“But the Lord will have mercy on the descendants of Jacob. He will choose Israel as his special people once again. He will bring them back to settle once again in their own land. And people from many different nations will come and join them there and unite with the people of Israel.” Isaiah 14:1 NLT
This verse stood out to me because of the words “once again”. In this verse, those words are not mentioned one time, but two times.
We use the term once again when something has happened before. In looking up some synonyms for ‘once again’, Thesaurus.com supplied the words frequently, regularly, and repeatedly.
It was not just one time that the Israelites turned away from the Lord. It was not only one time that the Lord their God found them worshipping other gods. The Israelites didn’t merely forget the Lord and His miracles only one time.
But according to Thesaurus.com ‘once again’ can also be used to make something afresh; to make anew, or once more. The God who showed mercy to Jacob, is faithful and ‘once again’ shows mercy to Jacob’s descendants.
We find ourselves relating to the Israelites – falling ‘once again’ to temptation, putting our desires in the forefront. Our once again’s require forgiveness. Thankfully the God who showed mercy to the descendants of Jacob, is not only faithful to the Israelites, but is also faithful to us, and His ‘once again’ removes our sin, making us white as snow.
Lock Your Wings 
The forgiveness of Almighty God is something that really blows my mind, historically with Israel and personally with each of us. In human relationships we keep score and even draw a line in the sand, but our Father God does neither of these things if we repent before Him. Hallelujah!
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These verses stood out for me:
“In that wonderful day when the Lord gives his people rest from sorrow and fear, from slavery and chains,”
Isaiah 14:3 NLT
As we officially enter code red again tomorrow, we can understand a bit better the relief and joy that will be felt when things return to what they should be. It will be a wonderful day when Covid is over and it will be a wonderful day when the bondage of sin no longer holds us captive.
“I have a plan for the whole earth, a hand of judgment upon all the nations.”
Isaiah 14:26 NLT
Covid may have been a surprise for us but not for God. Just as this virus has affected all the nations, one day all the nations will face the same judgement too.
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So true.
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It is reassuring to know that God has a plan for the whole earth – it is only us who are surprised by what lies ahead.
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