Isa 40:12-17 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Isa 40:12-17: 40:12-17 Against the backdrop of Israel’s questions (spoken by the prophet), the Lord affirmed that he is the incomparable God, a wise and sovereign creator who rules over the nations. Summary for Isa 40:12-13: 40:12-13 These rhetorical questions evoke the answer “No one!” God alone created all that exists. He will judge creation (24:17 ), and he alone can and will restore creation through his salvation.

a40:12-17►

b40:12-13►

c24:17►

d40:15►

e40:16►

f2:13-16►

gPs 104:16-17►

h40:17►

i40:23►

j41:24►

k29►

l44:9-11►

m41:11-12►

‏ Isaiah 40:12-17

Summary for Isa 40:12-17: 40:12-17 ^a Against the backdrop of Israel’s questions (spoken by the prophet), the Lord affirmed that he is the incomparable God, a wise and sovereign creator who rules over the nations.
Summary for Isa 40:12-13: 40:12-13 ^b These rhetorical questions evoke the answer “No one!” God alone created all that exists. He will judge creation (24:17 ^c), and he alone can and will restore creation through his salvation.
40:15 ^d God is sovereign over all the nations of the world and over their human power structures. In comparison to God, they are almost nothing. This included the Babylonian Empire, which was merely a tool in God’s hand.

• whole earth: Literally coastlands or islands.
40:16 ^e Lebanon was prized for its abundance of wood and its wildlife (see 2:13-16 ^f; Ps 104:16-17 ^g).
40:17 ^h The nations, including their leaders (40:23 ⁱ), pagan structures (41:24 ^j, 29 ^k; 44:9-11 ^l), and all enemies of God’s people (41:11-12 ^m), are worth nothing apart from God.