But the Lord will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He

Will choose Israel as his special people once again.

Isaiah 14:1 NLT

Isaiah has been telling Israel of the coming destruction God was bringing if they didn’t repent. But every now and then God reminds them that it will not last forever. He will bring them back from captivity and restore them. They would settle back in their own land. They would follow the Lord. It

Isaiah had told Israel that God would use Babylon to destroy them and take them into exile if they did not repent. This is what happened in in 586BC. Then Isaiah told Babylon that they were just a puppet in God’s hand. He was using them to punish Israel. And because they destroyed other nations as well, He would destroy them also. This happened in 539BC when Cyrus, King of Persia, conquered them. This is the same Cyrus who then decreed that Israel could return to their homeland in 539BC when God put it on his heart to do so. Do you see a pattern?

God is in control. No nation and no man can come against God. Nations are just puppets in His hand when He wills something to happen and kings have ideas that God has put in their minds when He has a plan to be accomplished.

It will all happen as I have planned.

It will be as I have decided.

Isaiah 14:24

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has spoken—who can change

His plans? When his hand is raised, who can stop him?

Isaiah 14:27

God is saying it is imperative that you understand His immensity and man’s frailty. Even the most powerful of men or women cannot compete with God. He laughs at their plans. He is the potter and we are the clay. The clay is not in control. God has given us freewill in our own choices but He is still sovereign and His plans will be accomplished. The King of Babylon thought he was in control and that God had nothing to do with any of it, but he was wrong.

The prodigals are like Israel. God loves them and is dealing with them. God says it is everything when His people pray…when moms and dads are praying…when grandparents are praying…when sons and daughters are praying for their parents…when spouses are praying. He can’t resist. He is the Great I Am. No one stands against Him even if they think they are. Our prayers cause Him to respond. We may not always understand what is happening, but our faith will hold us strong.

I know of many people who believe that God has not destroyed America because of the people who are praying. They believe He will bring (and it has started) a 3rd great revival in response to our prayers for our nation. They believe many prodigals will return at this time. God can do it at any time, but I like to imagine a great number of prodigals returning in a short amount of time. That the church will wake up and be the light. That love will be our banner and faith will be our mantle. That God will use us to draw people to Himself through love, miracles, healing, and proclaiming the truth. And we pray that like You, Lord, brought Israel back from captivity and once again restored them, that You will do this for our prodigals. That once again they will proclaim You as their Lord and Savior!