God's Tool

"I am sending Assyria against a godless nation, against a people with whom I am angry. Assyria will plunder them, trampling them like dirt beneath its feet. But the king of Assyria will not understand that he is My tool; his mind does not work that way. His plan is simply to destroy, to cut down nation after nation." Isaiah 10:6-7

My husband is a tool guy. In the basement of every home we have lived in, an area has been designated for a workshop. Router, table saw, lathe, drill press, planer, joiner, compound mitre saw. Are you impressed that I even know their names? I can hear Tim Taylor from "Home Improvement" grunting already! Each piece of equipment is designed for a specific purpose. Each is unique and valuable, yet accomplishes nothing unless placed in the hand of a skilled workman.

Assyria is a tool in the hand of God. In verse one, this nation is described as "the rod of My anger". God says, "I will use it as a club to express My anger." God has chosen the Assyrians to be His method of discipline. The Lord is sending Assyria on His mission and giving them permission to forcefully acquire the possessions of Syria, Israel and Judah, gaining victory over the people. God chose a king and a people whose heart was already positioned to destroy and used them to accomplish His purposes.

This confirms a couple of key concepts. God uses wicked and evil people to fulfill His will. In Proverbs 16:4 we read, "The LORD has made everything for His own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster." Sometimes God uses the wicked to bring judgement on His own people. Secondly, later in the book of Proverbs we read, "The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; He guides it wherever He pleases." (21:1) That verse is such a comfort. Those in positions of leadership and authority can only act to the extent that God allows. Although rulers of nations have tremendous power, they are still subject to God's sovereign control.

"No instrument or tool accomplishes its purposes without a greater power." "When a tool boasts of greater power than the one who uses it, it is in danger of being discarded."

This is true of all of us as God's instruments as well. "We are useful only to the extent that we allow God to use us. If God has given us resources and special talents, we must not regard them as our own creation or special privilege." 

Ultimately, we are to be "Channels Only" for the Lord's plans to be fulfilled. It is not about us, but God in us. 

How I praise Thee, precious Saviour, That Thy love laid hold of me;

Thou hast saved and cleansed and filled me, That I might Thy channel be.

Refrain: 

Channels only, blessed Master, But with all Thy wondrous pow'r

Flowing through us, Thou canst use us, Every day and every hour.

Just a channel full of blessing, To the thirsty hearts around,

To tell out Thy full salvation, All Thy loving message sound.

Emptied that Thou shouldest fill me, A clean vessel in Thy hand;

With no pow'r but as Thou givest, Graciously with each command.

Witnessing Thy pow'r to save me, Setting free from self and sin;

Thou who bought me to possess me, In Thy fullness, Lord, come in.

Jesus, fill now with Thy Spirit, Hearts that full surrender know,

That the streams of living water, From our inner man may flow.

Quotes: Life Application Bible, NLT.

"Channels Only" - Mary E. Maxwell, 1900