Category Archives: Isaiah

Close-up of feet with multiple dark spots and uneven skin tone
Bible, Feet, Gospel, Isaiah, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

BEAUTIFUL FEET? REALLY?

ROMANS 10:15

“But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: ‘HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!’”

My wife and I were just having a discussion about feet the other night. Some commercial on tv had shown some rather ugly feet to try to sell a product, and we both remarked how ugly most feet are. Now, you may disagree. You may think they are pretty. Well, you haven’t seen mine, lol. I was kissing my granddaughter’s feet the other day, much to her delight. I would agree that her feet are cute, but they still have that baby smell.

Paul reverts back to Isaiah again in today’s verse, this time to Isaiah 52:7. He leaves out some of the imagery of the Hebrew text, so I thought I would give you the whole verse. “How delightful on the mountains are the feet of one who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” One scholarly source says this about Paul’s use of this passage. “The whole chapter of Isaiah from which this is taken, and the three that follow, are so richly Messianic, that there can be no doubt ‘the glad tidings’ there spoken of announce a more glorious release than of Judah from the Babylonish captivity, and the very feet of its preachers are called ‘beautiful’ for the sake of their message.” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary)

APPLICATION

Can you just picture the scene of a distant runner bringing news from the battlefront? Of course, they couldn’t see the runner’s feet. What made the feet so beautiful was the message they were carrying. Jesus’ feet were nail-scarred, but oh, how beautiful they were. Those feet represented God’s promise of redemption to all mankind through the life and death of Jesus, His Son.

Now, we are entrusted with that same message of redemption. Our feet will be deemed beautiful, not because of the lack of bunions or callouses. They will be beautiful feet because they carry the message of the cross. Ephesians 6:15 mentions our feet in the armor of God passage. “and having strapped on your feet the preparation of the gospel of peace;” And look at Nahum 1:15, “Behold, on the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace! Celebrate your feasts, Judah, Pay your vows. For never again will the wicked one pass through you; He is eliminated completely.”

Our feet were made for walking. What better thing to carry on our walk than the Gospel message. Who can you deliver it to today? We all know someone who needs to hear it, don’t we? Let’s be about our Father’s business and use our feet for good. Amen?

Bless my feet today, O Lord, as I seek ways to deliver Your good news to others.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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An angry woman shouting and pointing her finger at a sad young boy.
Bible, Isaiah, Romans, Scripture, Shame, Unashamed

NO SHAME

ROMANS 10:11

“For the Scripture says, ‘WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.’”

I was so fortunate as a child that my parents did not shame me. They laid a good bit of the ole hickory stick to a certain part of my anatomy, but they never shamed me. I was also blessed that I never had a teacher who thought shaming a student was a good idea. No, I was always encouraged. Shaming someone into a correct behavior never works long term. You may get an immediate reaction, but it won’t stick.

Paul goes back to Isaiah in today’s verse. In Isaiah 28:16 we read, “Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, A precious cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. The one who believes in it will not be disturbed.’” In the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament, kataischuno is used to translate the Hebrew word for “disturbed,” which just so happens to be the same word Paul uses which is translated as “shame.” It seems Paul had this passage on his mind, as his mind was always on Christ.

APPLICATION

Some scholars think Paul had Psalm 25:3 in mind. “Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; Those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed.” What a contrast – unashamed or shamed. Which do you prefer? Having spent almost forty years working with children, I can tell you some horror stories of shame heaped on them by adults in their lives. Nobody, much less a child, should be shamed. Held accountable? Yes, but not shamed.

God will never, ever shame you. If you are feeling shamed by some behavior you are in, that is not of God. God will confront you of your sins. That’s because He loves you. He does that to draw you close, not shame you away. Shame causes you to cower and shrink, not grow. And God is all about growth. Shameful behavior needs to be stopped. But know where that shame is coming from – the one who will do anything to keep you in his grip and under his thumb (the devil).

I love 1 Corinthians 1:27 where Paul writes, “but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,…” God will take care of the “wise” and the “strong” of this world. He can put them in their place when they rebel against Him. But you, dear child of God, He wants to lift up and remove any shame. Come to Him today and feel His unashamedly, passionate love for you.

I know I can approach You, Lord, without any shame. You only want to help me grow and flourish in my walk with You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Scripture, Cross, Romans, Isaiah, Trap, Offense

THE ROCK OF OFFENSE

ROMANS 9:33

“just as it is written: ‘BEHOLD, I AM LAYING IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND THE ONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.’”

