Look to the LORD

"Listen to Me, you who follow after righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the hole of the pit from which you were dug. ² Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who bore you; for I called him alone, and blessed him and increased him."

Isaiah 51:1-2

God bid His people to remember Who He was to them, and how He established and blessed them.  The children of Israel were descendants of Abraham and Sarah who were called by God and with whom God made a covenant.  God caused them to miraculously bring forth a son Isaac in their old age and through them all the earth would be blessed.  Jews who looked to the Law and the LORD were also called to remember the faith of Abraham who believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness.

The cliche "chip off the old block" conveys the chip is made of the same original material it was hewn from.  A hickory tree chopped into pieces remains hickory, and the God of Abraham was the God of Israel and his descendants forever.  Abraham did not earn the favour of God by his efforts, but God graciously called Abraham out of idolatry and led him on a journey of faith in God based on God's sovereignty, power and goodness.  Abraham did not always look to God for help in trouble, and neither did the children of Israel or people to this day.

Isaiah 22:8-11 describes how God's people looked to many things rather than Him when He allowed them to suffer affliction:  "He removed the protection of Judah. You looked in that day to the armour of the House of the Forest; ⁹ you also saw the damage to the city of David, that it was great; and you gathered together the waters of the lower pool. ¹⁰ You numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses you broke down to fortify the wall. ¹¹ You also made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to its Maker, nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago."  Ironic, isn't it?  God's people saw the damage done to the city of David and forgot to seek God who chose and anointed David.  They were concerned about the breaches of the wall, tore apart homes to fill the gaps,  stopped up the spring to deter invaders, dug a trench to collect water and yet did not look to God who dwelt among them.  They were more moved by the threat of a siege by their enemies than respecting God who had always protected and provided for them.

It is a good question to consider:  am I looking to the LORD by faith in Him?  Am I looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of my faith?  Am I considerate of those deemed heirs of righteousness by faith in God, those who by faith subdued kingdoms, in weakness were made strong, escaped the sword, who were tortured and tempted, people who were destitute and tormented who obtained a good report by faith (Heb. 11:32-40)?  They endured because they looked to the LORD Jesus Christ, the Rock of Salvation, the One upon Whom our lives are built by grace through faith.  Let us look to Him Who saves, delivers and provides all good things, for He is most blessed.  Rejoice and trust in our Saviour who said in Matthew 5:6, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."  By the Living Bread sent from heaven and the Living Water of the Holy Spirit, we find satisfaction and rest for our souls.