John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 45:12

"I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens; and all their host have I commanded." — Isaiah 45:12 (ASV)

I made the earth. He appears merely to maintain the power of God, as he had formerly done, so that there is an indirect contrast between God and idols, which superstitious persons worship. Foolish men ask counsel of idols, as if the world were governed at their pleasure. On the contrary, God calls us back to himself, when he says that he made the earth, and placed man upon it, and that his hands stretched out the heavens (Genesis 1:1, 6, 26).

But it will be more appropriate, in my opinion, to apply the whole of this discourse to the nature of the present subject. “Can anything be more foolish than for men to uphold their own rank, and haughtily interrogate, and treat as a criminal, God, whose majesty is above the heavens?” Thus he indirectly censures the madness of men, who do not hesitate to exalt themselves above the very heavens.

Yet at the same time he reminds them that, if it must come to a strict examination, God will not lack arguments to defend his cause. For, if he governs the whole world, he undoubtedly takes particular care of his own people; he is not so concerned with strangers as to allow the members of his family to be scattered and wander. Thus, then, I understand this verse: “Should I, whose vast and inconceivable wisdom and power shine brightly in heaven and earth, not only be bound by human laws, but be degraded below the ordinary lot of men? And if there are any doubts of my justice, should I not, who rule and govern all things by my hand, be careful of those whom I have adopted into my family? Should I not watch over their salvation?”

Thus it is an argument from the less to the greater, and this meaning is agreeable to Scripture. We know that we have been adopted by God in such a manner that, having been received under his protection, we are guarded by his hand; and no one can hurt us, except by his permission. If a sparrow, as Christ tells us, does not fall to the ground without his permission, (Matthew 10:29), should we whom he values more than the sparrows be exposed by him randomly to the rage and cruelty of enemies? And, therefore, since God upholds all creatures by his providence, he cannot disregard the Church, which he prefers to the whole world. We must, therefore, turn to this providence, even in the most desperate situations, and must not give way to any temptations by which Satan attacks us in various ways.