God’s Promise To Israel

They, the people of God, would be a great light in great darkness.

In Isaiah’s prophecy God paints a picture of strong contrasts.

A world and a people in great darkness.

The darkness upon the heart of the people even blacker than the darkness upon the world. God says it will be gross darkness.

The Hebrew word means gloom, like the darkness that comes not only from the night but also from a night is which the sky is filled with a threatening storm. A darkness so deep that even the moon and stars can’t be seen.

Then in the midst of this impenetrable blackness, God says, “But the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen in thee.”

The Darkness before the Light - Let me fill in some details of this day from Matthew 24 and the book of Revelation

When Jesus the King of the Jews, the King of the World returns for his nation, it will be, just as is prophesied here, a black and seemingly hopeless night. Acts 2:20 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

Matthew 24:29 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

The Bible tells us that the stars will go out, the sun not shine through and the moon will be seen as though it is has been turned to blood.

 Revelation 6:12 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

Israel will be at war with the world led by the army of the Beast, the anti-Christ. They take their last stand in Jerusalem, the City of David, Mt. Zion. Half the city if taken and all seem lost. Zechariah 14:1-4 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee.  2 For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Zechariah 14:3-4 Then shall the LORD go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle.  4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.

At that moment, at that moment when seems the darkness has won and that God’s people cannot survive, and certainly they cannot win. At that moment a shout will be heard, “Look in the east, there is a light.”  And all the leaders, generals, soldiers and civilians from the Jews to the army of the Anti-Christ will look to the eastern sky and there they will see the light of Jesus, tearing through the darkness like a knife ripping through black sackcloth.

The Light of Jesus Splits the Night - Matthew 24:27-30 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

He comes like a lightning strike; and all the armies of the redeemed and the angels come with him. He comes to save His people. He comes to claim the throne of David. He comes to complete victory over the darkness of the world.  

Then Israel shall arise and shine and God’s glory seen in her.

Jesus’ Promise To Us

Isn’t it always this way with God? Doesn’t he always wait until we have spent our own strength and all we have left is hope in Him?

It should not break us, or cause is to faint or fall away when we see the world around us getting darker with each passing day. Yes, it may seem as that there is no hope as the darkness upon this world and the hearts of men deepens  but remember the promise of Jesus.

John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

John 14:27 …Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

But it is in those deep, dark times that God moves and we see that the hope of the Gospel and the promise of His Word shine brighter than we have ever seen.

Matthew 28:18-19 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore,

2 Timothy 1:7 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

We need to believe the promise because the darker the night the brighter is the light of Jesus Christ.  The harder the path, the greater will our joy when we reach our promised destination. The more hopeless our battle, the greater is the victory through Jesus Christ.

When you think it’s time to give up on this world, this country or family or friends just remember, child of God, you shine brightest to them in their darkest hour. No, it is not a time to be discouraged. It’s not a time to shrink back due to more bad news, or bigger disappointment. No, that’s the time to Arise and Shine. Yes, it is true these are very darker nights but we commanded to shine brighter as the lights of Jesus in this world.