Road Warriors: Isaiah—A Message of Redemption - Friday
Isaiah 53:4-5
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. (NLT)
Our devotional journey this week was inspired by the teaching series we’ll continue this Sunday called Road Warriors: The People Who Paved the Way for Jesus. The prophet Isaiah was led by the Holy Spirit to call the children of Israel back to faithfulness and trust in God. Isaiah spoke truth about their unbelief and rebellion, using imagery that would prove to be a foreshadowing of the story God was writing.
Without saying crucifixion, Isaiah 53 described it before the execution method was thought of. The Submitted Servant “carried” our weakness; He was pierced, crushed (bruised), and beaten. He remained silent. Servants are not permitted to talk back. He fully submitted. He was compared to a lamb being slaughtered, something the Jews would have related to. But it would be the Servant’s life, not a lamb’s, that would be made an offering for sin. And that’s when something astounding happens. In Isaiah 53:10, the prophet spoke of the One enduring pain as being given a prolonged life, and receiving honor for His victory! Victory? The story isn’t over! I can hardly comprehend the beauty and magnitude of these prophetic promises!
The entirety of what Isaiah was trying to communicate can be found in chapter 55, verse 7: “Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously” (NLT). Another way to think about what it means to “turn to our God” is to think of aligning ourselves with Him. When we come to the place where we agree with God about our own sinfulness and fallenness, that’s when real conversion takes place!
Friday’s Reflection
Yesterday’s reflection drew attention to our fallenness. Today, Isaiah’s invitation is to find comfort. “I will praise you, O Lord! You were angry with me, but not any more. Now you comfort me” (Isaiah 12:1, NLT).
