Paul and Isaiah

Paul was raised in a strict religious environment. He came a long way from home to Jerusalem to the temple where he wished to “preach” or at least expound on the Bible. The bible, which was the first five books of our Bible, were his guide to life. He knew the religious leader, Gamaliel, a great teacher of the Jewish Law.

I never knew, before Beth Moore, Gamaliel told the religious leaders of the day to “Leave Peter and the apostles alone, if they are not of God, their beliefs will slowly die away and the people will stop following them but if they are from God you will  only find yourselves fighting against God.” (Acts 5:38-39 paraphrased)* Many of the religious leaders believed in the things Jesus taught, they just weren’t strong in their beliefs to want to give up their “status” in the “religious” community. 

Paul and Isaiah reflected greatly on the spiritual aspect of Godly things. They knew the Lord well.

How much time do we really read and reflect on the Bible or better yet, the things of God? How much do we know “about” the word verses how well do we “know” the savior?

I have been lax at really studying the Bible in my “Joy of Living” Class I take on Wednesdays. I manage to get the lessons done for the week. But, in the end, I wonder how well do I really “know” Isaiah?

Even if it is a kind of “rushed” study of the whole book, I can get a glimpse into Isaiah’s mind and life. (It is a long book.) He, like Paul was “close” to God. He loved the Lord, and I have to wonder, “How well did he know the Savior?”

How was it to live before Christ? Expecting Him any day. Knowing how He would come into the world as an infant and be raised as a human yet, Lord.

Did Isaiah wish He could wait till the Lord came into the world before he went to Heaven? Did he have aspirations of knowing the Lord and Savior as a human?

Probably like Paul, Isaiah came to know the Jesus, through God. It was a spiritual acquaintance. Paul however, came face to face with the Lord Jesus; Isaiah had a spiritual awakening with The Lord, God. However difficult it is to imagine knowing these two men, they were spiritual “Giants.”

I hope I can come to know Isaiah more in the months to come and really get insight into the people of God.
*Acts 5:38-39: Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fall. But it it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.) NIV

By Lanell Stuart

01/02/14