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The One True God: Formed, Chosen, and Called for His Glory
- Be God's Glory
- Aug 3
- 10 min read
Welcome to Day 214 of The Glory Team Bible Reading plan and we are in the book of Isaiah. Chapters 44 and 45 of Isaiah continue to declare God’s supreme authority as the only true Creator and Redeemer, while exposing the futility of idol worship and affirming His sovereignty over nations and history. God reassures Israel of His unchanging love and identity as their Maker, pouring out His Spirit and promising restoration. He denounces idols as powerless and man-made, in contrast to His eternal, living presence. In chapter 45, God speaks of Cyrus—a future Persian king—whom He will anoint to deliver Israel, demonstrating His control over both pagan kings and prophetic fulfillment. These chapters powerfully affirm that salvation, deliverance, and purpose all flow from the Lord alone, who acts for His glory and the good of His people.
Isaiah 44 opens with God tenderly reaffirming His relationship with Israel, calling them His chosen people whom He formed from the womb. He promises to pour out His Spirit on their descendants, bringing renewal and blessing. The chapter strongly contrasts the living God with the absurdity of idol-making—highlighting how humans craft gods from wood and worship what they themselves have created. God declares that there is no other Rock besides Him, reinforcing His uniqueness and eternal strength. He alone forgives sins and redeems His people, declaring His sovereign authority over creation and history. The chapter ends with God’s prophecy that Jerusalem will be rebuilt and the temple restored—a promise tied to His future use of Cyrus as His instrument of restoration.
In Isaiah 45, God speaks directly to Cyrus, a Gentile king who has not known Him, yet is called “His anointed” to accomplish divine purposes. God declares that He will go before Cyrus, leveling obstacles and giving him victory for the sake of Israel’s deliverance. This chapter emphasizes God’s absolute sovereignty—He forms light and darkness, creates peace and calamity, and works all things for His glory. Repeatedly, God insists that there is no other besides Him: “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” He invites all nations to turn to Him for salvation, showing that His redemptive plan includes both Israel and the Gentiles. The chapter closes with a bold declaration that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess allegiance to Him, prefiguring the universal Lordship of Christ.
Origin & Meaning of the Name:
The name Isaiah comes from the Hebrew name Yeshayahu, which means “The Lord is salvation” or “Yahweh saves.” This name encapsulates the central message of the book: that salvation, judgment, and restoration come from God alone.
Purpose of the Book:
The Book of Isaiah was written to call God’s people to repentance, reveal the consequences of rebellion, and proclaim both God’s coming judgment and the hope of restoration. It addresses both the immediate political and spiritual crisis facing Judah and the future hope of a Messianic King and a new heavens and earth. Isaiah proclaims God’s sovereignty over all nations and points to a coming Savior who will redeem not only Israel but the entire world. The book serves as both a prophetic warning and a theological vision of God’s redemptive plan.
Authorship & Sources Supporting the Author:
The book is traditionally attributed to the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, who ministered during the reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1), placing his ministry in the 8th century BC (around 740–700 BC).
Biblical Support for Isaiah’s Authorship:
Isaiah 1:1 clearly identifies him as the author.
2 Chronicles 26:22 and 2 Chronicles 32:32 mention Isaiah’s writings and his involvement in documenting the reign of King Uzziah and King Hezekiah.
New Testament Confirmation: Jesus and the apostles frequently quote from Isaiah and attribute the words to him (e.g., Matthew 3:3; Luke 4:17; John 12:38-41), confirming early Jewish and Christian belief in Isaiah's authorship.
Some scholars propose that the book was written by multiple authors over time (often called Deutero-Isaiah or Trito-Isaiah theories), due to shifts in tone and historical context in later chapters (especially 40–66). However, the consistent literary style, theological themes, and the unified message suggest that the book can credibly be viewed as originating from Isaiah and his prophetic school or disciples (see Isaiah 8:16).
Key People:
Isaiah – The primary prophet and narrator of the book.
Kings of Judah:
Uzziah – A prosperous king who became prideful (Isaiah 6:1).
Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah – Rulers during Isaiah’s ministry, with Hezekiah receiving direct counsel and miraculous deliverance through Isaiah’s prayers (Isaiah 36–39).
Messianic Figure – Often referred to as the Servant of the Lord, the Branch, Immanuel, or the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; 53).
Assyrian and Babylonian kings – Representing God’s instruments of judgment (e.g., Sennacherib in Isaiah 36–37).
Cyrus the Great – A Persian king prophetically named in Isaiah 44–45 as the one God would use to restore Israel.
