There is so much in today’s short verse:

I will go before you and level the mountains; Bronze doors I will shatter, iron bars I will snap.  I will give you treasures of darkness, riches hidden away, That you may know I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

Isaiah 45:2-3

God goes before us.  He leads us, makes sure the path is clear, and clears obstacles in our way.  No mountain, door or  bar is a match for Him.   His words are a promise.  “I will go before you.”  God leads us and he will snap anything that keeps us from following.

He promises us treasures of darkness.  We sometimes blame God for dark times.  But even our darkest day can lead to treasures and riches.  When I look back at dark times, I can see now the growth that results from those dark times, and the good things that eventually result.  Indeed without dark times, I would not recognize the good times or experience them in quite the same way.  God changes darkness to light time and time again — Indeed every 24 hours He reminds us of this as His beautiful sunrise pierces the dark sky.  There really are treasures hidden away in the darkness.

But my favorite part of this verse is the very end “I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.”  God is all powerful.  God can level the mountains, shatter bronze doors, snap iron bars and turn darkness into light.  God can do anything.  He does not need me or you.  And yet He tells us over and over how special and important we are to Him.  The Lord, the God of Israel calls us by name.

Thank you God!