Isaiah 40:28-31 is a passage from the Old Testament of the Bible, written by the prophet Isaiah. This passage is part of a larger section known as “The Book of Comfort” (Isaiah 40-66), which is addressed to the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon. Here’s a brief background and analysis:
Historical Context:
Exile in Babylon: The Israelites were exiled to Babylon after the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 586 BCE. This period was marked by despair and a sense of abandonment by God.
Prophetic Ministry: Isaiah’s ministry spanned a tumultuous period in Israel’s history, including threats from Assyria and later the Babylonian captivity. Isaiah 40 marks a shift from messages of judgment to themes of comfort and hope.
Literary Context:
Transition to Comfort: Isaiah 40 begins with a message of comfort to God’s people, emphasizing that their period of hardship is ending and God’s salvation is near.
Proclamation of God’s Greatness: Verses 28-31 focus on God’s eternal power and unsearchable understanding, offering reassurance of His care and provision.
The Message (Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV)
Verse 28
Isaiah 40:28 (NIV):
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.”
Analysis:
Do you not know? Have you not heard?: These rhetorical questions emphasize that the truths about God’s nature should be well known to the people. They serve as a reminder and a rebuke for forgetting or ignoring God’s attributes.
The Lord is the everlasting God: This highlights God’s eternal existence, emphasizing that He is unchanging and outside the bounds of time.
Creator of the ends of the earth: Reiterates God’s sovereignty and omnipotence, being the Creator of everything, including the remotest parts of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary: Unlike humans, God’s strength is inexhaustible.
His understanding no one can fathom: God’s wisdom and understanding are beyond human comprehension.
Cross-References:
Psalm 90:2: “Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Genesis 1:1: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Isaiah 40:14: “Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge, or showed him the path of understanding?”
Verse 29
Isaiah 40:29 (NIV):
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”
Analysis:
He gives strength to the weary: God provides physical and spiritual strength to those who are exhausted.
Increases the power of the weak: God empowers those who are lacking in strength, emphasizing His support and sustenance.
Cross-References:
Psalm 29:11: “The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.”
2 Corinthians 12:9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Verse 30
Isaiah 40:30 (NIV):
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;”
Analysis:
Even youths grow tired and weary: Indicates that even those who are in their prime and typically full of energy can become exhausted.
Young men stumble and fall: Highlights that human strength is limited and even the strongest among us can fail and falter.
Cross-References:
Psalm 73:26: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Jeremiah 31:25: “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
1 Peter 1:24: “For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall.’”
Verse 31
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV):
“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Analysis:
Those who hope in the Lord: Refers to those who place their trust and expectation in God.
Will renew their strength: God will replenish their energy and vigor.
They will soar on wings like eagles: Symbolizes rising above challenges and attaining a higher perspective with renewed strength.
They will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint: Describes sustained endurance and perseverance granted by God.
Cross-References:
Psalm 103:5: “Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Philippians 4:13: “I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
These verses collectively emphasize God’s eternal nature, His omnipotence, and His unfailing ability to renew and strengthen those who rely on Him. The cross-references reinforce these themes and provide a broader biblical context for understanding God’s sustaining power and support for His people.
Key Takeaways
God’s Eternal Nature:
Everlasting God: Emphasizes that God is eternal, unchanging, and not subject to the limitations of time and fatigue.
Creator: Affirms God’s role as the Creator of the entire universe, reinforcing His power and authority.
God’s Omnipotence and Omniscience:
Unfathomable Understanding: Highlights that God’s wisdom and understanding are beyond human comprehension.
Inexhaustible Strength: Unlike humans, God does not grow tired or weary, and He is a constant source of strength.
Divine Provision:
Strength to the Weary: God provides strength and power to those who are weary and weak, offering hope to the exiled Israelites.
Renewal for the Hopeful: Those who hope in the Lord will experience a renewal of strength, symbolized by soaring on wings like eagles, running without weariness, and walking without fainting.
Encouragement and Hope:
Endurance and Resilience: The imagery of soaring, running, and walking without fatigue serves as a powerful metaphor for enduring hardship and maintaining faith in God’s provision and timing.
Application
For the original audience, this passage offered profound encouragement and hope during a time of suffering and displacement.
- It reassured them of God’s unwavering presence and His ability to restore and strengthen them.
- For contemporary readers, the passage continues to serve as a source of comfort and inspiration, emphasizing reliance on God’s eternal strength and wisdom in times of difficulty
Closing:
Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.