02.28.09
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| 14:59
Scripture: Isaiah 11:15 (NIV): "The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian Sea; with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River. He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals."
Thought: To me, God goes to great extremes to clear the way for His people to come to Him.
Question: Has God's "sweeping hand" been at work in my life?
God has been regathering His Jews (verses 11 and 12), healing their internal jealousies (verse 13), and granting them victory over their enemies (verse 14). Now He will clear the way for them to draw near to Him. As they move northward through Egypt (verse 11) they will encounter the northwest arm of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Suez, standing between them and the holy city, Jerusalem. "The LORD will dry up the gulf of the Egyptian Sea..." This is strongly reminiscent of the parting of the Red Sea and crossing of the Jordan River in Moses' day as the children of Israel were "gathered" to God in their escape from Egypt long before. God can do it--will do it--again! Whatever His people need to have smoothed before them, God will remove all obstacles.
"...with a scorching wind he will sweep his hand over the Euphrates River." And so again, to the north of Jerusalem (the city of Zion and "headquarters", as it were, for the reign of Christ in the future), we see God also clearing the way for His people travelling southward. The Euphrates is in modern day Syria, north and somewhat east of Jerusalem. The Euphrates River, from a geographical standpoint, does pose as a large obstacle for anyone coming down from the north as it stretches from modern day Turkey, through Syria and across Iraq and then connects with the Red Sea.
"He will break it up into seven streams so that men can cross over in sandals." (Looking also to Revelation 16: 12 we read: "The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East." Although this Revelation reference speaks of a future day when God's wrath is at work preparing the way for the earth's end-time "Battle of Armageddon", it is still interesting to note its similarities with our Isaiah passage. God will use His power to manipulate the Euphrates River as needed more than once in future events. Both times, He will "dry" the river. This is a vital geopraphic "zone". The Garden of Eden was not far from the Euphrates; Genesis 2: 10 - 14, here quoting only verse 14: "The name of the third river is the Tigris; it runs along the east side of Asshur. And the fourth river is the Euphrates." The confluence of these river, though two of the four have dried up, intersects at the "peak" of today's Persian Gulf, converging approximately at today's nation of Kuwait. Thus where mankind begins, Armageddon will bring all earthly ages to an end--right here near the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers.) In today's Isaiah verse, God will also "touch" this river, breaking "it up into seven streams" so it can be easily crossed in several spots. This is so utterly amazing! God does not want an obstacle between Him and His people!!
Prayer: Lord God, You act in heroic proportions when You see how to make a way for Your people to return to You! How You want us near, oh Lord!! Have Your way, Father! Amen.
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02.26.09
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| 21:43
Scripture: Isaiah 11:14 (NIV): "They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will lay hands on Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them."
Thought: To me, once we are on God's side and He has "re-gathered" us to Himself, He will conquer our enemies all around!
Question: Do I realize the enemy is all around me?
These nations--Philistia, Edom, Moab and the Ammonites--comprise the traditional enemies of Israel. Having been newly regathered by God (Isaiah 11:11 and 12), and purged of internal hostilities one with another (yesterday's verse), a confident and strengthened Israel can now deal successfully with their enemies.
"They will swoop down..." This presents a picture of a united front in Israel. God is with them and they are increased in strength and number! They roll forward with confidence. "...together they will plunder..." The power received from their new-found identity enables them to victimize their enemies. Perhaps they are "plundering" (stealing goods from those they have conquered in battle) what was once theirs to begin with: the "territory" that Satan's oppression had stolen away from them. "They will lay hands on..." Israel is taking back, repossessing as it were, their rightful properties. "...and the Ammonites will be subject to them." Now the tables are reversed: Israel will have the upper hand and will take leading control, putting their enemies into subservience.