Have you ever watched the reality show Alone? Participants are put out into wilderness environments with only limited articles which they are allowed to take with them. Those who are experienced in those kind of settings will usually take things to make snare traps to catch rabbits or other animals. Snares work in a variety of ways, but many rely on a stick or rock which moves to trigger the trap. They are not always successful, but when they are, these participants have much needed food.

Paul uses a Greek word in today’s verse which has that same picture. The word translated as “offense” is skandalon. It “is the native rock rising up through the earth, which trips up the traveler, hence, of Jesus the Messiah, to the Jews who refused him” (Souter); “properly, the bait-stick of a trap, a snare, stumbling-block” (Abbott-Smith); “the stick in the trap that springs and closes the trap when the animal touches it” (HELPS Word-studies) What or who is Paul talking about? As mentioned yesterday in verse 32, Jesus is that stumbling stone or rock of offense.

APPLICATION

Isaiah 8:14 and 28:16 both refer to the same “rock of offense. We read in 8:14, “Then He will become a sanctuary; But to both houses of Israel, He will be a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.” You are probably more familiar with 28:16 which reads, “Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a tested stone, A precious cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. The one who believes in it will not be disturbed.”

Jesus, plainly put, really stumped the Jewish religious crowd. For one they couldn’t understand why God would extend any kind of salvation and righteousness to the Gentiles. After all, they were not a part of Israel and therefore were not God’s chosen people. Secondly, this salvation through Jesus was just too easy. All it required was faith. They didn’t have to DO anything to gain it.

The cross of Christ still trips people up. It is still the skandalon for many. What can we do about that? Well, we can tell them our story of redemption through that cross. We can tell them how Jesus has changed our life. We can show them how to approach the cross and receive forgiveness. Most traps are meant to be avoided. But the “trap” of the cross is a gentle one. It does not harm. It does not take life. Quite the contrary. It gives life. It embraces you. Share that with those who fear it. Share that with those who seem to walk around it. It will change their life.

O, loving Father, I give You praise that I fell into the “trap” of the cross so many years ago where You have kept me safe.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Angels, Army, Bible, Isaiah, Romans, Scripture

THE LORD OF ARMIES

ROMANS 9:29

“And just as Isaiah foretold: ‘IF THE LORD OF ARMIES HAD NOT LEFT US DESCENDANTS, WE WOULD HAVE BECOME LIKE SODOM, AND WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE GOMORRAH.’”

Right now there is another war going on in the Middle East. There seems to always be one or two going on there. This time it seems everyone over there has had enough with Iran’s threats. The U.S. has entered into the war and has displayed some incredible weapons, both defensive and offensive. But if you combined all the weapons and militaries of all the countries in this war they would pale in comparison to the army of heaven.

Paul refers to this army in today’s verse. He is quoting from Isaiah 1:9 this time. Here we see God described as the Lord of Armies. The Greek word used here is sabaóth, which is used here and in James 5:4 which says, “Behold, the pay of the laborers who mowed your fields, and which has been withheld by you, cries out against you; and the outcry of those who did the harvesting has reached the ears of the Lord of armies..” Let’s take a closer look at this description of God as used in the Old Testament.

APPLICATION

The Hebrew equivalent of this word in Isaiah 1:9 is tsaba. It means “a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. Organized for war (an army)” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance). Remember in the previous verse we looked at yesterday, it referred to God completing his plans thoroughly and quickly. I can’t help but think about Desert Storm back in 1991. After a massive 42-day air campaign, a swift 100-hour ground offensive heavily damaged Iraqi forces and restored Kuwaiti sovereignty. Experts said the U.S. would need weeks or months to defeat Sadaam Hussein. It took less than five days on the ground!

God doesn’t need an air or ground campaign, unless your count his angelic army (which you can’t begin to number). They are at the ready, just listening for their Commander’s call. Shouldn’t we be the same? Aren’t we part of the Lord’s army here on earth? We may not carry swords like the angels, but we have THE sword, His Word. We need to wield that in defense and offense. Defensively, it shields us from the attacks of the evil one as we memorize more and more of it. Offensively, we can attack any force of evil that tries to battle against us.

