Isaiah 60:22

Isaiah 60 is a chapter of great hope for Israel. It is undoubtedly about their final restoration in the land promised to them millennia ago. This has been alluded to a few times in Isaiah so far, but not so directly and comprehensively as this chapter. It tells of how the gentiles, in that time, shall come from all over the world to Jerusalem because of its beauty and the fact that Jesus rules there (the ‘glory of the LORD’). They shall bring all manner of gifts and wealth with them. They will help build the city up. The gates will always be open, because there will be no fear of attack, because everyone will love the city of Jerusalem. They will be politically very important (‘…and milk the breast of kings…’ (Isaiah 60:16). They will be rich, with gold, silver, bronze and iron. And above all this, they will be peaceful and righteous (vs. 17).

This must have been great, great hope for the Israelites, who were at the time in captivity in Babylon (I think). To think! Despised and hated by all the nations around them, so much so that people traveling wouldn’t even pass through their land (vs. 15), and yet with the hope of future glory beyond comparison! I guess that it is almost the same with us. Hated by this world, passed off as weirdos, well-meaning but misled, or people who have viruses in their minds (thanks Dawkins!), and yet we have the hope (and by hope I mean assurance!) of eternal glory, eternal life, the promise of living with our God for ever. Just remember that the next time someone demeans you for being Christian.

However, the verse that stuck out to me is verse 22:

‘A little one shall become a thousand,
And a small one a strong nation.
I, the LORD, will hasten it in its time.’ (Isaiah 60:22)

God is here referring to Israel of course. Such a small nation, but in the end the most powerful nation on earth. All because of the LORD. It is the LORD’s choice to strengthen it, ‘in its time’.

And it is the same for us. Though we can’t be a thousand, God can make us strong. Sometimes we feel like the smallest person, the least likely to make any real difference. In fact, on our own, we are. How can we make any real impact on the world? Who are we to stand up to the world and change it? How can we be strong? Well, God has us marked. If we follow Him, and trust Him, then ‘in our time’, God will make us strong. He will make us as strong as we need to be for any situation. If we trust Him.