In the Presence of Greatness

The book of Isaiah is an integral part of God's unfolding narrative of redemption. At the beginning of the Bible, we read God made everything good. In fact it was not just good. After God had finished creating everything, he pronounced it very good. Everything was good and right in the world. Humanity was in perfect relationship with God, with one another, and with creation. But peace and harmony came to an end. Humanity questioned God's goodness toward them and rather than trust God, they looked to other sources of wisdom and rebelled against God. This disobedience plunged the world into sin, misery, and alienation. As a result of this rebellion, humanity was alienated from God, alienated from one another, and alienated from creation. The good news is God did not leave humanity, but he pursued them despite their brokenness and shame, and he promised to make things right. God promised that from their offspring, one would come to bring deliverance and restoration. This is a key theme in the book of Isaiah-how God will bring about restoration and bring people to himself. God is the Holy One of Israel, and he is creating a holy place and a holy people among whom he will dwell forever. This salvation Isaiah looks to and Jesus inaugurates is not just a spiritual salvation, but has real impacts in the here and now of the world we live in. God is not just reconciling individuals to himself, but reconciling the whole universe. Yes, humanity is reconciled to God through Jesus, but salvation is bigger than that. Humanity is reconciled to one another. Isaiah had tasted the purification and reconciliation of God and he was sent to proclaim this message of reconciliation to the people of Israel. It is a reconciliation for all people. We can be reconciled to God and to one another and Isaiah points us to a reconciliation of all things. One day all the effects of man's rebellion will be reversed because God is faithful to his promises. One day all things will be made new and right.