The words of Yahweh, Israel’s true King and Kinsman-Redeemer, Yahweh, Commander of Angel Armies, says: “I am the Beginning and I am the Ending, and I am the only God there is. 7 Who is like me? Go ahead, stand and speak up. I’ll wait for him to announce it and explain it all to me! Isaiah 44:6-7

I wonder how Isaiah felt hearing these words of God coming to Him. Imagine the authority and conviction as God declares He is the beginning and end and the only true God. He challenges anyone or any god who thinks he can compete with Yahweh.Isaiah had to feel these words down to his bones. Did he stop at times and fall on his face in worship, overwhelmed at the privilege of receiving this message?

We have the same opportunity to read these words and experience God’s presence just as Isaiah did. These “living words” as the writer of Hebrews in the New Testament describes them (Heb. 4:12), are infused with the presence of God. When we read the Bible and pray these words they declare life and truth. This is the God who says, “I am watching over my word to perform it.” (Jer. 1:12)

God is waiting for us to engage with Him, to submit ourselves to this truth, and let it be inculcated into our lives. We are not just reading some ancient text. God is personally speaking to us and we must receive His words just as Isaiah did. This is why we always pray as we approach the Word of God. We ask to open our minds and hearts to receive and His grace to obey what God speaks to us.