Keeping the Long View

Now its Ethiopia’s turn.  After speaking to Moab and Damascus, Isaiah wants to share God’s Word through prophecy to the nation at the headwaters of the Nile (far north of modern day Ethiopia).  This nation had recently conquered Egypt, and was gathering nearby nations in an attempt to ally against the onslaught of the coming Assyrian Empire (north of Israel).  Ethiopian envoys were traveling to Jerusalem in hopes of adding a partner in warding off Assyrian attack.

But Isaiah sees any alliance with people as betraying their alliance to Yahweh God.

The prophet hopes that Jerusalem will not take the deal to ally with Ethiopia, and describes God as present, not absent, only waiting to make his move.  At the right time, he will single-handedly deal with the Assyrian threat.

Its hard for me to take such a hard line on dealing with human endeavors.  I hear things like, “Pray as if God controls it all, but work as if its all up to you.”  Proverbs says, “Man prepares the horse for battle, but the LORD provides the victory.” I hear Isaiah saying something totally different - “Sit back and relax, and at the right time, God will take care of this on his own- trust God, not your own strength or the strength of your alliances.”

Can I really give God that much credit?  While all of Isaiah’s world was stressing out, he hears God say:

4 For the Lord has told me this:

“I will watch quietly from my dwelling place—

as quietly as the heat rises on a summer day,

or as the morning dew forms during the harvest.”

Isaiah gives one last prophecy for Ethiopia.  He says that years after this whole fiasco is over, Ethiopia will join nations from all over in bringing gifts to the LORD on Mount Zion (Jerusalem).  To “not freak out” over present worries, but to keep the long view.

Years later – 3 magi (one historical tradition includes an Ethiopian in this small band of travelers) would bring gifts to a baby-king that had been smuggled into Jerusalem.  That baby was God’s covert-operation – his silent plan to take over the world with love.  When God is silent – when terror is at your door step – keep the “long view” – salvation might just be in your midst, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laying in a manger.

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