Woe to Those Striving with God

Saturday, July 11, 2015
Isaiah 45:5-13 NIV

5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, 6 so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. 7 I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things. 8 "You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down. Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it; I, the LORD, have created it. 9 "Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter, 'What are you making?' Does your work say, 'The potter has no hands'? 10 Woe to the one who says to a father, 'What have you begotten?' or to a mother, 'What have you brought to birth?' 11 "This is what the LORD says-- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? 12 It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. 13 I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the LORD Almighty."

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What does the Lord declare about Himself? (v.5a)
2) What does the Lord declare that He will do for people despite their failure to acknowledge Him? Why? (v.5b-6)
3) What else does the Lord declare about Himself and His mighty acts? (v.7-8)
4) Who does the Lord declare woe over and why? (v.9-10)
5) What does the Lord ask His people about Himself? (v.11)
6) What else does the Lord declare about Himself and what He will do concerning His people? (v.12-13)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
7) Have you ever questionned, or balked at, the Lord's work in your life? If so, please describe one such time and its outcome.

LIFE LESSONS
8) God can do whatever He pleases in the lives of His people. 
9) The Lord expects His people to trust in Him even during the difficult seasons in their lives.
10) God wants His children to trust Him and to obey Him, even when we do not understand what He is doing in our lives.