Again, because of the future tense of these verbs, this verse, together with the entire context, is a foreshadowing of what will take place in the Millenial age--the thousand year rule and reign of Christ on the earth. Of course, this was also "prophetic" of the time nearer its writing: prophetic of the day of Hezekiah's reign when Israel would have the "upper hand" and conquer her enemy (Sennacherib) in those days. It is safe to say that an important element of Christ's Millenial rule and Hezekiah's rule is the regathering of His people: a drawing of all of them unto God and into united purpose. As they collect around Him, the enemies will be trodden down on either side, ("to the west...to the east...").
For today's Christian, a good lesson is contained herein: if Christ calls you to Himself, all His power will be available to you. I have often heard the expression within Christian circles, "God's callings are God's enablings", or "God will never lead you where He cannot keep you." Certainly, if you want victory over your spiritual enemy, Satan, in all the forms he may take to assault you, your first and foremost strategy should be to "gather" or "regather" yourself to Christ! We have no power to combat a principality like Satan--only God Almighty does. Draw God's power to yourself for the battle that will be fought today and then Satan "...will be subject..." to you!
Prayer: Father, I do want "to swoop down" on my enemy! I want to "plunder" him, lay my "hands" on him and make him "subject" to me; but I know only You can dothese things. I pray Your power would so fill me that I can stand confidently against my enemy! The battle is Yours, Lord--I am just the battleground. Amen.
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02.25.09
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General
| 21:29
Scripture: Isaiah 11:13 (NIV): "Ephraim's jealousy will vanish, and Judah's enemies will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, nor Judah hostile toward Ephraim."
Thought: To me, a bigger love than human love--God's love--wipes out jealousy and the like.
Question: Do I let God deal with my jealousy?
"Ephraim" was Joseph's older son and developed into a strong tribe of Israel. Later on the name "Ephraim" came to be considered a synonym for the nation Israel.
What force is able to put an end to one nation's jealousy over another nation? For that matter, what force is able to conquer any jealousy springing up in the human heart? What force? The "force" of God's righteousness! There will be no other solution to the issues of conflict that our hearts struggle with, or that families, neighborhoods, countries or nations struggle with--no other solution than to turn to the power of the "rightness" of God.
God is not to be called upon merely as a "helper." He is not to be denigrated or cast into the "back seat" of our affairs. Man is not at all in ultimate control, nor should he think he is or act as though he is. Thank goodness God will remain in control no matter what we do, but it is way beyond high time for all of us to realize Who God really is and who we really are next to Him. He is the omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient Creator of all of us, our planet and our universe, and we are His creatures.
When God assigns Christ Jesus to rule His Kingdom on earth during The Millenium, Christ's authority as a true member of the Godhead begins to take hold on the earth. In Isaiah 11 we have been studying the way this establishment of Godly power will unfold upon earth. We have seen Christ becoming fruitful (verse 1); we have seen the fullness of the Holy Spirit upon Him (verse 2); we have seen His clean and pure judgment on the earth (verses 3 and 4); we have seen Him characterized in all things by righteousness and faithfulness (verse 5); we have seen unprecedented peace in the earth as a result of this judgment, followed by righteousness and faithfulness (verses 6 - 9), and we have seen "glorious rest" brought to all the peoples as He gathers them back to Himself (verses 10 - 12). "Glorious rest" partly translates out as "no jealousy"! Ephraim's jealousy will vanish..." How? Why? By God's will and by the spread of God's righteous power! (Isaiah 11:9).
Webster defines "jealousy" as "the state of demanding complete devotion" of another, or being "suspicious of a rival." Did the divided nations of the Jews become suspicious of each other regarding who was loved more by God? Or was their jealousy based on which of the two of them was more admired by the world around them? Either way, God's reunification of them will wipe it all out. The basis for their jealously will disappear, there is no more desire to be "suspicious of a rival" or to "demand complete devotion"--God's love will fill all needs in that Millenial Day!
Prayer: Great God of Love, when You rule, peace reigns and the evils of jealousy and a host of other problems flee! Thank You for being able to look forward to a day when You will have complete earthly rule! Amen.
