Sermon: God's Promise Of Victory Is Sure! Series

Isaiah 10:24-27 “So this is what the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, says: “O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they oppress you with rod and club as the Egyptians did long ago. 25 In a little while my anger against you will end, and then my anger will rise up to destroy them.” 26 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will lash them with his whip, as he did when Gideon triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the Lord’s staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea. 27 In that day the Lord will end the bondage of his people. He will break the yoke of slavery and lift it from their shoulders.”

Introduction: God send Isaiah with a word of Hope. The present circumstance had left Israel hopeless. They feel hopeless, full of despair, desperate, and despondent, all brought on by their own actions. Having lost all or nearly all, they no longer thought things could change. They sat in hopeless despair, no longer putting forth any effort or resistance. They accepted their fate and resigned themselves to the idea that this was their lot in life. Then Isaiah says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”

Isaiah visualizes a future day of Israel’s coming victory! What an awesome experience God gave Isaiah. First, Isaiah sees God in all his glory, he sees himself and others clearly and embraces his future assignment with enthusiasm. “Here am I, send me!” God gives Isaiah a revelation of the coming judgment on Assyria. God’s judgment is set and sure. The nation of Israel would suffer but a remnant would be saved. God is merciful even in judgment. Assyria would be judged and pay a high penalty for her ill treatment of Israel. Sin has a high cost.

Every generation must face its share of trials, burdens, and problems of life. Much of it is brought on by disobedience and sinfulness. Today, America is probably the richest and most well-educated nation in the world, yet sin is a reproach to any nation. Just as righteousness exalts a nation, but sin will bring it to ruin. Along with the material wealth, America is plagued by crime, drugs abuse, broken homes and immorality and confusion. We wonder like Israel, Can anything turn our nation around? We have social programs, community-based organizations, and churches on every corner, yet the problems persist. Is all hope lost? Can anything turn this nation around? Like Israel of old, you may feel helpless to cope at times. There is hope, God promises that his faithful remnant will endure and gain the victory. All will not be lost! Here is the good news of the text.

1. God knows How to Rescue His Remnant. God will save some. God used the Assyrians to punish godless Israel. They were punished for their sin, pride and arrogance. Isaiah envisions Assyria’s reign of terror coming to an end, and God’s faithful remnant being preserved and restored. God’s plan of salvation for the world will be carried out by the faithful remnant who truly believe and obey God’s word. Israel during her great struggles needed a word from God. So Isaiah prophesies, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” When this specific prophesy was fulfilled, God sent an angel of death through the camp of the Assyrian army and destroyed 185, 000 men in a single night. Israel was full of fear, trying to analyze the situation and rationalize what to do, the yoke of enemy was destroyed. God knows how to rescue His remnant. If He must defy the odds, reverse the curse, or perform a miracle, God will rescue His remnant. He can rescue our loved ones, lift the lost and turn them while they are on turning ground. God knows how!

2. God Knows How To Get our Attention. God’s victory is sure because God will use every available means to get our attention. Sometimes God uses a shout, or a whisper, trouble or a blessing, whatever it takes, God will use. At a time when many classify willful sin and disobedience as a weakness or a disease. God will awaken our attention. Sin is sin regardless of a new name. Outward show of piety, improving our church programs, music, and choirs and commendable, but these things will not erase sin. Sin must be acknowledged, confessed, forsaken and wash away by the blood of Jesus. You can be sure your sins will find you out. How disturbing it seem for God to use a heathen nation to chastise His people. Isaiah was disturbed that God use Assyria to chastise Israel just as Habakkuk was disturbed that God choose to use Babylon to chastise Judah and Jerusalem. The lesson shows us that God will accomplish His plan despite our objection or confusion. God did not just set the nations in motion and leave. No, God watches over the Nations and is working constantly to His will pass in the world. A remnant of Israel would be saved. These were descendants of Abraham, who had lived in the Promised Land and enjoyed its fruitfulness, had confidence in their national heritage. Somehow, they felt that their national heritage and relationship to Abraham would provide them with security. They abandon their covenant with God, now God brings His judgment into their lives. Its not enough to rest on your heritage, we must maintain our relationship with God. Many today rely on their family’s Christian heritage, on practicing ritual, or even on past experiences with God, but they have abandoned the faith and fallen away.