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Isaiah 45:11

¹¹Thus says the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him: "Ask me of things to come; will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

When reading the Scriptures, it is of utmost importance to understand the context. In one fringe group of believers, I was given a memory-verse list that backed up their doctrine. This verse was one on the list, however, we were memorizing from the King James Version. There it was translated, "Concerning the works of my hands, command thou me." Based on that mistranslation, we would command God to do what we thought was good.

The context of the passage shows the ESV and NIV translations to be more accurate. God was expressing His sovereign authority over all His creation. He asked what right a clay pot had to argue with its maker. Our verse for today is telling us that it is the height of arrogance to tell God what to do. He makes what He wants to make. He sees what we could never begin to see or understand. That is why we add to our prayers, "'nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42b). Father does know best.

My grandson was born with a cleft palate. I really didn't know what to make of it until I read in Exodus 4:11, "Who made man's mouth?" God was questioning Moses' complaint regarding his inability to speak well. I realized that God makes us the way we are for His good purposes. Clay has no right to argue with its maker. God is sovereign over all. Accept it, and know that He will use everything for His glory. You can trust Him to do all His works in wisdom and love.

Remember: God knows what He is doing. We don't have to understand, but we do need to trust.