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02.23.09
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General
| 19:45
Scripture: Isaiah 11:12 (NIV): "He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth."
Thought: To me, only the sovereign LORD could reunite the 12 tribes of Israel, and only the sovereign LORD can unite all peoples, making them one.
Question: Have I rallied to Christ's banner?
Today's verse draws "exiles of Israel" together with "people of Judah", all being brought "from the four quarters of the earth" and united harmoniously under Christ's "banner for the nations." Christ Jesus brings a new flag! He creates a new order! Only by the power and pure goodness of God could a reconciliation be made between the 10 tribes of Israel and 2 tribes of Judah, split apart by disagreement and war as seen in I Kings 12:20 and 21, 14: 14 - 16 and many other scriptures referring to the divided kingdoms of Kings Jeroboam and Rehoboam.
Similarly in Jeremiah 3:18, the prophet invites sinful Jews to return to the Lord and in so doing, prophesies their glorious "united" future in God: "In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance." The key word to me, in this verse, is the word "together!" "Together they will come..." is the power of God drawing them into His unity.
Remembering how Christ's righteousness and faithfulness (Isaiah 11:5) encircle Him, we can read in Zechariah 8:7 and 8 that Christ's faithfulness and righteousness are adorning this feat of regathering: "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will save my people from the countries of the east and the west. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.' "
When Christ died for humanity, His free gospel of grace was extended to everyone regardless of gender, race, age, social status or parentage. This had a tremendous impact on the known world in His day where Jews were separated from Gentiles--an accepted norm in that culture. In Ephesians 2:11 - 20 we see the Apostle Paul discussing the beauty of the universality of the gospel truth in its application to the church body as a whole: "Therefore, remember that formerly you who were Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)--remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to those who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." This is a parallel example of what God will also do in The Millenium. No matter what era God is working within, He wonderfully and effectively brings perfect unity through His powerful, transforming love.
Prayer: Omnipotent Father, I am awed again at the ability You have to accomplish Your good purposes among men! In Your perfect timing and in Your perfect way You will neutralize all disagreements, uniting us all into "one faith, one baptism, one hope, one Lord and one God and Father of all." Have Your way, Father! Though political figures strive for unity and world peace, I know it will only be found in You, Father! Amen.
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02.22.09
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| 15:41
Scripture: Isaiah 11:11 (NIV): "In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people from Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the sea."
Thought: To me, God has been thorough as He regathers His people.
Question: Have I taken hold of God's reaching hand?
As is true for this entire portion of Isaiah, these verses found their practical fulfillment in history when, during the reign of Hezekiah, God blessed the Jews with victory over Sennacherib and his Assyrian army. "In that day..." Israelites and Jews were reunited wonderfully. The previous tribal schisms were forgotten in the wake of victory over Assyria, and God's people were drawn together successfully.
"...the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant..." This "second time" reminds us of the first time God drew His people together and saved them out of trouble: the great exodus from Egypt. In this "second" rescue God details all areas to which the Jews had scattered. As they "rally" together under God's banner (yesterday's verse) they are drawn out from every corner of the then-known world, returning from underneath every stone, as it were, reclaiming their identity as a nation. They came from upper and lower Egypt, Cush (which refers to Ethiopia and Arabia. The word "Cush" means "black"), Elam (literally, "highlands", is currently southwest Iran), Babylonia (a state in southern Iraq), Hamath (meaning "fortress", is a city in central Syria north of Damascus) and "the islands of the sea" (probably those in the Mediterranean Sea area).
Those reclaimed are referred to as "a remnant that is left", hailing back to Isaiah 10:20 - 22: "In that day the remnant of Israel, the survivors of the house of Jacob, will no longer rely on him who struck them down but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, a remnant of Jacob will return to the Mighty God. Though your people, O Israel, be like the sand of the sea, only a remnant will return."
