“YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL POSSESS THE NATIONS AND WILL PEOPLE THE DESOLATE CITIES” (Isa 54:3)
⏰Thursday of the Third Week of Advent (16 December 2021)
📖Isa 54:1-10; Ps 30:2 and 4, 5-6, 11-12a and 13b (R.v.2a); Luke 7:24-30
🎤”YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL POSSESS THE NATIONS AND WILL PEOPLE THE DESOLATE CITIES” (Isa 54:3)
Most times, what lead us into sin and impoverishment is the desire to become what we are not or not meant to be. Adam and Eve disobeyed God because of that (cf. Gen 3:5). The people of Israel also wanted to be like other nations (cf. 1 Sam 8:5-8). This is despite the fact that God had chosen them from other nations to be his very own (cf. Deut 7:6) and their fruitfulness depended on their attachment to the one who had chosen them (cf. John 15:5).
Now, the sojourn into exile was a result of the people’s lack of trust on God and a manifestation of their separation from him. But God would not abandon them in exile. So, the prophet of the deutero-Isaiah (Isa 40 – 55) encouraged them by telling them that God would take them back as a barren or wayward wife is reunited to the love of her husband.
Such reunion would mean that they would once more be fruitful and fill the earth as the Lord had commanded them in the beginning (cf. Gen 1:28).
That invitation is equally being extended to us today. John the Baptist had come to prepare us for such reunion. Jesus makes reference to it again and it was counted for John as greatness.
This period of Advent is set out for such preparation. We are almost coming to its end. How prepared are you for this reunion with Christ at Christmas?
As you make effort to reunite yourself wholly to the Lord, may he bless you and make you fruitful and prosperous in all your endeavours. Amen
Have a fruitful day ahead. It is well with you.