Isaiah Quote by George Smith
““Ryland had been always loyal to the journeyman shoemaker he had baptised in the river, and he gives us this record:—"If all the people had lifted up their voices and wept, as the children of Israel did at Bochim, I should not have wondered at the effect. It would only have seemed proportionate to the cause, so clearly did he prove the criminality of our supineness in the cause of God." The text was Isaiah's (liv. 2, 3) vision of the widowed church's tent stretching forth till her children inherited the nations and peopled the desolate cities, and the application to the reluctant brethren was couched in these two great maxims written ever since on the banners of the missionary host of the kingdom— EXPECT GREAT THINGS FROM GOD. ATTEMPT GREAT THINGS FOR GOD.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Unknown, possibly a missionary narrative
The passage urges collective lamentation and action, suggesting that divine response matches the intensity of prayer, and calls for bold expectations and efforts for God
In simple terms: Pray loudly and act boldly for God
Key Takeaway
Expect and strive for great things for God
Themes
faith
action
expectation
Mood
hopeful
determined
Type
inspirational
theological
When to use this quote
- church gatherings
- social justice movements
- personal devotion
Key Concepts
Divine justice
collective lament
missionary zeal
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance hope with realistic goals?
- What actions reflect your expectations of God?
A Different Perspective
May become complacent if expectations are unrealistic
