Introduction

The Book of Isaiah is like a mini-Bible, with its 66 chapters mirroring the 66 books of the Bible. A truly remarkable arrangement! As we delve into chapters 33 and 34, you will discern that the Bible emphasizes a central theme: The strongmen depicted in Genesis are, in reality, enemies of Jehovah God. I must caution you, the most perilous thing one can do is to oppose God! If you oppose demons, God can still assist you, but if you oppose God, who then can help you? To oppose God is to court utter misery in this life!

Is this truly known? Indeed! I know it! I have investigated and researched this matter. For in Genesis, there is mention of strongmen, the mighty men of old, men of renown (cf. Genesis 6:4). We might assume that being a mighty man of old is a good thing. But upon reflection, consider: Did Guan Yu live a good life? No! Did Zhuge Liang live a good life? Also, no! We Chinese are well aware that one general's success is built upon ten thousand bones. Meaning, fame is often achieved through killing and warfare.

If you are a mighty man of old, or even a person of renown today, you are undoubtedly at odds with God. Oppose anyone, but not God. To oppose God is to invite trouble! Who, then, should I choose to oppose? I choose to oppose the devil, and I choose to reconcile with God. This is a fascinating matter, and as you carefully read this chapter, the theme of strongmen versus those who trust in God will gradually become clear.

In essence, the Bible divides people into two categories: those who are blessed and those who are cursed. You must choose between life and death, blessings and curses. Such choices can be exceedingly difficult for the unwise. For instance, during our recent building project, everyone donated generously. However, we, in our ignorance, committed a foolish act. We withdrew the money from the bank, converting it to cash. The Singapore dollars were manageable, being in denominations of 1000. But when converted to Renminbi, it amounted to a small sack. And what happened? The bank refused to accept it! They questioned the source of the funds. Eventually, we circled back, drawing from our own pockets to convert the Renminbi back into Singapore dollars, and deposited it back into our original account.

What is the point of this story? During this process, I made a sudden discovery: When you possess a large amount of cash, life becomes unbearable, exceedingly painful! The three of us carried bags upon bags of money. We had never seen so much money before. The sudden possession of such a large sum made sleep impossible! I mused, if one had money beneath the bed, one would likely suffer from insomnia. Even without so much money, I was on the verge of sleeplessness. I am not usually prone to insomnia. The next morning, we carried the remaining half-sack of money back to the bank, converted it back into Singapore dollars, and deposited it. The moment we placed it back in the bank, the relief was immense!

In this world, amassing great treasures of gold and silver at home is a perilous thing! And I must impart another detail. When we returned the money, we counted it: 666,000 yuan. I exclaimed, this is divine! It appears that 666 is connected to money. This is a glimpse into something quite interesting that we experienced. We were not laundering money; we were genuinely doing good work. Even genuine work caused trepidation. Imagine how one must live if the money is of dubious origin!

Brothers and sisters, do not presume that corrupt officials lead a good life. In reality, their lives are far from enviable. In Mudanjiang, we knew a very powerful man who was a factory director. It is unknown how much he amassed, but in his sixties, he died from hemorrhaging. Local rumors suggested that he bled to death out of fear. If one possesses vast sums of money, how does one store it, how does one retrieve it? It is all a source of trouble.

I met a friend who recounted that his family's shed had been robbed. It contained valuables. They dared not report the theft, for they would have to explain the shed's contents and their origin. Which begs the question: Where did the money come from? Given a choice between wealth and peace, I believe peace is preferable! Therefore, I tell you about the contrast between strongmen and those who trust in God.

Do Not Live by the Sword

Woe to you, destroyer, you who have not been destroyed; woe to you, betrayer, you who have not been betrayed! When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed; when you stop betraying, you will be betrayed. (Isaiah 33:1)

The reason you have not been destroyed is that the time has not yet come. Take Zhang Fei, for example. Wielding his丈八蛇矛 (zhangba spear), he caused countless heads to roll, yet he was eventually destroyed. You must understand that those who live by the sword will die by the sword! These are the words of the Bible, for this is a spiritual law. You cannot violate spiritual laws. We do not know whether corrupt officials are destroyed by other corrupt officials or by honest officials, but they are invariably destroyed. We have always presumed that living by the sword is natural, that toiling arduously is natural. Is this not the way of the world? But in fact, it is not!

