In the middle of the “weighty messages from God” (oracles) that Isaiah delivers to the nations surrounding Israel (Isaiah 13–24), he continues to give us glimpses of hope—God’s compassion, peace, justice, righteousness, deliverance, salvation—for his people, his handiwork, his inheritance.

Kathleen Buswell Nielson (author of the study guide our women’s group is using) describes it this way: “True redemptive hope emerges from true darkness and grows from looking up in the midst of darkness to the one true God.”

• The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob. (Is 14:1)
• On the day the LORD gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended! The LORD has broken the rod of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers (Is 14:3–5)
• All the lands are at rest and at peace; they break into singing. (Is 14:7)
• I will crush the Assyrian in my land; on my mountains I will trample him down. His yoke will be taken from my people, and his burden removed from their shoulders.” This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back? (Is 14:25–27)
• “The LORD has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.” (Is 14:32)
• In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it—one from the house of David—one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness. (Is 16:5)
• In that day people will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. (Is 17:7–8)
• In that day…they will swear allegiance to the LORD Almighty…there will be an altar to the LORD, a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty…they will acknowledge the LORD…they will worship with sacrifices and grain offerings…they will make vows to the LORD and keep them…they will turn to the LORD…they will worship together…they will be a blessing on the the earth. (from Isaiah 19:18–24)
• When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them. So the LORD will make himself known to [them]. The LORD will strike them and heal them. They will turn to the LORD, and he will respond to their pleas and heal them … The LORD Almighty will bless them, saying, “Blessed be my people … my handiwork and … my inheritance.” (from Isaiah 19:20–22, 25)
• Bring water for the thirsty…bring food for the fugitives. (Is 21:14)

JoAnn Hummel once said: “Light shines its brightest in the dark. Evil times offer unique opportunities to shine your light. Don’t miss them.”

What hope do you see in the midst of your hard thing? How is your light shining?

When life is hard, when you feel like evil has won, there is hope—you are God’s handiwork, his inheritance.

PRAYER

Lord Almighty, these passages are so difficult to understand and I’m not going to solve them here. But these words of hope jump out against the background of evil. Thank you that you never leave us in total darkness. I realize also that sometimes the light needs to come from me so show me how to shine in my circumstances.

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Kathleen Buswell, Nielson, Isaiah: The Lord Saves (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R Publishing Co.: 2011), 114.

All scriptures are quoted from New International Version.