Hope is a powerful emotion. As believers in Jesus, no matter what situation befalls us, we have hope. The last words my father spoke to me were, “I will be fine.” How could a man who had just days to live say, “I will be fine?” He had hope in Jesus as his Savior.
The Lord had called Isaiah to be a prophet and to proclaim the word of God. But God also warned him that the people were not going to listen. Wow! That can be very deflating. Then God gave Isaiah a measure of hope along with the bad news.
Isaiah 6:13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”[1]
Isaiah, perhaps discouraged by such a negative response and terrible results, was then assured by the Lord that not all was lost. A remnant would be left. God compared that remnant to stumps of terebinth and oak trees. These trees of the middle east are known for the ability to produce new shoots even when they are cut down to a stump. This stump or remnant would be the “seed” through which others would come to believe. Though Judah’s population would be almost totally wiped out or exiled, God promised to preserve a small number of believers in the land.[2]
As a follower of Christ, this life will not be easy or comfortable, but it will be real and full and lasting. My father’s words of hope in his last days are an example of that. Jesus says follow me and you will find inexpressible and glorious joy despite and even in really hard, bitter, heart-breaking, even excruciating moments and realities in your life.
Here are three of my favorite verses on that have given me hope in difficult times. May they also feel you with hope, peace and encouragement!
- Ephesians 1:18, I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. [3] (You have a rich inheritance.)
- Hebrews 10:23 – Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.[4] (You can trust God)
- Romans 15:13 – I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. [5] (Jesus gives us joy and peace)
To hear more of the story of Isaiah, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-call-isaiah
[1,3-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1046). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.