Consider the testimony of our sister. A simple child living in a competitive, dog-eat-dog world, yet she is blessed. In summary, if you choose to be a strongman, relying on yourself, the outcome is either that you destroy others or are destroyed by them. Or, if you act deceitfully, you will be treated deceitfully. How exhausting! Isn't it? Chapter 34 continues to discuss Esau. I will elaborate on Esau later. Esau is most famous for the words his father spoke to him: You will live by the sword. When we read these words, we do not think much of them. But in reality, to live by the sword is a curse!

Having God is Stronger Than Anything!

If someone tells me, You will live by the sword, I would tell them to get lost! For I will live by Jehovah God! You must understand that to live by the sword is to rely on your own hands. The common saying, Destiny is in my own hands, is synonymous with living by the sword. To live by the sword is to protect oneself. If anyone opposes them, they retaliate, like Cain and Lamech, who are of the same ilk. The other type of person says: O Jehovah, be gracious to us; we wait for you.

Why does the author say this? Should you retaliate when you are wronged? This is a fascinating question. If you do not retaliate when wronged and wait for God, you will discover that God opposes your enemies. In reality, whether you wait for God or not, God opposes them. If you wait for God and look to Him, God will protect you. If you do not wait for God and do not look to Him, relying on yourself as a strongman, God will be your enemy! You must understand that the Bible records only two types of people. These two types are not men and women, but the blessed and the cursed. The blessed are those who trust in God; the cursed are those who rely on themselves. Jehovah God is, in fact, our treasure:

He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. (Isaiah 33:6)

In my many years of ministry, my greatest lament is that people do not realize that Jehovah God is a treasure. The fact that Jehovah God is a treasure is deeply ingrained in my heart. Jehovah is exalted, He dwells on high, He fills Zion with justice and righteousness. He will surely seek justice for you! This person has a characteristic: You can choose to trust God, or you can choose not to trust God. When you trust God, you choose to be a gentle person, and you will inherit the land. If you do not trust God and choose to be a gentle person, you will be like a good horse ridden by others, a good person bullied by others. So, I thought to myself, I do not want to be a strongman, nor do I want to be a good horse ridden by others, a good person bullied by others. I have only one choice: to make Jehovah my treasure! I will have stability throughout my life.

How wonderful are these words, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge. If you make Jehovah your treasure, I guarantee you lifelong peace. Allow me to interject with a personal anecdote. As my mother and father grew older, they favored my younger sister, telling her that fish help water and water help fish! And so they lived together. But to what extent did they help each other? It is difficult to say. You could argue that she did offer some help. Later, I advised my mother, after my father passed away, to live alone instead of with my sister. As a result, my mother was verbally abused by my sister as if she were a grandchild.

I said, Mom, just live alone! We are people who have God! My mother responded, Okay, I'll listen to you. I told her not to worry; there is nothing daunting about living alone. Sickness and paralysis will not befall you! We will not have a day when we cannot care for ourselves. Jehovah is our salvation! My mother listened to my words and now lives alone in her own apartment, cooking her own meals and even preparing two hundred catties of sauerkraut. Would you say that by giving my mother the treasure that is Jehovah, she is blessed to have a son like me!

Make Jehovah Your Treasure

Most people of my age are parents of only children. Are the minds of only children broken? Consider: Do I have a treasure? No! Do you have money? Yes! But if you are paralyzed in bed, money cannot make ghosts push the millstone! Even if you do not make ghosts push the millstone, the ghosts will push you to the underworld. Let me advise you, after I came to know God, I repeatedly examined the promises in the Bible, and they are good! The saying goes, Of all things to have, don't have illness; of all things not to have, don't not have money. Now, let me amend it: Of all things not to have, don't not have God; you must not be without God! You must not be without peace!

