Today’s Reading:
Read Isaiah 13:1-14, 19-22; 14:1-8, 12-19, 22; 24-27,28-31; 15:1,8,9; 16:4-5,13; 17:1-14
In our family, we often don’t watch the news because there is seldom any good news! A news report tells us about something that has happened. Imagine Isaiah is giving a news report for the nations of Babylon, Assyria, Moab, Damascus, and Israel. Do you think that would be a news report of good news or bad news?
Remember, Isaiah is a prophet with a message from God. His message in the first 12 chapters has been directed towards the Israelites based on their choices and the consequences of those choices. In chapter 13, we see Isaiah’s message is not just for the Israelites but also for the surrounding nations. Out of God’s love for His Chosen people and in response to the covenant or promise He made with them. Isaiah told the Israelites that even though they would face challenges, war and destruction from neighboring countries, God was also going to follow through with consequences for those neighboring countries.
Isaiah’s message from God to the Israelites was one of hope. The choices to disobey God’s law and to break the covenant were indeed going to lead to consequences. However, because of God’s love for the Israelites, they would not suffer alone. And, ultimately, God promised through Isaiah that ultimately, He would win!
Application/Prayer:
Give each member of your family a chance to write or act out a news report for one of the countries we read about today. Thank God for his plans for our lives and that we can trust that He always wants what is best for us.
July Memory Verse:
“Truly I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.”
Using the daily reading prompts from George H. Guthrie’s Read the Bible for Life, here’s how to use this devotional:
- Bring your Bible! Your kids need to see that everything you are reading to them or learning about comes from an actual Bible!
- Each day starts with a reading prompt. Read the selection as a family. If your kids are readers, encourage them to read along with you.
- After you’ve read the passage, read the short devotional thought that goes along with each passage.
- Prayer and application are important any time we read God’s word! After each devotional, there is a challenge to help apply what your family has read that day.
- There is a reading for six days of the week. The last reading of the week is a Gospel Conversation Prompt to help you connect the reading from the week with God’s plan for salvation.
Other Resources:
July memory verse coloring sheet
July Fill-in the blank activity