ישעיהו, פרק מ״ג, פסוק י״ג

God's absolute eternity and supreme authority form the foundation of His relationship with the world, establishing that no force can ever challenge His will. The primary approach among commentators understands God's relationship to time by looking to the past. Since the dawn of existence and the very first day, God has been the sole ruler. Some commentators take this even further, emphasizing that His reign predates the creation of the world and the very concept of time itself [רד״ק, אבן עזרא]. His presence is not limited to the ancient days when He first revealed Himself to the ancestors of the nation; rather, His existence stretches infinitely further back [מלבי״ם, רד״ק]. Another perspective views this timeframe through a historical lens, noting that God has stood by His people for ages, continually saving them from their enemies [רד״ק]. In contrast to these past-oriented views, a differing opinion suggests a focus on the infinite future, asserting that God will remain forever, long after all bounds of time have passed [שד״ל].

From this eternal nature comes absolute power. Because God is boundless, no human or external force can ever escape His domain [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This absolute control applies to every divine action. Whether God decides to save and support a nation, or He determines to bring ruin upon those who deserve it, His reach is inescapable [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. When He desires to act, there is simply no power in the universe capable of canceling, preventing, or reversing what He has set in motion [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד].

This divine perfection, which masters both the flow of time and the outcome of every action, carries a profound lesson. It requires the Israelites' testimony about God to be equally whole and unwavering. Because God is absolute, the future redemption He ultimately brings will also be entirely complete, encompassing the whole of existence without limits [ביאור שטיינזלץ].