Isaiah 9:4-5 (NIVUK)
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
The day of Midian’s defeat looks back to Judges 6-7. This was a time when the Midianites oppressed the Israelites, occupying their land, ruining their crops, and impoverishing the people, leaving them hiding in fear. God raises up Gideon to lead them (ask Tim to tell you the story!) and sends him to defeat them, but first of all he has Gideon trim his men down to only 300. Despite being outnumbered, God is with them, and the Midianites are defeated. Isaiah looks forward to another such overturning of oppression despite the odds being against them, because God is still with them – and as Paul says, if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31).
Thank you God that you are a God of justice, a God who sides with the oppressed. Help us to be Gideons, dependent on you and willing to play our part.
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