Prophetically, God will again, at some future date, regather His people for life together under His rule during The Millenium. So be it! Unfortunately, though God is careful and thorough to leave "no stone unturned", "only a remnant" will return": people to not respond to God in the same warm way He reaches out to them. How sad!
Prayer: Lord God, I praise You for Your sovereign control over all of history. You will work out Your good plans on behalf of Your people! As I meditate on Your loving reach, help me to take hold of Your hand and follow wherever You lead. You are always reaching out to us Lord--thank You! Amen.
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02.21.09
Posted in
General
| 16:57
Scripture: Isaiah 11:10 (NIV): "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious."
Thought: To me, we can only find glorious rest when we know and follow Jesus Christ.
Question: Have I rallied to Jesus Christ?
Christ's title as "shoot" and "Branch" in the early part of this chapter has evolved in today's verse to "Root of Jesse." It is the same person, our Lord Jesus Christ, yet He is "growing" in strength and influence in this passage. A "root" is that which feeds the entire tree. Christ is elsewhere referred to as this root in Romans 15:12 where Paul quotes this very Isaiah text; in Isaiah 53:2, "a root out of the dry ground, and in Revelation 5:5 "...See the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed."
He "will stand as a banner for the peoples..." A banner is an identifying marker used by a leader as a standard to follow. It is intended to be on display--an advertisement, if you please, and a rallying point. We have Christ then, given the leadership here, that He deserves. Christ's ways, the ways of God and the fullness of His Spirit, as seen in 11:2, have proven effective--so much so, that "the nations will rally to him..." This is a happy statement! In the place of long descriptions of God's people in rebellion, (Isaiah chapters 1 - 5), we now find a refreshing turn of events: they will gather to Christ! (To "rally" means (Webster's dictionary) to come together in a common purpose; to be brought back to order; to arouse from weakness; to revive!)
God the Father in great wisdom, no doubt understood how mankind would be drawn to His Son; thus He sent Him to us! I think of so many wonderful gospel stories of how the crowds drew like magnets to Jesus. This "fullness of the Holy Spirit" resting on a person of human flesh must have been irresistibly attractive to those who loved righteousness and were hungry for God. Finding Christ, for those New Testament folks, and for us today, indeed puts us in a "place of rest" that is "glorious", as this verse in Isaiah states.
This verse is a prophetic verse. It is continuing a description of The Millenial era in which Christ will rule on the earth. (See previous blogs.) "In that day..." Christ "will stand": the Jews will find Him attractive in this future time, and He will be accepted by them, they will gather to Him and discover a "glorious rest"--in Him.
Prayer: Father of Love, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that the future is sealed, wherein Christ will be worshipped by His own people, the Jews. Thank You that in the meantime we can meet Him, learn of Him, know Him, love Him and obediently follow Him. Help me everyday to do just that. Amen.
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02.20.09
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General
| 21:02
Scripture: Isaiah 11:9 (NIV): "They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea."
Thought: To me, the fullness of the knowledge of God leaves no room for harm or destruction.
Question: Do I want to know God fully today?
To summarize our context: in the beginning of this chapter we have seen "a shoot", a "Branch" bearing fruit. The Spirit of the LORD is upon this "shoot/Branch" and smothers Him with all Divine attributes. This "Branch" (Who is a descendant of Jesse, father of King David) "delights in the fear of the LORD." This, of course, is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is a "judge" Who judges from the heart and spirit in righteousness and justice for the needy and "poor of the earth." He strikes the earth also in His judgment, to destroy the wicked. He does so by merely opening His mouth and breathing the words of His lips. This "Branch" is encircled entirely with righteousness and faithfulness.
Furthermore, due to this "Branch" judging the earth, many animal predators will be changed into non-violent creatures. These include wolves, leopards, lions, bears, cobra and vipers. Their normally exploitive behaviors will be eliminated to such a degree that young children and infants will be able to lead them, play near their lairs and literally insert their hands into nests with no violent consequences.
