Competing Claims

Sean Lucas
In my morning worship, I've also been reading sections of Isaiah. One thing that struck me were the competing claims represented in Isaiah 46 and 47. In Isaiah 46, God clearly stakes his claim to absolute sovereign rights: "for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me" (Isa 46:9). This claim stands opposed to Babylon's (and each individual's) boast: "You felt secure in your wickedness, you said, 'No one sees me'; your wisdom and your knowledge led you astray,and you said in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me'" (Isa 47:10; cf. 47:8).

This is the battle in each heart--will God be God for me or will I be? Will I bow to the claims of God the King or will I set myself up as god the King? Will I trust that God will accomplish his purposes for me or will I maneuver in order to accomplish my purposes for me? Will I truly believe that God's love is better than life?