A Taste of Isaiah
In the weekly Bible Study we’ve been looking at the fantastic book of Isaiah. This week we’re going to have a taste of Isaiah’s message as we look at the picture of salvation that he proclaims.
Isaiah 11:10-11 NIV
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. 11 In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant 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 Mediterranean.
To those facing exile, Isaiah gave hope that God hadn’t forgotten them and would one day bring them home. This list of countries would have probably sounded like the whole globe in the days before planes, trains and automobiles – it didn’t matter how far away they were, or how few they were, God would not forget them, just as he does not forget us now, however far from him we might feel. To me, however, like yesterday, this reading stretches my picture of salvation. It’s not just talking about his people, but also the nations who will rally to him – yes Jesus (the ultimate Root of Jesse) comes for his own, but he also comes for those who as yet don’t know God or are excluded by/from his people.
For God so loved not the church but the world that he sent his only Son – Lord, give me a bigger vision, a bigger heart and a bigger mission.
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