of judgment are for you. You are doomed! For you have led the people into a snare by worshiping idols. I will settle with all of you for what you have done. I know what you have done. You have left me like a prostitute leaves her husband. You are utterly defiled” (5:1-3).

The Lord continued His charges against the priests, “Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! Look, you priests, My complaint is with you. My people are being destroyed because they don’t know Me. It is all your fault, for you yourselves refuse to know Me... Like priests, like people. Since the priests are wicked, the people are wicked too” (4:4-9).

Thankfully, in the midst of these charges and promise of judgment and exile, God promised a ray of hope. “Then the Lord said to Hosea, ‘Go and get your wife again. Bring her back to you and love her, even though she loves adultery. For the Lord still loves Israel...’” (3:1). Though God’s wrath will burn and Israel’s judgment will be harsh, He will still be merciful and restore Israel to her land and her covenant with Him.

Daily Reflection

While each of us are responsible for our own relationship with the Lord, I couldn’t help but be convicted about my leadership of others. Am I leading them towards the Lord or away from Him? Am I leading them to be faithful to Him or would I be responsible for their apostasy? Jesus said, “A student is not above His teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40).

I believe everyone is leading someone, be- cause everyone has influence; and, it only takes one follower to be a leader. What kind of leader have you been? Are you leading others towards the Lord or away from Him?

If your children, your friends, your students, your co-workers, your small group, or your church members patterned their lives after your example, your teaching, your leadership, then what would they be like? Could God blame you for leading others astray?

BiAY.org | Day 177 — 188 Days to Go

June 25th~Our Gomerish Ways

Isaiah 12:1-6


Isaiah 17:1-14


2 Chronicles 28:16-21

2 Kings 16:10-18


2 Chronicles 28:22-25

2 Kings 18:1-8


2 Chronicles 29:1,2


2 Kings 15:30,31


2 Kings 17:1-4


Hosea 1:1-2:13

Of all the nations He could have selected to be His own, the Lord chose Israel. Once a nation bound by chains, He set her free. Once a slave without purpose, He gave her hope and new life, by making her the object of His affection. He provided for her every need, He protected her from all her enemies, and He offered her everything she desired. What more could He do to demonstrate His love for one who had never known love like this before?

How did Israel repay Him? She pushed away from His arms, she scorned His words, she despised His attention, she took for granted His provision, she sought out other options, and she eventually gave herself to other lovers. Despite all that the Lord had done for her, Israel proved to be an unfaithful and adulterous wife.

Take King Ahaz of Israel, for example, who went to Damascus to meet with the king of Assyria. “While he was there, he noticed an unusual altar. So he sent a model of the altar to Uriah the priest, along with its design in full detail. Uriah built an altar just like it by following the king’s instructions, and it was ready for the king when he returned from Damascus. When the king re- turned, he inspected the altar and made offerings on it...” (2 Kings 16:10-13).

To demonstrate His displeasure with Israel’s adulterous behavior, having run to the arms and affection of other gods, the Lord asked the prophet Hosea to marry a harlot named Gomer. Like Hosea, the Lord had been a faithful husband, and like Gomer, Israel had played the prostitute with other lovers. As any good husband would be, the Lord was jealous for His bride and grieved over her infidelity.

However, the Lord had enough of Israel’s harlot- ry. He was ready to punish her. “I will call Israel to account, for she is no longer my wife, and I am no longer her husband. Tell her to take off her garish makeup and suggestive clothing and to stop playing the prostitute... For she has said, ‘I will run after other lovers and sell myself to them...’ But I will leave her to die of thirst, as in a desert...” (Hosea 2:2-5).

Daily Reflection

Before we condemn Israel for her unfaithfulness to the Lord, you and I must look in the mirror and carefully examine ourselves. Can we say, with a clear conscience, that we have never “cheated” on our God? He has pursued us with His love, yet we are quick to leave Him for the worldly temptations that come our way?

What temptations have caused you to pull away from the Lord, even leave Him for a while?

All of us must admit that, at some level, we have committed adultery, spiritual adultery, and have fallen “head over heels” for other loves. All of us have sacrificed time and money and attention to express passion for idols and false gods, all to the detriment of our relationship with God.

