Isaiah 48:15
I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
ISAIAH 48:15
Verse 15 closes with a personal confession from God: “I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.” Here, God claims authority and initiative in bringing about Cyrus’s mission and the broader salvation project. It ties God’s speech to action: what God speaks, He secures through purposeful providence. The language reinforces the close link between divine initiative and human history. It also emphasizes that the paths of nations and peoples are directed by God’s purposeful design.
Cultural note: This would have been radical in a late-7th-century BCE context, where human kings and alliances usually seemed to wield decisive power. Isaiah asserts God’s sovereignty even over such rulers.
This verse highlights divine agency and providence. It affirms that God’s word accompanies His deeds; He speaks and acts in concert, shaping destinies to fulfill His redemptive plan. It reinforces trust that even seemingly secular leaders act within God’s sovereign purposes.
In contemporary life, this invites confidence that God is at work through political or cultural shifts, even when the outcome isn’t immediately clear. Practical steps: stay faithful in your own calling, seek God’s guidance in discerning whether to engage politically, socially, or personally. When plans appear to fail, remember that God’s plan often uses unlikely agents to bring about prosperity and renewal.
Cross-References: Isaiah 46:9-11; Proverbs 16:1-4; Romans 8:28; Daniel 4:17; Philippians 2:13