Crisis ConvertedSample

Theme: A Physical Hope

Crisis Converted Then:

In the first half of chapter 54 the prophet depicts the reestablishment of the Abrahamic Covenant full of generations of children filling the whole earth. In this later half, he depicts the reestablishment of the Mosaic covenant. The Mosaic covenant established the law (“your children will be taught by the Lord”) and the temple (“rebuild you with stones of turquoise.”) It is not simply that God is going to forgive Israel, but he is going to reestablish them in righteousness through the work of the suffering servant.

Crisis Converted Now:

It is easy to “spiritualize” these passages, but for the Israelites, this was a physical hope and had been a physical reality. In fact, the Israelites will rebuild the temple and their children will be taught of the law within its courts within a few generations of Isaiah 54. In the same way, it can be easy for us to overly “spiritualize” elements of our life and overlook the tangible work of God right before us. Take some time today to recognize God’s work in the physical, tangible world around you.