Describe how these acts are hurtful to God. What should He do to get your attention?

Confess to your Gomerish ways. Do not return the Lord’s love with spiritual adultery.

BiAY.org | Day 176 — 189 Days to Go

June 24th~A Light and a Banner

Isaiah 8:1-11:16

We camped out in the book of Isaiah, which has been called by some “The Fifth Gospel,” because there are so many references to Christ. Isaiah was privileged to share many of the Messianic prophecies with which we are so familiar today. However, before considering the prophecies of the distant future, let’s consider the prophecies of the near future.

The Lord continued to warn His people of the impending invasion of the Assyrian army. Both the nations of Israel and Judah were threatened by this enemy; though Judah will survive, Israel will not. “With bared fangs, the Assyrians will devour Israel. In a single day the Lord will destroy both the head and the tail... The leaders are the head and the lying prophets the tail. For the leaders of the people have led them down the path of destruction.... For they are all hypocrites, speaking wickedness with lies. But even then, the Lord’s anger will not be satisfied. His fist will be poised to strike, for after all of this punishment, the people will still not repent and turn to the Lord Almighty” (9:12-18).

However, once the Lord used Assyria to judge His people, He promised to destroy it as well. “Destruction is certain for Assyria. Though it will enslave My people, plunder them, and trample them like dirt beneath its feet..., the Lord will turn against the King of Assyria and punish him, for he is proud and arrogant... The Lord will completely destroy Assyria’s warriors, and they will waste away like sick people in a plague... The Lord Almighty will chop down the mighty tree! The Mighty One will cut down the enemy as an ax cuts down the forest trees in Lebanon” (10:5, 6, 12, 18, 33, 34).

Through all of this destruction and despair, God’s grace is still evident. He reminded everyone that His promised Messiah was coming.

“There will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles will be filled with glory. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light — a light that will live in the land where death casts its shadow... For a child is born to us; a son is given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders. These will be His royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace... He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David” (9:1-7).

Here is another look into the future, “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot, yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root; and the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord... In that day, the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world...” (11:1, 2, 10).

Daily Reflection

A light to those who walk in darkness, a banner of salvation to all the world — praise God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to be the light and salvation of all. In the midst of Israel’s darkness and depression, these words must have brought comfort and hope. They still do today.

How have you found Christ to be a light in the midst of your darkness, a banner of hope in the midst of your distress?

“Do not fear anything except the Lord Almighty... If you fear Him, you need to fear nothing else. He will keep you safe” (8:11-14).

BiAY.org | Day 175 — 190 Days to Go

June 23rd~God is With Us

2 Kings 15:32-38


2 Chronicles 27:1-9

Micah 1:1-16


2 Kings 16:1-9


2 Chronicles 28:1-15

Isaiah 7:1-25

Both Israel and Judah are in the throes of judgment. Not only were they being invaded by foreign nations, they were at war with each other. Jerusalem itself was under attack; thousands of people were being taken captive. The prophets Micah, Obed, and Isaiah were delivering messages of doom and gloom. It seemed that the wheels were coming off and both nations were headed for disaster.

After the good King Uzziah died, he was followed by Jotham, who did what was right in the eyes of God, then Ahaz, who was wicked. It was during the reign of Ahaz, King of Judah, that Israel and the Arameans attacked Jerusalem. Rather than turn to the Lord for help, Ahaz reached out to the King of Assyria, in essence enslaving the people of Judah to this mad man.

It was in the midst of the siege of Jerusalem that Isaiah approached King Ahaz with wonderful news, that one day a virgin would conceive a child and give birth to a son and call His name Immanuel, meaning “God is with us” (7:10-16). While we are not told if this prophecy had an immediate fulfillment in the days of Ahaz or Isaiah, we do know, of course, that it was ultimately fulfilled in the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah (Matthew 1:22, 23).

I’ve often wondered exactly how this prophecy would have been an encouragement to Ahaz and his family when it would not be fulfilled for another 500 years. What does this news have to do with the armies outside of Jerusalem’s walls? These questions warrant a closer look at the prophecy and to whom it was given.

