Isaiah 45:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

If any credit is ascribed to the father, My merit far surpasses it, as fathers are merely instruments, whereas I am the ultimate source of all that exists. Thus says the Lord, who has created what is to come. It is aptly said: 'coming,' which denotes the future, for we should not focus solely on the past. It suffices to remind you that you were called into existence from nothing, and that you received this life through My wisdom. Do I not love you? — He asks. But love alone is not sufficient. Do I not know how to care for you? To demonstrate His guidance, through which He tends to all creation, He provides us with an example: He mentions His father and mother to reinforce our assurance of His love. No one would claim, 'I cannot provide care; I know how to love but choose not to.' Instead, all declare, 'I love and I care.' It seems to me that He is implying: 'Just as a son cannot articulate anything like his mother, even though he came into the world through her womb amid pain, so you should refrain from making similar claims.

It is indeed remarkable, and quite justly, that the wise Paul articulated: O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor? (Rom. 11:33, 34). The Creator of all, Wisdom, requires no assistance in her endeavors; nothing concerning us is beyond her capability. She possesses all power, for the Lord of all creation is the Almighty, who alone comprehends the nature of His works. Consequently, His creations are unfathomable and surpass human understanding; they lie beyond the grasp of human thought and expression, known only to Him. Thus, we affirm that through water and the Spirit, a spiritual rebirth has been granted to those who recognize the revelation of Christ. When Christ sought to impart grace to Nicodemus, He elucidated the nature of this transformation. However, lacking comprehension, Nicodemus criticized the Savior's words as unclear; thus, He urged him to embrace the miracle through faith, stating, "We speak what we know, and we testify what we have seen" (John 3:11). Therefore, in our inability to grasp the essence of Divine workings, let us cast aside all doubt and declare to God, We know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2): let us refrain from questioning Him about His sons and daughters, nor dictate or restrict Him concerning the works of His hands; rather, like clay in the hands of the potter, let us trust God to act according to His will. For He does not strive to alter our being arbitrarily, but instead transforms our thoughts from the worst to the best, replacing our hearts with new life while removing the old. As proclaimed through Ezekiel, He declared: I will give them a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone (Ezekiel 11:19), a heart that is gentle and humble, capable of knowing Me, that I am the Lord. Therefore, by purging us of all vices and impurities and aligning our souls towards goodness, we will achieve spiritual rebirth through water and the Spirit, becoming sons and daughters of God. His omnipotence is further revealed as He affirms, "I created the earth and mankind upon it." Consider the Creator of humanity—who brought forth that which did not exist—how could He lack the power to effect spiritual transformation? Is it not clear that by His command, the very nature of creation can shift into various forms as He wills? What is surprising, then, if the soul of man is reshaped into a form favorable to Him by the One who fashioned the heavens with His own hand? By the all-powerful hand of the Father, we acknowledge the Son, through whom all things are made and in whom all things hold together. For it is declared by the Word of the Lord that the heavens were created (Psalm 32:6). He commanded all the stars, dictating their existence and purpose. The sun was set at the dawn of day, and the moon at the onset of night (Gen. 1:16). Even so, as the Psalmist notes, the sun is aware of its setting. The Lord of all also brought forth darkness, thus establishing the night (Psalm 108:19, 20). Divine David further articulates: Yours is the day, and Yours is the night; You have created the sun and the moon (Ps. 73:16). Each luminary faithfully completes its prescribed course, guided by an orderly movement within specific time frames. Similarly, the rest of the stars, according to the command bestowed upon them by God, rise and set at predetermined times, having been directed by the great Creator, who is by nature the Lord of all.

Who possesses the authority to question God? It must be accepted that the will of God, who has orchestrated all things in heaven and on earth in accordance with His purpose, including all future events, cannot be thwarted by human will. Humanity cannot thwart the reality that God accomplishes all that He desires. Thus, even in relation to human will, He acts according to His own intentions and timing.

Thus declares the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, who formed the Savior in the womb of a virgin, proclaiming through Gabriel, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Let the vessel seek knowledge from Me, probing into the mysteries of what is to come, and let it reveal to Me how to transform the adopted sons who will believe in My Son. And John the Evangelist states, “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12).

In their yearning for clarity regarding this uncertainty, they may express dissatisfaction with the Lord and even question the authenticity of His promise, voicing their doubts in a way that implies the Lord must justify Himself to them, as if clay were to ask the potter, "What are you making?" or a son to question his father's decision to conceive. Despite such audaciousness from the Jews, the Lord, in His grace, permits them to approach Him with their concerns and even demands, allowing them the freedom to voice these feelings. He reaffirms His promises to end their captivity in a manner that aims to bring them peace. The Lord acknowledges their discontent and impatience with the words: Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, who brings about what is to come—meaning He has authority over future events and accomplishes His will when the time is divinely appointed. Therefore, the Lord continues, ask of Me concerning My sons and daughters: the wellbeing of My people is as precious to Me as the welfare of children is to their parents. However, parents, despite their desires to ensure their family's well-being, are unable to control the future, as it is beyond their reach. This is not how I regard the sons and daughters of My people; their future lies within My control. Consequently, if you seek to know their ultimate fate, come to Me—not just to request, but to command through My hand—inform Me of your desires and what you wish I could accomplish for you. While you possess no authority to direct Me in My endeavors, I, in My grace towards you, stand ready to serve.