Today let’s start Isaiah 44. Today’s title is from verse 6, “Apart from me there is no God.“ The first command in the 10 Commandments is “You shall have no other gods before me.“ (Exodus 20:3) It is emphasizing that the Lord God only is the real God, and we must not have any other gods besides Him. Today let’s look at what the Lord God is like.

I. I formed you and I will help you (Vs. 1-5)
First of all the Lord formed you and will help you. Please look at verses 1 to 5.
Here the word, “Jeshurun “ appears. This is another name for Israel. It means “an upright person”, “a righteous person”, or “a honest person”. Here in verse 1 all the names “Jacob”, “Israel”, and “Jeshurun” appear. “Jacob” means “holding on to the heel” or “brush aside” or “deceiver“. That Jacob had his named changed to Israel. It means “a person controlled by God”. Israel over and over again turned their backs on God, and didn’t walk by the will of God so the name “Israel” didn’t fit them at all. However, God chose them so God redeemed them. Therefore, even they were called “Jeshurun”. (1)
Here we can see how they were chosen. Here it says that God made them and formed them in the womb. Before they were born, when God formed them in their mother’s womb God was with them and supported them. From that time on Israel was taken care of by God’s right arm. According to the famous letter to the Ephesians, “He chose us in him before the creation of the world.“ (Ephesians 1:4)
If that is the case there is nothing to fear. God’s huge hand is on your back. God has made you so God “will help you.” (2) God has given you life up until now, so God will support you. You have nothing to fear. Do you realize God’s huge care and support? Or are you tortured by your lack of strength? What is necessary for you to do is believe in God who chose you, supports you, and watches over you. Then live in God. How we can do that is written in verses 3 to 5.
Let’s look at verses 3 and 4. “For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
Some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’;
others will call themselves by the name of Jacob;
still others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s’;
and will take the name Israel.”

This is not just pouring water on the desert. This is a promise of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. That is because it says, “I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” (3) Just as water gives man’s body life and moisture, God’s Holy Spirit gives us spiritual life and strength.
Please open your Bibles to Joel 2:28 and 29.
Joel 2:28 & 29
This is a prophecy that at the end of the world, God’s Holy Spirit will be poured out. Specifically this will happen at the end of the world in the of the tribulation period. At that time God will pour out the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit upon Israel. Then their eyes will be opened, and they will know that Jesus is really the Messiah, the Savior, and will come to know Jesus. Israel all together will be saved. Then the Bible prophecy, “All Israel will be saved.“(Romans 11:26) will be fulfilled.
However, this prophecy of Joel was quoted in Acts 2:16 to 18
Acts 2:16-18
This is the event of Pentecost which occurred 2000 years ago. After Jesus completed his work of salvation by the cross and resurrection, he was in this world for 40 days, but finally went up to heaven. That was to prepare a place for us. When he has prepared the place, he will come again to get us. When Jesus left, so that they would not be deserted the Lord promised to send the Holy Spirit. That was the event of Pentecost. At Pentecost the Christians were gathered praying together, when “suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” (Acts 2:2,3)
Therefore, at the end of the world, this will be fulfilled perfectly, but it was fulfilled at Pentecost. This could be said to mean the end of the world has begun. This means that now is really the end of the world. At the end of the world God promises that He will pour out his spirit on all people. When he pours out his Spirit, “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17) I always dream, but not that kind of dreams. This is the Lord’s vision. You will think that even though you are elderly, there is something you can do. You will want to be used by the Lord. A thought will be born that your life is from now on, and that you want to live the rest of our life for the Lord. How wonderful this will be!
If this is said in the context of Isaiah, it is “like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams, One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob; still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s’ and will take the name Israel.” (4,5) When the Holy Spirit is poured out, God’s life and strength will be given. We are really powerless, a very small being. When we can’t do anything we become irresponsible, but we “will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.” (4) Then “some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name Israel.” (5) “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (I Cor. 12:3) To say, “I belong to the LORD” (5) is really the result of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is said that for people to change is more difficult than moving a mountain, but when the Spirit of God is poured out, that person is changed into a completely new person. That is by the work of God’s Spirit.
Think about the disciples of Jesus. After Jesus was put on the cross, they thought they would be captured by the authorities so fearfully they ran away and hid. However, when God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, was poured out, they were filled with the Holy Spirit and were completely changed. It was like they had changed persons. They didn’t fear death at all, and boldly in public places confessed that Jesus is Lord. It happened just as Jesus said.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” (Acts 1:8) When the Holy Spirit comes upon your dried heart, you heart will be completely filled. You will bear the fruit of the Spirit such as “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22,23) When God’s Spirit is poured out, fear will disappear from your heart, and you will be given strength to boldly witness to God. Let’s be like this. How we do that is written here.
Here it says, “I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground.” (3) If you want to be filled by God’s Spirit, first of all you must hunger and thirst for God’s Spirit. Just as water flows from a high place to a low place, God’s Spirit too will be poured out on those who are hungry and thirsty. If a person is not thirsty, he will not be filled. If you want to be filled with God’s Spirit, then you must be hungry and thirsty.
Please look at Matt. 5:6. Here it says, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…will be filled.” (Matt. 5:6) “Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Matt. 5:6) will be blessed. That is because such people “will be filled.” (Matt. 5:6)
Please open your Bibles to Luke 11:11 to 13. Here it says, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

