My sister is a potter. She has gifted me over the years with plates, bowls, mugs, pitchers, and a teapot. I love displaying her beautiful work and using them in my daily life. I am in awe that she can turn a wheel, shape an object, pour some glaze on it, apply extreme heat, and out comes a work of art as well as functionality. I can understand why Isaiah used a potter to describe God’s relationship with his people and with us.
Isaiah
Hard Hearts, Plugged Ears, and Closed Eyes
In writing circles, we are taught to identify and speak to our target audience. And when teaching, to aim for heart change, not merely information transfer. Since this is my goal, it’s frustrating when my communication doesn’t land or my message doesn’t stick. So I feel for Isaiah when God calls him to be his prophet with the warning that nobody will listen.
In That Day No More Tears and a Trumpet Call
Isaiah is replete with promises of a future time—in that day—when God will restore all things to his original design. One beautiful aspect of this future kingdom is the absence of death, mourning, and tears. Another is the trumpet call to signal the return of Jesus for his church.
You Are Invited to God’s Banquet
Isaiah foresees a great feast that all are invited to. This banquet (also called the marriage supper of the Lamb) is the glorious future celebration of all who are in the kingdom of God. There we will commemorate the final defeat of his enemies, but also the unifying (“marrying”) of Christ with his church (“his bride”).
Roots, Shoots, Stumps, and Branches
References to Jesus are smattered throughout the book of Isaiah. A primary designation is the tree metaphor complete with roots, shoots, stumps and branches.
A Steadfast Mind
After a long, hard slog through chapters 13–24 of Isaiah—prophecy after prophecy of judgment on the nations—a familiar and dearly loved promise jumps from the text: "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Isaiah 26:3 NIV
Isaiah Offers Hope in the Hard
In the middle of the “weighty messages from God” (oracles) that Isaiah delivers to the nations surrounding Israel (Is 13–24), he continues to give us glimpses of hope—God’s compassion, peace, justice, righteousness, deliverance, salvation—on his people, his handiwork, his inheritance.
A Remnant Will Return
A remnant will return. A remnant will be saved. A remnant chosen by grace. Always, there has been a remnant—a small surviving group. Abraham and Isaac, Noah and his family, Lot and his daughters, Joseph and his family in Egypt, Elijah and 70,000 prophets, those who returned from exile in Assyria and Babylon, and now the Church of Jesus Christ.
