DECEMBER 11, 2014
Snake
In A Box
Read: Isaiah
11:1-9
The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord. —Isaiah 11:9
At a nature center, I
watched my friend’s rosy-cheeked toddler pat the side of a large glass box.
Inside the box, a bull snake named Billy slithered slowly, eyeing the little
girl. Billy’s body was as thick as my forearm and he sported brown and yellow
markings. Although I knew Billy could not escape from his container, seeing a
menacing-looking creature so close to a small child made me shudder.
The Bible speaks of a
time in the future when fierce animals will fail to threaten each other or human
beings. “The wolf . . . shall dwell with the lamb” and “the nursing child shall
play by the cobra’s hole” (Isa. 11:6,8). All the inhabitants of the world will
experience total harmony and peace.
The Lord will
establish this safe environment when He restores the world with His wisdom,
might, and knowledge. At that time, He will judge the world with righteousness
and justice (11:4). And everyone will acknowledge His greatness: “The earth
shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord” (11:9).
We live in a broken
world. Unfairness and discord, fear and pain are a very real part of our daily
lives. But one day God will change everything, and “the Sun of Righteousness
shall arise with healing in His wings” (Mal. 4:2). Then Jesus will rule the world
in righteousness.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
—von Schlegel
Leave
final justice in the hands of a just God.
Insight
The future and
everlasting kingdom of God will be one of peace and harmony. Many of the
prophets looked forward to this day with great anticipation. In today’s
passage, Isaiah describes this kingdom by picturing animals that would normally
prey on each other at peace together. This will be a time of peace because the
Messiah will rule (v.9).
Source:
Our Daily Bread 2012
