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Answer
Isaiah’s prophecies do not only address God’s judgment but also His grace. Throughout them, God often recalls His earlier promises, as seen in Isaiah 54:9, where He says, “For this is like the waters of Noah to me.” Despite Israel breaking God’s (Mosaic) covenant and facing imminent judgment (refer to chapters 1—3, for instance), there would still be a remnant who would witness God’s subsequent restoration (Isaiah 14, 27, for example). Isaiah 54:1–3 depicts the nation multiplying its descendants, expanding its tent, spreading out, subduing nations, and rebuilding desolate cities. The people would no longer remember the shame of their past disobedience «Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. », (Isaiah 54:4), because God has redeemed and called them «For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. », (Isaiah 54:5). The people would not experience restoration due to their righteousness, but despite their unfaithfulness, God would rescue them «For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God. », (Isaiah 54:6).
God had briefly judged the people, but He would compassionately restore them «For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. », (Isaiah 54:7). The n
At one moment, the nation had been judged, but they would witness God’s everlasting kindness and compassion: «In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. », (Isaiah 54:8). Due to the temporary nature of God’s judgment and the eternal nature of His blessing, in this instance, God states that “this is like the waters of Noah to me” «For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. », (Isaiah 54:9). During Noah’s time, human wickedness had escalated to such a level that God could no longer tolerate it and decided to bring judgment (Genesis 6:5-7) through a global flood. Nevertheless, even amidst that judgment, God displayed His mercy by choosing to safeguard Noah’s lineage because of Noah’s righteousness (Genesis 6:8;Genesis 7:1). God guided Noah, his family, and representatives of various animal species through the judgment (Genesis 7:17-24).
Following the flood judgment, God established a covenant with Noah and all living creatures, promising never to destroy the earth again with a flood «And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. », (Genesis 9:11). Because of that earlier pledge, God declared in Isaiah 54:9 that the present judgment would be “like the waters of NoaH to me.” God had sworn that the waters of Noah (or judgment) would not flood the earth again (Genesis 9:11; Isaiah 54:9), and in the same way, God was now telling the people that after the judgment they would encounter, He would no longer be angry or rebuke the people «For this is as the waters of Noah unto me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee. », (Isaiah 54:9). Even though the mountains may be removed and the hills shaken, God would not remove His lovingkindness or allow His covenant of peace to be broken «For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. », (Isaiah 54:10).
God is a holy, holy, holy God «And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. », (Isaiah 6:3) who does not ignore His people’s sin. He had promised that if Israel would obey the covenant He gave them through Moses, they would dwell peacefully in the land (Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 28:1-15). But if they disobeyed God, they would be judged and removed from the land (Deuteronomy 28:16-66). Yet even after that judgment took place, God would restore the people (Deuteronomy 30). The judgment would not last forever. God’s judgment of Israel would be “like the waters of Noah” to God «ForThis is as the waters of Noah to me: for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth; so have I sworn that I would not be wroth with thee, nor rebuke thee.” , (Isaiah 54:9) in that it would be temporary and the people would be ultimately delivered.
In a similar way, we see God’s grace poured out on those who believe in Jesus Christ— even though we are worthy of an eternal penalty (death), God loves us and sent His Son Jesus to die as a substitution in our place. He took on Himself the penalty for Israel’s sin and for ours (Isaiah 53:4-12)— in fact, He died for the whole world “and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” , (1 John 2:2) so that all who believe in Him can have eternal life (John 6:47;John 20:31). For those who believe in this Savior, God’s judgment is “like the waters of Noah”— we were by nature children of wrath “among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” , (Ephesians 2:3), but God has saved us by His mercy “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.” , (Ephesians 2:4).
