Isaiah 30 - 44: Hovering eagle & shepherd with his lambs

More than anything else, Isaiah has impressed on me that God loves his people, and not only loves us, but longs for us.
- Wait, wait, wait:  "God takes the time to do everything right" (Isaiah 30:18). I've always heard that God's timing is best, and this verse helps to explain why. He waits and works and prepares so things are done right. The verse goes on to say that those who wait on him are "the lucky ones."
- Is anybody up there?  Sometimes we question God, especially when bad things are happening. Isaiah 31:1-3 calls him "a most wise God who knows what he's doing." Sometimes we need to be reminded that we don't always know why things are happening in a certain way or order or time frame, but God does. He knows what he's doing.
- Eagle hovering:  Love this image: "Like a huge eagle hovering in the sky, God-of-the-angel-Armies protects Jerusalem" (Is. 31:4-5). We are under his wings. He is hovering over us like a huge eagle. Love it!
- Big mistake:  King Hezekiah became boastful and proudly showed off all of his precious possession to the messengers for the king of Babylon. Big mistake. They later returned and plundered everything. Moral? Don't be a showoff.
- The shepherd:  Love the image of God gathering his lambs up in his arms (Is 40:9-11). What a gentle, tender image.
- Intelligent design:  God personally forms and makes each one of us (Is 43:5-7).

Elena's verse of the day:  "Please Lord be kind! We depend on you. Make us strong each morning...you are the foundation on which we stand today" (Isaiah 33:2,6)