Readings for today: Isaiah 9-12
It’s one thing to read the prophecies of Isaiah about the Messiah. It’s another to actually visit the “land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali” and see where God made glorious “the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.” Our guide told us the very first day that we would never read our Bibles the same way again. I believed him then but I didn’t grasp how much my reading would truly change. After all, I’ve been reading through the Bible each year for over twenty years. I love the Scriptures. I hear God speak to me through His Word. There is nothing I get more excited about than sharing God’s Word with others, whether from the pulpit in the church I serve or across a table and a cup of coffee at Fika.
But now I find myself visiting places like Caesarea, Tiberias, Mt. Carmel, Joppa, and Galilee. These are no longer names on a page to me but places I’ve visited. Roads I’ve walked. Vistas I’ve seen. I couldn’t help but think of Jonah as I stood at the ancient port of Joppa. I couldn’t help but think of Elijah as I stood on the slopes of Mt. Carmel. I couldn’t help but think of Joseph and Mary and Jesus and his brothers growing up in Nazareth. I knelt down in each place to grab a handful of dust. I touched the indents of thousands of sandals impressed upon the ancient cobblestones. I took deep breaths of the unique smells wafting through each place. And through it all, the words of Isaiah kept ringing in my ears…
“But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:1-7)
God seems very near over here. His presence fills this land. The memory of His redemptive acts throughout history come alive. They take on three-dimensional shape. They go from analog black and white to full on digital 4K color. And still none of this is possible without saving faith. It is the Holy Spirit who opens our eyes to see and our hearts to understand. Only when we invite Him into our lives, keep in step with Him, and trust Him to complete His sanctifying work in us, will we find ourselves walking in light rather than darkness. Joy rather than sorrow. Victory rather than defeat. For this is the heritage of all those who trust in the “child who was born, the son who was given.”
Readings for tomorrow: Micah 1-4