Look At Me! – Isaiah 46:8-11

Boasting is described as speaking “with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities. Boasting occurs when someone feels a sense of satisfaction or when someone feels that whatever occurred proves their superiority and is recounting accomplishments so that others will feel admiration or envy.”  That is not a flattering description.  But what if God boasts?  Is that excessive pride or designed to make others envious?

“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country.  I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.  (Isaiah 46:8-11 ESV)

Here is God singing a repetitive theme in Isaiah.  We hear it in Isaiah 43:3,10,12; 44:6; 45:5,18,22; 48:17; 51:15 and here, of course.  Another theme here repeated is that He is going to use “the man of my counsel” (Cyrus, presumably) to accomplish His purpose to judge Israel and the nations.  He is over all the nations.

Should God brag?  Absolutely!  But does He do it because His ego is wounded or to build Himself up?  Absolutely not!  He needs to do it to bring us to our senses, to make us see the folly of trusting anyone or anything else besides Him.  We need to be reminded that He alone is the one who determines the end from the beginning and the one whose purpose will be accomplished despite all the contrary purposes of mere creatures.  Thank you, God, for bragging.

Discussion Questions

1. If you had to brag about something concerning you, what would it be?
2. How uncomfortable is it to brag, and why is it so uncomfortable?
3. What do you feel about God bragging?
4. Why should transgressors recall that God remembers the former things of old?
5. Who does God counsel with?
6. What would you boast about God?