If you are without God and without peace, how will you live your life? So, brothers and sisters, I am truly telling you from the bottom of my heart that the testimonies you hear among us are not few, but many. Having heard so many testimonies, have you made Jehovah God your treasure? If you have made Jehovah your treasure, I assure you that your life will be wonderful, truly exceptional! Some people are unaware, knowing only to work, thinking that work brings money, and money allows them to live well! They have not understood this matter, but I have. Brothers and sisters, you must begin to follow me and understand that Jehovah is our treasure.

Money cannot prevent paralysis. When I returned to Mudanjiang, I met a classmate whose parents had been paralyzed in bed for seven years. He was the sole caregiver and developed a host of illnesses. If he were to become paralyzed, who would care for him? That would be truly dire! In our generation, there are not a few with multiple children. If those in their fifties become paralyzed, who will they turn to? I suggest you turn to God and faithfully trust in Him with me. I believe you are a wise person.

God Detests Heroes and Champions

The Bible repeatedly contrasts those who please God with those who incur His wrath. Verse 7 records:

See, their heroes cry aloud in the street; the envoys of peace weep bitterly. (Isaiah 33:7)

These heroes and champions are perilous. Avoid becoming such individuals, for they stand as adversaries to God. When you oppose God, you essentially live by the sword, inviting divine retribution. Consequently, your life's path becomes:

The highways are deserted, no travelers are on the roads. The treaty is broken, its witnesses are despised, no one is respected. The land dries up and wastes away, Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the desert, and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves. (Isaiah 33:8-9)

This portrays a person's plight, reminiscent of the 108 heroes in Water Margin. Consider their dismal ends. Reading Water Margin now teaches me not to judge their right or wrong, nor to champion their causes. Shandong natives, like those in Water Margin, often act impulsively, intervening without careful consideration, sometimes causing harm. This is a perilous way to live!

Let me offer a word of caution: we often admired the Liangshan heroes as children, but I tell you, they were often lazy and foolish! Is this how you want to live? Never stick your nose into other people’s business, because everything is under God’s control. When these people become heroes, the Lord will say:

Now will I arise, says the Lord. Now will I be exalted; now will I be lifted up. You conceive chaff, you give birth to straw; your breath is a fire that consumes you. (Isaiah 33:10-11)

They are burned. This outcome shows that survival becomes a personal trial. Our God is unbribable, heedless of bloodshed, and averse to evil. He dwells on high, His stronghold a rocky fortress. Food will not be lacking, and water will never fail. Why did Isaiah write this? Why does someone become a hero or champion? What causes such behavior? It is because when life is threatened, the drive for survival can turn one into an evil person.

When facing threats without God, one relies solely on oneself, abandoning fairness and claiming to be the only truth. Brethren, many fail to understand, becoming strongmen who deem themselves the law. Some say, My father is the law! But even if your father or grandfather is the law, Jehovah God will ultimately strike them down. He detests such individuals, casting curses upon them, allowing the devil to operate legitimately in their lives.

The Height of Perspective Determines the Size of What You See

Why do people accept bribes? Does one really need money, when one has a good job and a pension? Because one feels insecure, so one wants more and more and more money, finally putting oneself in jail.. Verses 16 and 5 here say the Lord dwells on high. This high place is different! Jehovah God, in His supreme position, has a clearer perspective than you. A person's perspective is inaccurate because his level is too low!

Recently, I ministered to someone who recounted numerous difficulties and problems. I frankly stated that problems appear enormous because one stands too low. A tiny bean seems like a mountain; but from a higher vantage point, mountains become beans. From an airplane, even an aircraft carrier looks like a bean. Brethren, learn to dwell on high.

We need God to be the compass of our lives, to walk out a life of sustained supply and unending nourishment, with grace for all our days. Knowing God is the greatest treasure, not knowing God is misery. A person without God cannot solve the need for water nor the need for food, so he relies on doing evil, or else just holds it in. Someone once told me that one person is sure to be corrupt if he becomes an officer because he has that desire. That’s true, and that is why those who desire to grab should not be in leadership positions!