Conclusion
Isaiah masterfully blends themes of judgment, mercy, justice, and redemption, portraying God as holy and righteous, yet also gracious and compassionate. The first half of the book (chapters 1–39) focuses on judgment against Judah and the nations, while the latter half (chapters 40–66) offers messages of comfort, restoration, and the coming Messianic hope. Isaiah paints a sweeping vision of history, from Judah’s failures to God’s final plan of universal salvation through the Suffering Servant and the creation of a new heavens and new earth (Isaiah 65–66). The book ends with a powerful call to worship and remain faithful, highlighting the eternal triumph of God's justice and glory. Isaiah remains a cornerstone of both Jewish and Christian theology, rich with prophecy, poetry, and profound revelation of God's heart for His people and the world.
What is God's Name in these Chapters?
In this portion of our journey we want to dive deep into the character of God described in His name. By identifying who God is, we can further relate to Him personally and build a stronger relationship and connection with Our Father.
Names are important. They give significance to places, people, and things. We identify with so much based off what it's name is. This is considerably notable when it comes to the names of God.
"Jehovah" is considered a Latinized version of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" (represented by the consonants YHWH) where the vowels of the Hebrew word "Adonai" (meaning "my Lord") were added to the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) when pronounced by Jewish readers who avoided saying the sacred name directly; essentially, Christian scholars combined the consonants of YHWH with the vowels of Adonai to create the pronunciation "Jehovah" in the Latin alphabet.
Looking for the Names of God from the previous chapters? Due to the overwhelming amount of names we had to dedicate a special place for them for the sake of space. Click the link to see them:
In Isaiah 44, God is revealed as compassionate, faithful, and incomparable. He lovingly reminds Israel that He formed them, chose them, and will not forget them. He stands in stark contrast to idols—He is living, forgiving, and powerful, while they are lifeless and man-made. God’s character shines as both the Creator and Redeemer, committed to restoring His people and pouring out His Spirit upon them.
This chapter uses the names Yahweh and Go’el, meaning “The Lord” and “Redeemer,” as well as Yahweh Tsevaot (LORD of Hosts) in verse 6. God also declares Himself as Melek Yisrael (King of Israel) and Tsur (Rock), underscoring His sovereign rule and unshakeable dependability. The lesson in this chapter is clear: only God has the power to forgive, redeem, and sustain His people. Trusting in anything else—especially idols—leads to emptiness, but trusting in God leads to restoration and security.
In Isaiah 45, God is shown to be sovereign over all creation and history. He calls Cyrus, a pagan king, His “anointed,” showing that He can use anyone—believer or unbeliever—for His divine purposes. God declares that He alone forms light and darkness, brings blessing and judgment, and governs the destinies of nations. He is not only the God of Israel but the God of all the earth, offering salvation to every nation.
The chapter features repeated use of Yahweh, and titles such as El Yisrael Moshi’a (God of Israel, the Savior) in verse 15, and El Tzaddik (a righteous God) and Moshe’a (Savior) in verse 21. The emphatic phrase “I am the LORD, and there is no other” is used multiple times to reinforce God’s exclusivity and supremacy. The lesson God teaches is that He alone is God—there is no rival, no equal, and no substitute. Our response must be surrender, worship, and a recognition that God’s plans will be fulfilled for His glory and our ultimate good.
Christ in Every Book of the Bible
Christ is the theme throughout the Bible. From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals His Son, Jesus Christ.
Christ is the Seed of the woman Genesis 3:14 , He is the Passover Lamb Exodus 12:3, The Atoning Sacrifice Leviticus 17:11, The Smitten Rock Numbers 20:8, 11, The Faithful Prophet Deuteronomy 18:18, Christ is the Captain of the Lord's Host Joshua 5:15, The Divine Deliverer Judges 2:18, The Kinsman Redeemer Ruth 3:12, Christ is the anticipated as the Anointed One,1 Samuel 2:10, The Son of David 2 Samuel 7:14, The Coming King 1 & 2 Kings, Builder of the Temple 1 & 2 Chronicles (1 Chronicles 28:20), Ezra represents Christ as the Restorer of the Nation Ezra 6:14, 15, Nehemiah shows Him as the Restorer of the Temple Nehemiah 6:15, and Esther portrays Him as the Preserver of the Nation Ester 4:14, Christ is seen as the Living Redeemer Job 19:25, The Praise of Israel Psalm 150:6, The Wisdom of God Proverbs 8:22, 23, The Great Teacher Ecclesiastics 12:11, The Fairest of Ten Thousand Song of Solomon 5:10. Christ is the Suffering Servant Isaiah 53:11, The Maker of the New Covenant Jeremiah 31:31, The Man of Sorrows Lamentations 3:28-30, The Glory of God Ezekiel 43:2, The coming Messiah Daniel 9:25, The Lover of the Unfaithful Hosea 3:1, The Hope of Israel Joel 3:16, The Husbandman Amos 9:13, the Savior Obadiah 21, the Resurrected One Jonah 2:10, the Ruler in Israel Micah 5:2, the Avenger Nahum 2:1, the Holy God Habakkuk 1:13, the King of Israel Zephaniah 3:15, the Desire of Nations Haggai 2:7, the Righteous Branch Zechariah 3:8, and the Sun of Righteousness Malachi 4:2.