Today's verse says "they (the former predators) will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain..." To me, the "holy mountain", as similarly called in Psalm 2:2: "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill", is that physical spot in Jerusalem, defined in Wikipedia as "a hill just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. The term "Zion" (can today) refer to the entire city of Jerusalem and the land of Israel." As to whether this statement of non-violence of predators encompasses just the hill area or all of Jerusalem or all of Israel is unclear. But the rest of today's verse may help clarify: "...for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea." This portion of the verse seems to go even further than applying only to a hill, or city or country--it seems to say that the whole earth will be affected. To me, it would originate from the seat of Zion, but would certainly not be prevented from spreading throughout the entire earth, God willing.
What beautiful poetic expression we have in this verse! Can we imagine the earth being "full of the knowledge of the LORD"? Can we look at the oceans and seas, knowing their magnitude upon the earth, and come to understand that one day, the knowledge of the LORD in human minds will be as great? What a metaphor to meditate upon!!
Prayer: Lord God, when I stand on the beach and look out across the ocean, I am made to realize how small I am and how immense the water is. What a grand day it will be when every person will be overshadowed by the knowledge of the LORD: Who You are, Who Your Son is, how You have loved us and saved us--knowing we are very small, yet Your Person is all-encompassing, all-powerful, all-knowing, The Source of Life and Love and present everywhere, all the time! Amen.
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02.19.09
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General
| 17:40
Scripture: Isaiah 11:8 (NIV): "The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest."
Thought: To me, the fear of exploitation in this world will one day be eliminated.
Question: Do I look to Christ to free me from my fears?
What we consider to be the natural order of things, both in the animal kingdom and among our fellow human beings, will one day be completely changed. One example: it will no longer be normal for predatory snakes to bite and inject poison into their victims when Christ is given His chance to rule the earth! If the prophet Isaiah is moved to pen this description in terms of infants and snakes, would it not be safe to assume this will also apply across the board and into the highest, largest levels of our world's systems? Will not the fears we have all come to count as normal be entirely eliminated? "Perfect love casts our fear" will no doubt have its greatest chance of fulfillment during Christ's loving rule and reign, will it not?
Psalm 2:6 - 9: " 'I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.' I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.' " These verses in Psalm 2 conclude in Christ's dashing the wicked "to pieces like pottery", and are parallel to what we studied in Isaiah 11:4: "...He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked." What follows this wiping out of wickedness and evil, however, is the focus of our recent context, Isaiah 11:5 - 8, which includes today's further explanation of a time of unmatched peace. First the evil ones are destroyed by "the rod of his" (Christ's) "mouth" and "breath of his lips" (both of which refer to the spoken Word of God); next comes the freedom from that evil and wickedness, as demonstrated in a period of time, or era on earth, under the rule of Him Who is filled with the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:2). We can safely refer to this era as "The Millenium." It coincides with Revelation chapter 20 and the binding of Satan in the Abyss.
With Satan restrained, the wicked slain, and Christ ruling in righteousness and faithfulness, "the infant" can touch the cobra's nest with no fear. Evil will not exploit innocent victims in that day!
Prayer: Lord God, thank You for working all things for good, even the reversal of the predatory instincts in the animal kingdom. What miracles across the whole planet that day will bring! Amen.
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02.18.09
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General
| 18:39
Scripture: Isaiah 11:7 (NIV): "The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox."
Thought: To me, only God can transform nature like this.
Question: Do I believe these verses to be literally true?
As was pointed out in yesterday's blog, these verses are a description of the Millenium: a one thousand year era in which Jesus Christ is given the rule of the earth by His heavenly Father. It is a period of time in which Satan is "bound in the Abyss, or, the bottomless pit" (Revelation 20:1-3). With Satan bound the earth enjoys a period of time in which the powers of evil are reversed. "The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together..." This obviously describes a period of time we have never experienced. The "wild animals", as we have come to call them, will have their "wildness" removed. The strong bear will be no threat to the cow. They apparently will mingle together freely so that even their young will lay side by side.