When You Know God, You Will See a Vast Land

Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar. (Isaiah 33:17)

Your perspective changes. When your perspective is as the same level as God, you will be extraordinary. My suggestion to you – whatever difficulties you face, imagine standing beside Jehovah's throne, looking down on the nations and mountains, and your problems will immediately diminish. Besides standing beside Jehovah God’s throne, you can stand one thousand years into the future, and look at them today, and your problem will diminish The reason their problems are so big is because they are only standing there for a few years of their life. Your view is too limited, too short-sighted, your position is too low. Jehovah God is our judge.

The Lord is our mighty One. He will be for us a place of broad rivers and streams. No galley with oars will ride them, no mighty ship will sail them. For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us. (Isaiah 33:21-22)

God will save us! Do you want to be such a person? I'm determined to be someone like that.

Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. (Isaiah 35:5-6)

If only we rely on God, not one in the city will say 'I am sick.' Do not imagine that someone will serve you when you are sick. You must depend solely on God. Sins and sicknesses are related, but if one’s sins are forgiven, the sickness can go away. Getting rid of sickness is through fighting.

Even the lame will carry off plunder.(Isaiah 33:23)

The plunder that will be distributed is referring to what? It is salvation! Because you are fighting a spiritual battle, and so you divide up the loot, your sins are forgiven, and so all sickness leaves - isn’t this salvation? Isaiah talks about these 2 kinds of people. And in chapter 34, the conversation starts talking about another kind of person.

My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed. (Isaiah 34:5)

Esau Was Cursed After Losing His Birthright

This is written to Esau and Esau's descendants. What happened to them? Genesis tells us that Esau despised his birthright. He was Abraham's grandson, and he did not value the blessing from God that belonged to his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham. Consequently, his brother Jacob valued it. After losing his birthright, he was cursed. Reading the Bible, you'll find that Esau was a good person, not an evildoer. He did not indulge in vices, but because he lost his birthright, he was finished –cursed to live by the sword.

The entire chapter 34 speaks of Esau. Why does God hate Esau and the Edomites so much? Either believe in the Lord properly, or do not be like Esau. Esau's faith is intriguing. After Jacob stole his blessing, he sought it from his father, desiring the blessing but lacking Jacob's tenacity. Esau believed in blessings, but did he know about Abraham's blessing from God? He did! Did he know about Isaac's blessing from God? He did! A Christian loses his destiny, his identity, and his inherent blessing. He was originally Abraham's grandson but became someone God opposed.

Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch! (Isaiah 34:9)

Water turn into pitch is good? If the entire seashore floats with oil, it is death!

It will not be quenched night and day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again.(Isaiah 34:10)

The desert owl and screech owl will possess it; the great owl and the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of desolation. Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom, all her princes will vanish away. Thorns will overrun her citadels, nettles and brambles her strongholds. She will become a haunt for jackals, a home for owls. Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creatures will also repose and find for themselves a place of rest. The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wing; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.(Isaiah 34:11-15)

All curses. I urge you all again, we people trusting in Jehovah God can only choose to be a resounding Christian .

Look in the scroll of the Lord and read: None of these will be missing, not one will lack her mate. For it is his mouth that has given the order, and his Spirit will gather them together. He allots their portions; his hand distributes them by measure. They will possess it forever; from generation to generation they will dwell in it.(Isaiah 34:16-17)

Examine and proclaim Jehovah's scriptures; all benefits lie within Jehovah, and they will possess it forever, dwelling there throughout all generations. Having read this passage, you will clearly see two types of people: Esau, who lost his destiny, and Jacob, who gained it. Recognizing Jehovah as our life and treasure, we will serve Him alone. Coming into this world to serve Him, loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and serving Him alone. Brethren, be like Jacob, never entering Esau's curse. Esau believed in the Lord but did not know Him, a tragic state. Believing in the Lord means becoming like Jacob, a resounding Christian. May all brethren have such resolve! Amen!