Haftarah Noach
“Walking by Faith”
Isaiah 54:1-55:5 (A); 54:1-10 (S)
excerpted from TorahScope Haftarah Exhortations
The cataclysmic Flood described in Noach (Genesis 6:9-11:32), is undoubtedly the most memorable event which most of you will be considering this week. However, it is the post-deluge Noahdic Covenant, God unilaterally established with Noah and his progeny, which is reflected upon by the Prophet Isaiah, as he attempted to encourage his contemporaries in the Southern Kingdom. Ultimately, it is the reference to a “covenant of peace” which the Holy One unilaterally instituted with His people, which is something worthy of shouting for joy.
If you will recall, God was so aggravated with the corrupt and violent direction of the human race, that He had to destroy all the people of the Earth, except Noah and his immediate family:
“The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. God saw the earth, and saw that it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. God said to Noah, ‘I will bring an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them and the earth’” (Genesis 6:11-13, WMB).
Further illumination about how an angry God was going to handle evil in the future, is recorded, after righteous Noah offered up sacrifices to Him as the Flood waters receded. Note that God declared what the evil heart of humanity was, promising to extend grace, even though He knew unrighteousness would continue among people:
“Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal, and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. The LORD smelled the pleasant aroma. The LORD said in his heart, ‘I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake because the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth. I will never again strike every living thing, as I have done. While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease’” (Genesis 8:20-22, WMB).
In a comparative manner, the blessing that God would never forsake Israel, is what Isaiah described. He foresaw and understood the brief moment in time when the Lord in His anger, would hide His face from His idolatrous people, allowing the Babylonian exile to take place. However, as this section of the prophecy declares, the punishment upon Israel would only be temporary. After briefly forsaking His people, He would eventually restore them with great compassion:
“‘For your Maker is your husband; the LORD of Hosts is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth. For the LORD has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off,’ says your God. ‘For a small moment I have forsaken you, but I will gather you with great mercies. In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,’ says the LORD your Redeemer. ‘For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,’ says the LORD who has mercy on you” (Isaiah 54:5-10, WMB).
Here, Isaiah looked back to the ancient Flood in Noah’s time—and then into the future when an eternal covenant of peace will be instituted and never be shaken. These verses are promises the Jewish people have held onto for millennia. Down through the centuries, whether sent off to Babylon or dispersed into the nations after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, these words have always brought great comfort and hope to many people. We eagerly look forward to their fulfillment some time in the future!
A few verses later, Isaiah described not only Israel being established in righteousness, but the promise that the Almighty was sovereign over the affairs of His Creation. He not only brings about the circumstances which refine His people, but He assures them that no weapon formed against them will prosper:
“‘You will be established in righteousness. You will be far from oppression, for you will not be afraid, and far from terror, for it shall not come near you. Behold, they may gather together, but not by me. Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you. Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame, and forges a weapon for his work; and I have created the destroyer to destroy. No weapon that is formed against you will prevail; and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their righteousness is of me,’ says the LORD” (Isaiah 54:14-17, WMB).
For Believers today, it is extremely comforting to know that the immutable Creator is the same, yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He does not change and His promises remain forever. “For I, the LORD, don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed” (Malachi 3:6, WMB).
As our Haftarah reading concludes, the first six verses of Isaiah 55 also remind us that another unilateral covenant, one established with King David, is something which God’s people can look to in order to recognize that the Almighty always keeps His word and promises. This everlasting covenant ultimately points us to the Son of David—our Messiah Yeshua—who will one day rule and reign from Zion over the whole world (cf. 2 Samuel 7:12-17):
“‘Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness. Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know; and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.’ Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:1-6, WMB).
I have one, very interesting final thought. As you come to the end of this passage, Isaiah stated that Israel “shall call a nation that you don’t know” and “a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you.” What was Isaiah talking about? Is it an ancient nation, or one which during his time did not even exist? Is it possible that Isaiah was referring to a modern-day nation, or was he looking into the Millennial Kingdom? Is this a reference to Isaiah’s expectation of the restoration of Israel involving more than just Israel proper (Isaiah 49:6)?
The key to answering these questions may only come at that future time, when Israel has finally been glorified. In that glorified state, the people will be seeking the Lord and calling upon Him while He is near. Let us make sure that we are all a part of this restoration, something which requires us to diligently follow Yeshua and obey our Heavenly Father. When we all arrive in His Kingdom, there are doubtlessly going to be many unknown things which He will finally reveal to us!
Our challenge, in the meantime, is to be a people who seek that place of glorification, recognizing that no matter how far we fall short in our pursuit of Him, God will never forsake us or leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Hebrews 13:5). He will eventually and unilaterally bring us into His eternal covenant of peace. Such has been God’s promised pattern for dealing with His people since the days of Noah. May the Holy One hasten the day when His covenant of peace is finally realized!
