Sometimes we may wonder if God has dozed off. After all, we do. Sitting in our comfortable chairs, we intend to read for a while, or watch a favorite show or a ball game. But then our eyes begin to get heavy, and suddenly we realize that we had become unconscious for awhile. With eyes open again, we seek to get our bearings: “What did I miss? What time is it, anyway?” So when our circumstances become difficult to bear and God doesn’t seem to be doing anything to help, we may cry out to Him, “Awake, awake!” (v 9). But God hasn’t drifted off, even for a moment. So He replies, “Wake yourself, wake yourself” (v 17). We are the ones who must rise up by faith to take hold of the promises offered to us in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Isaiah 51 opens with words of encouragement to the faithful remnant of Judah. Continuing the theme of the previous chapter, the prophet urges God’s people to keep listening to the words of His Servant (v 1, 4, 7), trusting that God’s “righteousness” is always near and certain (v 1, 5, 6, 7, 8). Looking back, we remember that Abraham started as just one man. He and Sarah had no bright future to get excited about. They were like dead rocks in a quarry. But God blessed them with new life and multiplied their offspring. We find comfort in this life-giving power of God, knowing it will not stop until the whole world is restored to be like the original Garden of Eden (v 1-3). Looking ahead, we anticipate the coming of Christ, whose salvation is now spreading to all peoples. The world as it currently stands is not how it will be in the future. God’s law and light will one day be welcomed universally (v 4-6). And looking at the present, we are strengthened daily by the Word of God, which we treasure in our hearts. This divine revelation serves as an anchor in our turbulent world, keeping us from fear and panic. With His Word, we have an eternal perspective that enables us to bravely carry on right now (v 7-8). Even as we call on God to be awakened, we know that He is always alert and His strength is always fresh (v 9). He can remove any obstacle to make a way for His redeemed people to arrive safely in the Promised Land (v 10). And when we arrive there, we will not crawl in on our hands and knees, exhausted and depressed. We will join a great and joyful celebration as we enter heaven. All of our “sorrow and sighing shall flee away,” never to return! (v 11). God is not asleep. He hears the cries of our hearts, and He is all the answer we need (v 12-16). So we must wake ourselves up to God’s dual promise: there is an end to our trials, but there is no end to His faithfulness (v 17-23). For further meditation: