What does "purpose that is purposed" reveal about God's unchanging will? Setting the Scene Isaiah 14 addresses the fall of proud world powers and sets their downfall against the backdrop of the LORD’s sovereign rule. Verses 24–27 form a climax: • “The LORD of Hosts has sworn: ‘Surely, as I have planned, so will it be; as I have purposed, so will it stand.’” (Isaiah 14:24) • “This is the plan devised for all the earth, and this is the hand stretched out over all the nations. For the LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who will annul it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:26-27) The phrase “purpose that is purposed” (KJV) or “plan devised” spotlights the fixed resolve of God. Tracing the Word “Purpose” • Hebrew root: ָיּעַצ (‘yaʿats) – to counsel, plan, decide. • Repetition (“purpose that is purposed”) intensifies certainty—God’s counsel is not tentative advice but final decree. What the Phrase Reveals about God’s Unchanging Will • Absolute Sovereignty – God initiates the plan: “as I have purposed.” There is no committee or outside force shaping His agenda (Isaiah 46:10). • Immutable Resolve – “So will it stand” (Isaiah 14:24). His will is unalterable (Psalm 33:11 “the plans of His heart stand firm forever”). • Universal Scope – “For all the earth…over all the nations” (Isaiah 14:26). His purpose is not local or limited; it governs history’s entire canvas (Daniel 4:35). • Irresistible Power – “Who will annul it?…who can turn it back?” (Isaiah 14:27). Human opposition collapses under His outstretched hand (Job 42:2). • Reliable Foundation for Faith – Because His purpose stands, His promises are trustworthy: salvation (Ephesians 1:11), sanctification (Philippians 1:6), ultimate restoration (Revelation 21:5). Supporting Passages Echoing the Same Truth • Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that He should lie…Has He said, and will He not do it? Has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” • Psalm 102:27 – “You remain the same, and Your years will never end.” • James 1:17 – “With Him there is no variation or shadow of turning.” • Hebrews 6:17–18 – God confirmed His purpose with an oath “so that by two unchangeable things…we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged.” Living Out the Certainty of God’s Purpose • Rest when nations rage—God’s plan is already purposed. • Trust His timing—delay never equals doubt in His counsel. • Obey with confidence—our labor is never wasted in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58) because His will cannot fail. • Worship with reverence—His unchanging purpose magnifies His glory (Romans 11:36). Conclusion “Purpose that is purposed” unveils a God whose plans are self-originated, all-encompassing, and utterly secure. Because He never revises His counsel, every promise in Christ is “Yes and Amen” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Our hope rests, not on shifting circumstances, but on the steadfast purpose that stands forever. |
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