This is a wonderful promise, isn’t it? If a son asks for a fish, a father will not “give him a snake instead” (Luke 11:11) of a fish. Recently the temperature has gone up and we see snakes here and there, but there isn’t any father that says there’s an abundance of snakes so I’ll give him a snake. Fathers “give good gifts to” (Luke 11:13) their children. In the same way “your Father in heaven” will “give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” (Luke 11:13) Seek the Holy Spirit. If so the Lord will give you the Holy Spirit. Let’s pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Let’s read one more passage. That is John 7:37-39. “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.”
Here too a wonderful promise is written. “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37,38) He is talking about “the Spirit, whom those who believed in” (John 7:39) Jesus “were later to receive.” (John 7:39) “Rivers of living water will flow within them” (John 7:38) so “They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.”(4) Their leaves will not dry up, and are very green and alive. They are alive and joyful. We too let’s be like that. Let’s be full of love, overflowing in love, and no matter how terrible we are treated, let’s forgive from our hearts. To do that it is necessary is that we be filled with the Holy Spirit.　Even if you try to drain out all that is within you, it won’t come out. That is because within our inside there is nothing good. What is necessary is God’s love which is far above human intellect. It is by being filled by the Holy Spirit. The Lord promises to fill you with the Holy Spirit. To be set free from fear, you must be filled by the Holy Spirit.
II. Apart from me there is no God (Vs. 6)
Next please look at verse 6. “This is what the LORD says-
Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty:
I am the first and I am the last;
Apart from me there is no God.”
Here God states what He himself is like. First of all, God is “Israel’s King…the LORD.” (6) “LORD” (6) is written in capital letters. This means that the word “Yahweh” is used here. “Yahweh” is the Lord’s name. Also here it says, ”Redeemer”. (6) God redeemed Israel.　Just as God saved Israel from Egypt he will set them free from Babylon. That is not all. Here God is “the LORD Almighty.” (6) This expression includes God’s absolute power and authority. In other words, “the LORD Almighty” (6) by His Almighty power is going to save Israel. Also the Lord says, “I am the first and I am the last.” (6) God lives eternally and from the beginning until the end controls history. Apart from him “there is no God.“(6) Who is this God? The Jehovah’s witnesses believe this God is Jehovah. However, this God is the trinity which includes Jehovah. Jehovah is at the same time Jesus. That is because this name Jehovah is also used for Jesus.
For example, in John 1:49 it is recorded that Jesus is the King of Israel.
John 1:49
These are the words of a man, Nathaniel. It is his confession of faith. He came to a place near the River of Jordan with his friend, Phillip. He may have wanted to be baptized by John. However, there they meet Jesus. First Phillip believed and became one of Jesus’ disciples. Then he said to Nathaniel, “Come and see.“ (John 1:45) However, Nathaniel didn’t believe. The reason why was that the thought “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? “ (John 1:46) He was from the neighboring town of Cana so he knew Nazareth well. It was a small town so where each person lived was common knowledge. He thought it was unthinkable that the son of the carpenter, Joseph, could be the Messiah. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there? “ (John 1:46) It couldn’t be! However, when he met Jesus, Jesus knew everything about him so his unbelief and skepticism towards Jesus blew away. He confessed that Jesus was really the Son of God, the Messiah, the King of Israel.
Also, “Reedemer” (6) as I have talked about several times before, means to pay the price and buy. In the book of Ruth in the Old Testament, Boaz is a “redeemer”. He is a pattern of Jesus. From the descendants of Boaz and Ruth Jesus was born. That is because Jesus came to give his life as a payment for redemption. Jesus died on the cross as a payment for our sin. Christians are redeemed by the blood of Jesus on the cross, and have been bought. Jesus redeemed us from our sin so He opened the way to God. We daily commit sin, but by Jesus we have been redeemed from our sin so when we repent and return to God, we are given restoration in all areas. Jesus is our “Redeemer”.
Also about “the LORD Almighty”, (6) if we look at John 12:41, it says, “Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.“ The glory of Jesus that Isaiah saw is in Isaiah 6:3.
Isaiah 6:3
Here it says “LORD Almighty.” (6:3) This “LORD Almighty” (6:3) that Isaiah saw was Jesus. It was the glory of Jesus.
Also, about “I am the first and I am the last,” (6) Revelations 1: 17 and 18 says, “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand and on me and said: ‘Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.’”

