When life happens and you fall flat on your face, it may seem like the end. Life itself will crush you. Many are resilient and some just can’t handle the pressure. Now, it’s worse when God also sets his face against you.

This is precisely what happened to the Israelites. They were busy living their lives as they thought it best. But God was not impressed. Their lives violated the purpose God intended for them.

God planned they would be “Oaks of Righteousness” and a “Light to the Nations.” But their lives proved to be a string of selfishness and rebellion against God’s covenant. God had warned them about this type of living. He told them that such lives would break the terms of the covenant that God made with them, and they would be vulnerable to the attacks of violent neighbors.

Just as God warned, their neighbors stepped in and brought utter destruction. Their land was laid waste. Although they were to be “Oaks of Righteousness” they became a “stump” without a future. There’s no guarantee of survival. No possibility of recovery.

Then God gave them a promise:

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” (Isaiah 11:1 NKJV)

The expectation was that of permanent destruction and abandonment by God. Yet God was kind and showed mercy. God will bring hope out of their disaster, and set up God’s kingdom through a descendant of Jesse, and king David. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus, and we now live in the eternal kingdom that was promised. This kingdom is not only the future, but it is now a reality!

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