Isaiah 49:24-25 (KJV) “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? [25] But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.”
Isaiah 49:24–26 is part of a prophetic message delivered by the prophet Isaiah to the people of Israel during a time of exile, captivity, and deep spiritual discouragement. The Israelites were taken into Babylon as captives because of their rebellion, idolatry, and broken covenant with God. In this situation, they felt helpless and believed their freedom was impossible. They questioned God’s power and willingness to deliver them by saying, “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?” This question reflects Israel’s hopelessness. They saw themselves as “prey” in the hands of a “mighty” enemy – Babylon.
The phrase “lawful captive” explains that some people are bound not by accident, but through “legal spiritual transactions” done by ancestors. Captivity can be “lawful,” meaning there is a “legal right” or covenant enforcing it. The captivity of the children of Israel had a legal spiritual basis. Their sins and the sins of their forefathers opened the door for bondage (2Ki 17:7–17). But then, we see that the LORD God wants to deliver even the “lawful captive”, for He said, “I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” The LORD God is interested in your deliverance from negative ancestral covenants, even if your captivity is justified.
Know this: with God, no enemy is too strong, no bondage is too deep, no legal hold is too powerful, no covenant has more authority than His. The LORD our God can override any spiritual or earthly legalities. As we dive into this teaching series, I pray that the LORD our God will deliver you and your household from every negative ancestral covenant, in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
Written by: Andrew A. Esemudje