Here is says, “I am the first and I am the last.” (Rev. 1:17) Here the “I” (Rev. 1:17) is Jesus. That is because after that is says, “I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever!“ (Rev. 1:18) Jesus Christ died, rose, and lives forever. Jesus Christ is really the first and the last.
Like this, all the words that are used for the word “LORD,” (6) Jehovah, of Isaiah 44:6 are all used for Jesus Himself. In other words, the “LORD,” (6) Jehovah is at the same time Jesus. The proof is that “God” in “Apart from me there is no God.” (6) is written in the plural form. The Hebrew word that is used here for “God” (6) is “Elohim”. The singular form is “Eloah”. When it becomes the plural form for 3 or more, it becomes like this “Elohim”. This is the trinity. The word “trinity” does not appear in the Bible, but the concept appears throughout the Bible. Therefore, this is the “LORD,” (6) Jehovah, and at the same time Jesus, and also the Holy Spirit, the triune God.
Also, in the Bible it says clearly that there is no other God than this. This God is Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty…the first and… the last.” (6) Apart from Him “there is no God.” (6)

III. God who foretells what will come (Vs. 7&8)
Lastly let’s look at verses 7 and 8. “Who is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come- yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”
Here the Lord says that if there is any God besides him, to show the proof. It is only by showing the proof that god is god will the god be recognized as having legitimate attributes. The proof that the Lord is seeking is that the god can proclaim “what is yet to come-yes, let them foretell what will come.” (7) This is the same thing that was said in chapter 41. The God who can proclaim the future is the real God. This God of the Bible, the Creator God, can tell us “what is yet to come” (7) and can “foretell what will come.” (7) This is written as prophecy in the Bible and as I said before, there is a lot of prophecy in the Bible. In fact, prophecy occupies 1/3 to 1/4 of the Bible. This is one big reason that the Bible is an unique book. The Bible foretells “what is yet to come” (7) accurately and concretely. For example in 45:1 the name, “Cyrus“ appears. The name of a Persian King who hasn’t been born yet is being proclaimed! That is because this God is the really the real God.
The God who proclaims like this is the real God, and apart from him “there is no God.” (6) Israel is chosen, saved, taken care of, and supported by this God. If that is the case, then it is completely vain to make idols and worship them. For them what is necessary is to have assurance that this God is the real God, and be a witness to the Word of God.
We are the same. We too need to have assurance that the God of the Bible is the real God and that apart from him “there is no God” (6) and be a witness to God. Just like Peter and the Christians of the first church boldly proclaimed, ”Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved,“ (Acts 4:12) we must witness that Jesus is the real God, the Savior, and that ”Salvation is found in no one else.“(Acts 4:12)
The Lord at the very first of the 10 commandments said, “You shall have no other gods before me.“ (Exodus 20:3) In other words, you must make this God the number one thing in your life. You are breaking this commandment if your job is more important God, if you family is more important than God, if the church is more important than God, if your hobbies are more important than God, if studying is more important than God, or if your friends are more important than God. Of course, your job, your family, church, studying, etc. are all important things. There isn’t one of these things that isn’t important. However, among these things the thing that you have to put first is God. That is because God is absolute. When we put Him first, then all these things will be given to us. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Then all these things will be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33) Let’s respond to God’s challenge with faith. Then God will abundantly pour His Holy Spirit upon your life, and fill you will love and peace. Also he will give you the blessings of God himself. God will by marvelous ways do this.
“Apart from me there is no God.” (6) He chose you when you were in the womb, watches over you, and supports you. Then He pour His Spirit upon you giving you power. He is really your “King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty.” Apart from Him “there is no God.” (6) Only he is God. He is a “Rock “ (8) that will definitely not let you down.