"...and the lion will eat straw like the ox." The "wildness" of the lion, today's master predator--King of the Beasts--is neutralized. His former diet of protein is converted by God to a diet of grass and straw. Can we envision such dramatic changes? Who but God could evoke this kind of transformation?
Since these changes in nature follow Isaiah 11:4 "...with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked", I believe it is accurate to determine that, first of all, this Millenial period does take place on the earth. Christ is pictured giving decisions "for the poor of the earth." He is also described as striking "the earth with the rod of his mouth", slaying "the wicked." Wicked ones do not exist in heaven, therefore this described period is a time on the earth. Secondly, this context definitely describes a prosperous, peaceful and "wicked-free" time on the earth. If the wicked have been slain in verse 4, and righteousness and faithfulness are the hallmarks in verse 5, and the wolf lives with the lamb, the leopard with the goat, the calf with the lion in verse 6, and "a little child leads them", this is an unprecedented time of peace existing in the absence of evil on the earth.
Prayer: All-powerful God, I pray today, grateful that You will bring this fantastic change to bear upon the world at the right time. I am thankful for Your control over all things, always. And I am most thankful that the violence in our world will be neutralized when Christ's rule brings everyone and everything under the influence of Your righteousness and faithfulness. Amen.
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02.17.09
Posted in
General
| 20:39
Scripture: Isaiah 11:6 (NIV): "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them."
Thought: To me, the fulfillment of The Millenium's peace is the "happy ending" on earth we all long for.
Question: Do I understand how pervasive Christ's rule will be?
This is a description of a time we human beings currently do not know!
Before the fall in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve may have briefly enjoyed something similar to this, but the curse of sin changed everything. The tense of these verbs is future and indicates this is a prophetic description. Many biblical scholars would dub this prophesied era as "The Millenium"--a thousand year period where Christ rules and reigns over the earth. Certainly, given the context of future judging done by Christ in verse 11:4, (the slaying of the wicked), it is a perfect fit to say this is speaking of The Millenium. Christ will bring peace after evil is destroyed.
The Millenium will be an era of long-awaited peace and fulfillment. Even nature will display this improvement. The Apostle Paul speaks of this in Romans 8:19-23. In this passage it is stated that a future glory is awaiting all who believe; that is, the final redemption of believers' bodies. But also our very planet is currently suspended in a kind of holding pattern, waiting to be "released" from its degrading aspects into a higher, more positive course of life. The curse of the fall affected Adam and Eve indeed, but it also "trapped" the plant and animal kingdom into its decaying grasp. The land was worked under the attack of weeds and pests and the animal kingdom bacame a food chain of predators. We are still dealing with this today.
But under Christ, The Branch, Who is filled with God's Spirit, ruling in righteousness and faithfulness upon His second coming, The Millenium will find its fulfillment. "The wolf will live with the lamb..." No more predation--no more blood spilt by animals trying to survive! "...the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together..." What a change! In order to have this be true, these animals will have to find their food differently, won't they? Apparently they will either become vegetarians or God will provide enough carrion through other means for them to survive. What a thought to meditate on! It is very foreign to us to try to imagine this kind of world. It will be revolutionary.
"...and a little child will lead them." What an illustsration of earthly peace! It brings such joy to our imagination to picture a child like this--it says so much in a few words: no more violence in the animal kingdom, no more fear or needed protection of our innocent children, no more influence of evil dominating our surroundings and no more waiting for God to finally have His way with His creation.
How I long for this day to come! Indeed today the "whole creation has been groaning..." (Romans 8:22).
Prayer: Father, how I thank You for these scriptures! Thank You for leading Your prophets to record such encouraging, hopeful and powerful language for our hearing today. Give us courage and renewed strength as we continue to await the coming of this most longed-for era. Amen.
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