Isaiah 2:6-4:6

What’s Happening?

God chose Israel to be a beacon of his goodness, justice, and beauty to the world. Isaiah has just prophesied that when Israel trusts God, she will fulfill that calling. All nations on Earth will stream into its capital, Jerusalem, destroy their idols, turn their weapons of war into farming equipment, and turn over their wealth to the God of Israel (Isaiah 2:1-5). However, Israel has chosen greed, militarism, and idolatry over trusting their God (Isaiah 2:6-8). If Israel does not change course, she will forfeit her calling, and the world will not experience God’s goodness, justice, or beauty.

Israel’s trust in other nations is misplaced. Isaiah says that God will humble Israel for their rejection of their divine destiny in favor of the fleeting wealth and power of nations (Isaiah 2:9-11). Soon, every trade route Israel hopes for wealth through will vanish. The great civilizations they long to be like will be erased. And every idol they’ve imported will be melted down (Isaiah 2:12-21). Instead of trusting the fleeting power of nations, Israel must once again trust their God (Isaiah 2:22).

If Israel continues to ally with foreign powers, then God will slowly allow Israel to fall apart. God will remove their supply of bread and water. Every experienced general, judge, prophet, elder, or leader in Israel will be removed from power and replaced with immature tyrants (Isaiah 3:1-5, 9-15). In desperation, God’s people will look for better leaders, but none will volunteer (Isaiah 3:6-8). Even the ruling women of Israel will be humiliated. God will strip them of all the jewelry, hair, and clothes they’ve acquired through unjust means, and their beauty will be exchanged for the iron brands of slavemasters (Isaiah 3:16-4:1). Since Israel has rejected their God and their calling, God’s people will fall into ruin.

However, God’s judgment against Israel's wickedness, pride, and evil will not be total. God still wants Israel to become a beacon of his justice and goodness in the world. He will not destroy his people but purify them. God’s Spirit will flow over the scorched earth of Israel, and life in the form of a mysterious “branch” will sprout from the virgin ground. Israel’s land will be restored to its pre-devastation splendor. The people of God will be called clean, the women of God will be called beautiful, and Israel will be restored to their calling (Isaiah 4:2-6). Even though Israel has rejected their God and calling, God has not rejected them.

Where is the Gospel?

To restore Israel to its calling, God will rid it of every leader and person who has rejected his instruction and wisdom. In their place, God will cause a “branch” to sprout from Israel’s scorched earth. Isaiah mentions another mysterious branch just a few chapters from now. He says the “Branch” is a descendant of Jesse, the father of Israel’s greatest king, David (Isaiah 11:1). Through him, not just Israel but the world will finally experience God’s justice, beauty, and goodness (Isaiah 11:2-16). God’s people will be restored to their calling when a final king from the royal line of David takes his throne once again; that king’s name is Jesus. 

Jesus is the Branch of Jesse that sprouted from the scorched earth. God poured out his Spirit into the virgin womb of Mary, and Jesus was born (Luke 1:35). He is the King who can lead God’s people to fulfill their calling to bless the world again. Over and over during his life, Jesus made unclean people clean, set enslaved women free, and restored life to God’s people by raising them from the dead (Matthew 8:2-4, 15:22-29; Luke 7:11-17). Even though God’s people rejected their calling and their God, Jesus did not reject them. In love, he even died so that God’s people could join the eternal Kingdom he secured when he rose from the dead (John 3:16). Now, Jesus eternally rules God’s people, and the restoration he began will be accomplished. And anyone who trusts him will join the calling of God’s people and his plans to make the world a Kingdom free from idols and war and full of peace and prosperity. 

See for Yourself

I pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see the God who has not rejected his people. And may you see Jesus as the only King who can purify his people and restore them to their purpose.