I have always loved animals, especially strong ones. The lion, tiger, wolf, hippo, cobra, and elephant fascinate me. They are mighty creatures capable of devastating damage. The lion is the king of the jungle, the hippo has the largest mouth of any land mammal (and is the best animal according to my wife), the wolf is a dangerous hunter that stalks its prey, and the cobra can kill an elephant with the lethal injection of venom it gives to people who get too close. Animals are beautiful but deadly and yet, interestingly enough, there is a promise within Isaiah 11 of a peaceful time, ushered in by a man, when wolves will live with lambs, cows will have dinner with bears, and children can play near a cobra’s den with no fear. How can this be so? The answer to this question is found in the man who will bring peace.
This week, through our study of the Messiah in Isaiah, we find ourselves in Isaiah 11 where there is a promise of peace that comes from a special man who has unique characteristics. Isaiah 11:1-10 reads:
“A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him - the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge of the fear of the Lord- And he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decided by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like an ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for all the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious."
There is a promise in this section that a man will come to bring peace to the point where the most harmful of creatures will live with the most vulnerable of children and there will be no harm. The man who brings this peace is a man called the Messiah; Jesus. Jesus comes from the line of Jesse, whose son was King David, a man after God’s own heart. Jesus is the true King who came to earth with wisdom, understanding, might, knowledge, and fear of the Lord. He is a man of righteousness and justice which he uses to give to those in need and save those who are poor. Jesus through his words will take down the wicked and bring the peace of Eden, where man and beast will live in harmony. In Jesus’ kingdom, there will never be any harm or destruction and his throne will be glorious.
Jesus is the Messiah, the man prophesied by Isaiah and he offers us rest and peace in our lives. I am thankful for the promise of peace. As I look out into the world, with wars, famine, trafficking, and every harmful action causing suffering, I am hopeful for the day when our Messiah comes again with peace. I hope you feel the same way. In this season of Christmas, if you need hope, look to the promises of Jesus.
(This season, we celebrate Christmas, the birth of our Savior Jesus. As you reflect on the blessing of Jesus’ birth this month, we ask that today you find and meditate on Isaiah 40:3-5 and John 1)