The King of the Jews Matthew 2:2, the Servant of the Lord Mark 10:45, the Son of Man Luke 19:10, and the Son of God John 1:1. Christ is the Ascended Lord Acts 1:10, the believer's Righteousness Romans 1:17, Sanctification 1 Corinthians 1:30, Sufficiency 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Liberty Galatians 2:4. He is the Exalted Head of the church Ephesians 1:22, the Christian's Joy Philippians 1:26, and the Fullness of Deity Colossians 2:9. In the Thessalonian epistles Christ is the believer's Comfort 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 and Glory 2 Thessalonians 1:12. The Christian's Preserver 1 Timothy 4:10, Rewarder 2 Timothy 4:8, Blessed Hope Titus 2:13, and Substitute Philemon 17. He is the High Priest Hebrews 4:15, the Giver of Wisdom James 1:5, the Rock 1 Peter 2:6, and Precious Promise 2 Peter 1:4. John represents Christ as the Life 1 John, the Truth 2 John, and the Way 3 John, Jude portrays Christ as the Advocate and Revelation shows Him as King of Kings and Lord of Lords Revelation 19:16. The whole Bible is literally all about Christ!
Questions:
Let's expand how these chapters expanded your faith and your relationship with God.
Questions About God's Character: What do these chapters reveal about God’s faithfulness to His word and promises?
What does Isaiah 44 reveal about God’s faithfulness and His relationship with His people, even after their rebellion?
How does God’s role as Redeemer in Isaiah 44 show His desire for restoration rather than condemnation?
What does God’s use of Cyrus in Isaiah 45 teach us about His sovereignty over both believers and non-believers?
How is God's justice balanced with mercy in His declarations throughout these chapters?
In what ways does God contrast Himself with idols in Isaiah 44 to display His uniqueness and power?
How does Isaiah 45 portray God's involvement in both personal lives and global history?
Why is it significant that God repeatedly declares “I am the LORD, and there is no other” in Isaiah 45?
Questions About Themes:
What is the significance of God reminding Israel that He formed them in Isaiah 44:2, and how does it support the theme of identity?
How does the theme of idolatry in Isaiah 44 serve as both a warning and a call to return to the living God?
What is the prophetic significance of God naming Cyrus as His “anointed” in Isaiah 45?
How do these chapters develop the theme of God's control over nations and kings?
In Isaiah 45, how is the idea of salvation extended beyond Israel to include all nations?
What role does God’s Word (prophecy and promise) play in confirming His identity and authority in these chapters?
How do these chapters emphasize that God’s glory is the ultimate purpose behind His works?
Reflective Application Questions:
In what ways have you tried to rely on “idols”—things made by human hands—for security, and how does Isaiah 44 challenge that?
How does God’s declaration that “You will not be forgotten by Me” (Isaiah 44:21) encourage you in seasons of doubt or distance from God?
Are there areas in your life where you need to be reminded that God is your Redeemer and not just your Judge?
How might understanding God's use of Cyrus shape your view of how God works through people and systems that don’t acknowledge Him?
What would it look like in your life to truly live out the truth that “there is no other God” besides the Lord?
Are you allowing God's promises about your identity and purpose (as His chosen and formed) to shape your daily choices?
How can you bring the message of God’s exclusive power and universal salvation to people in your life who trust in temporary things?
These questions can help deepen understanding of the themes of these chapters, while encouraging trust in God's sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, and timing. We hope thoughts to these questions invite you to reflect on your own journeys, grow in faith, and understand more about God's nature.
Reference Guides:
Life Application Study Guide
A Popular Survey of the Old Testament by Norman L. Geisler
The Power of God's Names by Tony Evans
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