So Long, Isaiah!
“Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.” – Psalm 71:18
“…We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done.” - Psalm 78:4b
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts.” – Psalm 145:3-4
My oldest grandgirls will have double-digit birthdays in the fall, with their birthdays being just ten days apart. Talk about time flying!
One of the things I always consider as each of their and their siblings’ birthdays approaches is a project I was inspired to undertake before the girls were born. I was listening to a sermon series, and the topic was on leaving a spiritual legacy for your family. The one particular sermon that inspired my project was given by a father who, as a young single man, had begun journaling Bibles for the children he was praying God would give to him and to the wife he was also praying God would give to him. His plan was to present a Bible to each child on his or her 13th birthday. He would read and write his way through the Bible, leaving notes beside the Scriptures with his thoughts, challenges, and prayers for the children. That idea hit home with me, and shortly after Everly and Lucy were born, I purchased two Bibles.
My initial goal was to present the Bibles to each grandchild on that landmark 13th birthday. (Let me tell you – I’m going to miss that mark by a longer shot than I’d like to admit.) Unfortunately, thinking I had a leisurely 13 years to complete the Bibles, I only journaled occasionally. The wake-up call came when the girls turned seven, and I realized that more than half of my time was up. And I was far from halfway through the Bible! In fact, regrettably, I had only completed Genesis and some random Psalms. I was in deep trouble.
Panic set in, but thank You, God, for my analytically minded husband! He created a spreadsheet for me, plotting a timeline of chapters to be completed by certain dates. If I hustled, I could complete one Bible in plenty of time to copy it for the other four grandchildren. I was relieved, relaxed, and ready to work! It was gratifying to check the box next to each chapter I completed. At last – progress!
Well – that stinkin’ spreadsheet didn’t take into account real life. While I did accomplish much more than prior to receiving it, I quickly fell behind. I was discouraged and shared my disappointment with the Lord.
Just to let you know – I run with a pretty wise crowd. Common sense and obvious solutions to problems don’t come naturally to me so God has graciously surrounded me with friends for whom they do.
As I lamented to one of these friends about how woefully behind I was on my project, she said, “Why does it have to be for their 13th birthdays? Why not 18? Or high school graduation? Who says it has to be for their 13th birthdays? You’re the one putting pressure on yourself. Just adjust your goal to a more realistic timeline.” And that just might be one of the most freeing conversations I’ve ever had! I took her advice, and began to look forward to journaling with a renewed joy - and anticipation for the days when each grand has a Bible in his or her hands.
Last week, after almost two years, I finally finished the book of Isaiah. I had been skipping in and out to other books as I worked through it, but I have to say – signing off on chapter 66 felt monumental. And it was the end of a wonderful journey through a wonderful book!
The book of Isaiah is a fascinating tapestry of the holiness of God interwoven with the sins of His people, salvation interwoven with judgment, hope interwoven with hypocrisy. Isaiah the prophet boldly proclaims the Word of God, pleading with his fellow Israelites to drop their self-reliance and fake piety or face God’s just punishment. He also clearly declares God’s promise to preserve a remnant of His faithful people and to one day bless the nations through His Messiah.
Journaling the book of Isaiah has been a great ride, but it’s time to part ways. So long, Isaiah! And now I turn my attention to the remainder of my project – nine books down, 57 to go! I’m no longer racing the clock for grandkids’ birthdays – I’m racing the clock for mine! The Lord willing, I’ll complete those Bibles before Jesus calls me Home – maybe even with a few years to spare.
I’m praying that we’re all intentional to share our stories of grace and God’s goodness with those who will come after us. It doesn’t have to be as formal as a journaling Bible. As Deuteronomy 6 encourages us, just make sharing your story – God’s story written into your life – a part of your everyday routine. “These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (verses 6-7)
As I wave good-bye to Isaiah in my rearview mirror, I’ll leave you with a few verses that summarize the heart of God through the faithful words of a faithful prophet: “Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”