Aren’t you glad we serve such a God? Aren’t you glad He’s on our side? Abraham Lincoln was asked during the Civil War whether God was on the side of the Union. His reply, “I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord’s side.” Shouldn’t we all feel that way? Shouldn’t we all be on His side?

I serve You, Lord of Armies, because I know You are always on the side of right.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Completion, Isaiah, Judgment, Romans, Scripture

THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY

ROMANS 9:28


“FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.”

I like to watch videos of yard cleanups. I follow a few YouTube channels and am amazed at the before and after pictures. My wife asks me all the time why I like to watch these videos. I tell her that I like to see the work being done, how they do it and how it turns out. I guess I really like the finished product. There’s satisfaction in seeing a job well done which is carried out to completion.

The Lord is busy finishing His work. Paul alludes to that in today’s verse. I really like the how the NIV reads. “For the Lord will carry out His sentence on earth with speed and finality.” Paul is quoting Isaiah 10:23. Albert Barnes gives some great background on this verse. “This is taken from the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 10:23. The Hebrew is, ‘The Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.’ Or, as it may be rendered, ‘Destruction is decreed which shall make justice overflow; yea, destruction is verily determined on; the Lord Yahweh will execute it in the midst of all the land.’ (Stuart.) The Septuagint and the apostle adhere to ‘the sense’ of the passage, but do not follow the words. The phrase, ‘will finish the work,’ means ‘he will bring the thing to an end,’ or will accomplish it.” I think you get the picture.

APPLICATION

The Greek literally reads, “The sentence for conducting and bringing swiftly the Lord will perform upon the earth.” The word for “concluding” is sunteleó which is defined as “to complete entirely” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) And the word translated as “bringing swiftly” is suntemnó and is only used once right here in this verse. Both words have the preposition syn which is the preposition for “with” but means unseparable. So, both those words have the idea of finality.

God isn’t messing around. He is a God who is unchangeable. What He says goes. You’ve heard the expression “Mean what you say and say what you mean.” That’s God! When He says something, you can take it to the bank. God will have the final say in all things regarding judgment. Which side are you on?

We don’t know the day or hour when God will unleash His judgment on the earth. We know as followers of Christ that we will not face the Great White Throne judgment. But we will be judged according to our works. I want all my service for Him to pass the test. Don’t you? And I don’t want any of my loved ones to face the harsher judgment, do you? Know this, the Lord is a God of His word.

I am thankful that I am secure in Your hands whenever You complete Your final judgment on this earth. I am Yours eternally.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Isaiah, Remnant, Romans, Salvation, Scripture

THE REMNANT

ROMANS 9:27

“Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, ‘THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL MAY BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, ONLY  THE REMNANT WILL BE SAVED;’”

A remnant is defined as a small remaining quantity of something. If you are a seamstress, you may go to the fabric shop and buy some remnants of cloth that are left over from a bolt of cloth. Usually, these are smaller pieces that are not enough for a large project but are still useable. Question: Are leftovers considered remnants? Inquiring minds want to know.

Paul begins quoting from the prophet Isaiah in today’s verse and will continue doing so for the next two verses. Paul references Isaiah 10:22 in today’s verse, showing that only a small remnant of those Jews taken into captivity would be saved by God and returned to their homeland. Why is that important? Because they meant the larger percentage would not be saved. Compare the descriptions – “like the sand of the sea” and “only the remnant.” Two very different sizes.

APPLICATION

In 2 Kings 19:31 we read, “For out of Jerusalem will go a remnant, and survivors out of Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD will perform this.” Is the Lord still rescuing the remnant today? Think about it. Billions of people are alive today on earth, but only a remnant will inherit His kingdom. That is truly a remnant, isn’t it? Take for example the population of Iran, who is at war with the U.S. and others right now. Out of approximately 92 million people there are about 400,000 Christians. Estimates range from just over 117,000 to 1 million. Still, that is just a remnant.

What is our role as part of that remnant of believers today? We are to spread the Gospel to as many as we can with the desire to see that remnant number increase. Isn’t this God’s Will? Just read 1 Timothy 2:3-6. “3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.”

Did you catch verse 6? Christ was given “as a ransom for all.” Not just the remnant. The sad truth, though, is that only a remnant of the entire population will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Will you be diligent as long as you have breath to tell the world about Jesus? Let’s expand that remnant. There is room at the cross for all who believe.

I am thankful, Lord, that I am part of Your remnant having accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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