The key to understanding the significance of this prophecy is found in Isaiah’s opening, “Listen, you royal family of David!” The news of the Messiah would have been a reminder to Ahaz and his family of God’s promises — that David’s family would always have a king on the throne and that someday a Chosen One would come from their descendants to bless the nations of the world. Therefore, even though things looked bad at the moment, as Jerusalem was under attack, God would keep His promises. Because of His love for Abraham and David, He would preserve a remnant of His people despite their sins.

Daily Reflection

Oftentimes, especially during days of distress, you need to be reminded that God is with you and that He is for you. Though the enemy may surround you and try to destroy you, though you are pressed from every side, you can trust that God is there, protecting you, providing for you, and purposefully working all things for your good and His glory.

When is it that you need most to be reminded of this truth? Why then?

You may be like me and get yourself into all kinds of messes. How can this truth, that God is with you, be an encouragement when you have sinned or done something to displease the Lord?

The Messiah not only came to save you from your sins, He came to save you from yourself. Don’t allow trouble, fear, or failure rob you of this wonderful news — God is with you!

BiAY.org | Day 174 — 191 Days to Go

June 22nd~The Plumb Line

Amos 7:1-9:15


2 Kings 14:28, 29


2 Kings 15:8-29, 6, 7

2 Chronicles 26:22, 23

Isaiah 6:1-13

God’s patience had reached its end. He was tired of warning His people of their sins; now, He moved to destroy them. Both Amos and Isaiah prophesied that it would happen. Still, neither the kings nor the people would repent of their idolatry and so they hastened their destruction.

We also got a glimpse of the nation that God would use to punish His people — the wicked Assyrians. The Assyrians were perhaps the most feared people of that day, known for their cruelty and violence. Take, for example, their capital city of Nineveh; it was not called the “City of Blood” for nothing. It was the fear of these people that caused Jonah to run in the opposite direction when God called him to preach to them.

The Assyrian King Tiglathpileser invaded the land the first time, but relented when the King of Israel paid him off with 37 tons of silver. However, with his second invasion, he took several cities and thousands of captives away from Israel. The invasions will only get worse, as we will soon see the dismantling of the Northern Kingdom of Israel at the hands of the Assyrians.

A few other noteworthy items happened in our reading today. First, did you notice that both Amos and Isaiah prophesied that Israel, after being devastated, would be restored at some point. Isaiah wrote, “Israel will remain a stump, like a tree that is cut down, but the stump will be a holy seed that will grow again” (6:13). Amos wrote that a day would come when God would “restore the fallen kingdom of David. Though it is a house of ruins, I will rebuild its walls and restore it to its former glory” (9:11- 15). Here is a look ahead at the return of Israel from exile in the days of Ezra and Nehemiah.

A second notable prophecy is that of a great famine in the land, “not a famine of bread or

water but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11, 12). God’s Word had been rejected by His people to such a degree that He decided not to say anything for a while. Scholars believe this prophecy to relate to the 400 years of silence between the Old and New Testaments.

The last item I’d like to mention is the prophecy of the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line (Amos 7:7-9). A plumb line is a weight on the end of a string; builders used it to measure the height of a structure, the depth of a river, and the straightness of a wall. When God’s Word was being collected and made into a book (around 400 AD), the Church fathers chose to call the book the “Canon,” which is Greek for “plumb line.”

Daily Reflection

God’s Word, which reflects God’s nature and character, is our plumb line. With it, we are to measure all things. It is to be our guide, to help us filter and discern truth from error, to gauge godly wisdom from worldly foolishness. By obeying the Lord’s statutes, we keep our feet on a straight path.

Praise God that we do not live in a famine of hearing God’s Word. We have access to His wisdom at all times. How is this both a positive and negative truth?

How does your life measure up to the Plumb Line of God’s Word? Are you following the Lord’s instructions and walking the straight path? It was by ignoring this plumb line that led to Israel’s downfall.

BiAY.org |Day 173 — 192 Days to Go