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WUMFSA Devotionals for Advent to Epiphany, 2003 - 2004 Sunday, December 5, 2004 A NEW DIRECTION Isaiah 11:1-11: “The Peaceful Kingdom”
What a wild prediction! “A shoot shall grow from the stock of Jesse, and a branch will spring from his roots.” How idealistic and unbelievable!
It is much like the “far-out” voices today calling out, “NO MORE VIOLENCE! NO MORE TORTURE! NO MORE BUILDING AND STOCKPILING WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION!” It is the same deep longing for a new direction expressed then as it is by some today. People then had a hard time believing Isaiah – just as many scoff at the prophetic voices today. But still – people could hope. And so can we. Our hope rests in the Spirit of the Lord – the active, creative presence of God. Now, as then, we seek for a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, of counsel and power (to do good), of knowledge and fear (the kind that leads to obedience) of the Lord. Not the fear of the terrorists – the fear of the Lord! A new direction. Isaiah’s description of what is to come was radical, hopeful and incomprehensible to people then (just as it is to the more literally-minded among us today). They must have been incredulous. Then, as now, the words are intended to shock and jolt us into a new vision! Not a vision that’s just a little different – just a little better than life as it now exists. But a vision of a world made over – where love and justice and wisdom abound – a world truly at peace. What must we do to move in that direction? It has been said, “Without a vision, the people perish!” Perhaps that is our problem today. We have no vision, or our vision is too small – and too boringly ‘practical.’ Isaiah was bold and unafraid. We, too, must be bold and unafraid – and visualize our highest hopes. We may be ‘the remnant’ that God is working with today. A new vision can make us bold and unafraid: are we willing to trust? Elaine Weidemann
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