Behold: The PromiseVoorbeeld

A Fruitful, Useful Life

Isaiah 35:7b  NIV

In the haunts where jackals once lay,

grass and reeds and papyrus will grow.

Here we have another vast contrast and great transformation as a promise from God for our lives. As we reflect on the symbolism of these verses, we’re able to fully take in and apply the significance of meaning to our lives. 

Jackals are wild dogs and creatures of the barren desert landscape. This is their ‘haunt’, their home, their stomping ground, the place they frequent and control. These jackals could represent the devil’s attempts at our lives today. We all have places in our lives that the devil tries to frequent and make home. He brings oppression, intimidation and fear, in attempt to take ground and keep a strong hold in our lives.

The prophet Isaiah declares though that the dry places that once were home to wild dogs, will become places where green rushes and reeds grow. Before they were barren and a resting ground for wild dogs to dominate, but now they are transformed by the water into fruitful, useful places.

Reeds and rushes were incredibly useful in that time. Growing tall by the water, they would be picked and had a variety of uses including papayrus baskets, mats, parchment for writing, oil, fine linen clothing and lamp wicks. In the same way, God has a great usefulness for what were our wilderness areas! He wants to use our struggles powerfully as a testimony to His victory, His redemptive power, His goodness! God doesn’t want to just heal and restore every area of our life merely for our own well-being and freedom, but also so we’re strong and useful to Him and others.

It’s time to kick out the wild dogs in our lives! This verse can remind us of the reality of the victory of the cross and the authority we now have through Jesus over the devil. Let’s take up our authority in Christ and see victorious power come to areas in our lives attacked by the enemy, transforming them into areas of great fruitfulness and use.

Behold! Transformation!

What’s an area in your life where the devil has had a haunt, but God is redeeming for His glory?