Isaiah 44:6 – Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

God has an exclusive claim as the first and the last. He is God and there is no other. He is the King of Israel. He is our Redeemer and Lord. The first commandment reflects the same idea when God tells us, “you shall have no other gods.”

Living in the broken, sinful world, we are surrounded by temptations to put our trust in other “gods.” Even though we know there is only one, other things challenge his rightful place in our lives. We can be tempted to trust in the government to provide or protect us. We can rely on other people or even ourselves when we are in need. The world whispers to us that other so- called gods are available.

Our God, however, is the Alpha and Omega. He is not some transcendent deity in a far off place whom we try to appease through our sacrifices. Instead he is the God who has revealed himself to us in the Word and who became man on our behalf in Christ Jesus. This is our God and we can always trust in him!