The nation of Israel is a divine archetype of purpose and family. Through the LORD’s hand, He fashioned Israel to be a witness of His persistent love and righteousness. Israel was to be a servant and a reflection to all the nations of the LORD’s covenant promise to redeem the world from sin and unrighteousness. To show the world He is the one true God, the maker of Heaven and Earth.
“I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness…I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind…to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness”
Isaiah 42:6-7 NIV
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel…I have called you by your name; You are Mine.”
Isaiah 43:1 NKJV
Throughout the book of Isaiah, we are reminded of the LORD’s desire to provide consolation and comfort to the people. Though the people Israel had been cast into exile, the LORD’s purposes to deliver, protect and restore their identity prevails. The thread of our Creator’s nature as a compassionate, merciful, faithful, loving Father – is woven deeply into history of the birth of Israel and the nations – a covenant family.
Deep within the heart of the LORD is a desire for His children to know Him as a Father and know their identity as His children. Isaiah tells us that through repentance, the humble will inherent the New Jerusalem and will be entirely renewed as His creation. This is true for Christian and Jewish Believers in Messiah.
If you were born, you are meant to be part of the LORD’s family – to know Him as Creator and Redeemer. Isaiah reminds us that the LORD created a covenant family of all nations who are awaiting the hope of the LORD’s justice to the world. As a member of the household of Israel or joined as His inheritance from the nations, we are all the LORD’s family.
Reflection:
How might the LORD be inviting you to know Him more deeply as a member of His family today?
Is there anything keeping you from experiencing His nearness as a loving Father? Consider calling a brother or sister in the LORD to talk and pray with them about this.
For the past nine weeks, as the coronavirus upended the world with fear, stay-at-home mandates, financial loss and isolation, we’ve turned to Scripture for the hope we each need to endure rough times.
Ancient Israel had a hope: to return to the Land God had promised to give her. Yet, she had been in exile in Babylon for so long that I’m sure the hope of many began to wane, if not completely disappear.
Our God is the Master Composer. The intricacies He has purposefully arranged on His grand scale of time are often indistinguishable to the human ear, unless we strain to hear. As we journey through the story of Ezra-Nehemiah in the days ahead, listen in for a pattern, a 3-part harmony, as God composes another movement in His song through the mouths of His prophets. See if you can make out the sounds.
The words God gave to His prophets often told about events in the current time, near future and a time even further in the future. They are always pointing us forward, but what were they pointing us forward to?
