Isaiah 61:1-11 GOOD News
God is giving Isaiah GOOD news to share with God’s people. Yes, trouble still lies ahead but a glorious future is beyond that. One of TRUE salvation.
This prophecy is like many of the prophecies God spoke through Isaiah. It is fulfilled in stages, the last of which is still to come. This prophecy is also one that speaks specifically of Jesus; the Messiah. He is the embodiment of all the GOOD news being proclaimed.
We know from history, and reading our bible, that Isaiah’s prophecies of great things for Israel preceded their capture by Babylon. God wasn’t focusing on their immediate or short-term future here. They still had some serious lessons to go through before this prophecy came to pass. What grabs me most in this process is that He is letting them KNOW of His FOREVER love for them.
He KNOWS how they will come out of the ‘fire’ of captivity. He already knows of their rejection of His Son. He knows how they will respond to the new covenant He made with Jesus’ blood. He knows of the adversaries they will face over the ENTIRE journey as a nation and a people identified as His own. He knows their ups & downs. And His promise here shows that He loves them through it all! He does NOT withdraw His promise of a glorious future.
He doesn’t put conditional promises in this prophecy. He knows who will come to Him and who won’t. He is looking at the end and KNOWS His people’s future. He KNOWS they will return to Him in the end. He KNOWS that they will eventually accept ALL His work, including Jesus’ work on the cross. And He KNOWS they won’t be alone in this acceptance. His family will encompass people from ALL OVER the world. Jews and Gentiles will come together as one family; His family.
As with most families, the eldest child has more of the responsibilities placed on them. They have a place of authority. Not as much as the parents but as their helping hand to the younger children. Israel is the ‘first born’ of the promise. God started by calling them out from among the world and Jesus brought His salvation to them first. When the final portion of this prophecy is fulfilled, Israel will be the ministers directly to the Lord. We will all have roles to fill in His Kingdom and they will all be equally important. God set up the order of things for His family just as surely as my parents did for us kids (and probably yours too).
My parents, when we were growing up, would occasionally need to make a trip to the store in the night. They would wake my older sister up and tell her where they were going. She was difficult to wake and most often didn’t even remember it the next day. We shared a room and I’m EASY to wake. While they were trying to make sure she was awake enough to understand AND remember their words, I would wake up. I remembered and understood but was not the one given the task of authority, for the ‘just in case’ something happens scenario. I often wondered why they didn’t bypass her and just give me the information as it would have been easier. But she was the oldest of us five and had the position of authority. Even in daytime departures she was ‘put in charge’ of we younger children. I wound up being the ‘enforcer’ of that authority for her.
Unlike my sister (sorry Karen), when Israel takes the place of ‘oldest child in authority’ they will be able to walk in that role. God will train them for their role and they will fill it to perfection AND out of love.
Thank You Father God for my family. For my sisters and brothers both flesh and spirit. I KNOW I wasn’t the easiest child for my parents to raise. I definitely usurped my sister’s authority MANY times in my years but I LOVE her VERY MUCH. I believe she knows this and possibly is glad I stood behind her as the power at times. Other times, I bet she wished I would shut up and sit down because I MAY have made it worse. Sorry again Karen.
Help me Father to fill the role YOU laid out for me; both now and in Your Kingdom. Don’t let me step too far; into places You have prepared for others. Let me relish the tasks You laid out for me and leave the ones for others to them AND You.
Thank You for the strength of character You placed in me. Help me use it as YOU direct. Let me love and build up others; not steam roll them.
