*DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL* *FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 2019* *CERTAINTY OF DIVINE PROPHECY* *TEXT:* ISAIAH 21:11-17.

*DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL*

*FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22 2019*

*CERTAINTY OF DIVINE PROPHECY*

*TEXT:* ISAIAH 21:11-17.

_*🔑KEY VERSE* "For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of an hireling, and all the glory of Kedar shall fail" (ISAIAH 21:16)._

Between 1946 and 1956 in the Dead Sea region of Palestine, young Bedouin shepherds and a team of renowned archaeologists discovered scrolls that contained original writings of the Hebrew prophets, volumes of which have come to us as the Holy Bible. When the manuscripts were decrypted scientifically, they were found to date back to 400 years before Christ. Fragments of Qumran Papers, as the scrolls came to be known, proved the veracity of prophecy concerning the rise and fall of nations and empires as predicted by the servants of God. Some of these forecasts were eschatological while others were fulfilled instantaneously or within years.

In the case of our text today, Isaiah prophesied that the nomadic warriors of Arabia would be wiped out within the period of one year as revealed to him by the Lord. Bible scholars say his mention of Kedar in our key verse is a reference to the area east of the Dead Sea, forming the central region of the northern part of the Arabian peninsula. It was in that era of the Assyrian domination, when the Arabian caravans roamed in trade throughout southeast of Jerusalem. That was not their normal route, as the powerful Assyrians had disrupted it.

That was not the only headache in that part of the world. The Assyrian army was also overrun Ashdod, Palestine and Babylon, with Edom (Dumah) siding with Ashdod. Instead of calling on God for help against Assyria, Edom went to Judah. It was then God's answer came through Isaiah.

God still reveals His plan for the future to man. Those who seek Him sincerely for deliverance from sin and for guidance in the wilderness of life will always locate Him.

*✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY* God is ever at His duty post, waiting to receive the returning prodigal son.

*COVER TO COVER* EZEKIEL 39-42.

*MEDITATION*

God is still the ultimate ruler

*1. God, not Satan or any other being has the final say over the affairs of men and what happens in the universe* vv11,12.
a. A prophetic utterance comes as a burden from the Lord which must unburdened or downloaded by the receiver and it will always accomplish its purpose v11, Isaiah 55:11.
*Praise* God because He is still the Ruler of the universe no matter the boastings of man🙏
*Commit* your life to God afresh and ask Him to continually rule and direct your affairs🙏
b. The prophecies, expected to be understood by those it is meant for, at times need some efforts and light of the scriptures to understand v11, Daniel 12:9.
*Lord*, give me understanding and wisdom to always understand your revelations to me🙏
c. A cry from Duman asking the watchman about the night of Assyrian invasion and asking again when the nightmare will end v11.
d. The answer came that morning will soon come after the night but it will be brief morning because the Babylonian invasion and utter destruction will follow shortly v12.
*Oh Lord*, let not my life be void of divine prophecies and revelations at any time🙏
e. The Edomites were challenged to make efforts and inquire diligently if they want to understand the prophecy clearly v12.
f. It happened exactly as prophesied. The Assyrian empire did not rule for long before it was overrun by Babylonian empire.
*2. The fall of Arabia* vv13-17.
a. This prophecy had a specific time element attached to it v16.
b. Within a year it must happen according to the years of an hireling who labours without adding extra hours vv16.
c. Always take time to understand the time element in a prophecy or revelation from God. For example, a day may mean 24 hours, a year or thousands of years 2 Peter 3:8.
d. God will always keep to His time and will not fail if man understand the time of the signs and the signs of the time.
*Lord* release more of the Spirit of revelation and prophesy into our fellowship🙏

*HYMN* I know who holds tommorow

1. 1 don't know about tomorrow
I just live for day to day
I don't borrow from the sunshine
For it's skies may turn to gray
I don't worry o'er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I'll walk beside Him
For He knows what lies ahead
*Chorus*
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand

2. Ev'ry step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb
Ev'ry burden's getting lighter
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined
There the sun is always shining
There no tear will dim the eye
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky

3. I dont know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow
Is the one who stands by me;
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But his presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with his blood.