Confounded
One Year Bible (Sep. 25)
Isaiah 45:11-48:11
CONFOUNDED
“They shall be ashamed, and also CONFOUNDED, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation; ye shall not be ashamed nor CONFOUNDED world without end.”
(45:16-17 KJV)
Have you ever been confounded… totally confused, perplexed, and just scratching your head in disbelief?
The Biblical definition of this word means, “to embarrass, cast down, or make ashamed.” To terrify, dismay, astonish or stupefy with amazement is the purpose of God’s CONFOUNDING.
The KJV uses the word, “CONFOUNDED” rather than just disgraced and put to shame. I think this word paints a bigger picture for us as we look back over God’s dealings with the enemies of God’s people throughout the Old Testament and God’s dealings with them.
They weren’t just disgraced or put to shame; they were in utter disbelief most of the time. I guess you could say that “they never saw it coming”!
Renee Bondi never saw “it” coming either! At the age of 29, she was engaged to be married. She had a wonderful career as a music teacher and a stellar voice. All of life was like a fairytale right before her eyes, and then it became a CONFOUNDING nightmare.
She loves the Lord and is an amazing speaker with an angelic voice, but she got a testimony that no person would EVER want!
She went to bed one night and somehow fell out of bed breaking her neck. She could barely whisper for help, but God provided help. Her world as she knew it was decimated but God took this beautiful woman as a quadriplegic confined in a wheelchair and gave her the man of her dreams. They married and had a son together.
Renee travels all over the country, in her motorhome with her husband, bringing a testimony that only she can share. Renee is that piece of broken clay in the Potter’s hand and she SHINES!
Girlfriends, it is time to get real! I know that perhaps you have been reading book after book of the Old Testament and been thinking, “IDOL'S"!! Here we go again! What is the big deal with idols? I am never going to worship some Asheroth pole. So, let’s just move on already!
What’s the “PULL” with “POLES”?
Well, let’s just forget the word “POLES” and stick with the word “PULL”?
What “PULLS” you, and what if you don’t get to have YOUR dreams, YOUR way, or YOUR wants? What if your health is suddenly taken away?
What if you “PULL” your weight with God, and it still “Goes To Pot”?
How many speakers and singers do you know that have the most incredible message, but you wouldn’t want their life for anything?
Let’s get this hard truth straight… God raised gentile King Cyrus to “fulfill my righteous purpose”. (45:13)
He also uses broken vessels like Joni and Renee to be STRONG in voice though weak in body. He confounds the world!
Why is He doing this? “But the LORD will save the people of Israel with ETERNAL SALVATION throughout EVERLASTING AGES.” (45:17)
If there is anything that we have learned in our time together in the Old Testament, it is that God is about “Covenant” while we are about “Comfort”.
God is about “Eternity” while we are about “Entertainment”.
God is about “Salvation” while we seek “Status Quo”.
This continues to CONFOUND us! Why doesn't He want what we want and do what we say?
Not only does God “CONFOUND” the enemies of his people to accomplish HIS ETERNAL ways, but He also COUNFOUNDS His own people...
“But God chose the FOOLISH things of the world to CONFOUND the WISE; God chose the WEAK things of the world to CONFOUND the STRONG.” (I Corinthians 1:27)
Sovereign God is NEVER out of control; we are...
O LORD, when I am “CONFOUNDED” may I be “CONFIDENTLY-GROUNDED” in YOU!
