49 Listen to me, you islands;hear this, you distant nations: Before I was born the Lord called me; from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,in the shadow of his hand he hid me;he made me into a polished arrow and concealed me in his quiver.3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”4 But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand,and my reward is with my God.”
5 And now the Lord says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength—6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
7 This is what the Lord says—the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the servant of rulers:
“Kings will see you and stand up, princes will see and bow down, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.” - ISAIAH 49:1-7
Good morning. Plans. We all make them and use them to give structure and purpose to our lives. Plans get the kids to school on time, land us our dream job, and ensure someone cooks the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. However, we have lived long to enough to know that life rarely goes to plan. We often find ourselves amending plans to accommodate other obligations or adjust to surprise emergencies.
Next week I had planned to host a large dinner reception in honor of my parents 40th wedding anniversary, but then in early March the setback arose. Governors in Ohio and Kentucky issued executive orders prohibiting large group gatherings to keep people safe. At the time of the executive orders, I had 90 people had rsvp’d for the dinner. Of course, most of them were in same high risk category as my parents given their geriatric ages :).
Consequently, I felt that the best and safest choice was to delay their anniversary reception to April 2021. Of course there was no harm done in pushing back a dinner party, but what do believers do when he or she experiences spirit crushing setbacks and faith-draining delays? I suspect all of us would agree that the greater the setback the more our purpose can feel hidden from us. Nor do I think anyone would disagree that the larger the delay the less strength and motivation we have to press on.
Thankfully I came across Isaiah 49 earlier this week and I think it provides a healthy framework for us to endure the setbacks and delays that will inevitability come our way. First, Isaiah 49 declares that the Lord uses setbacks and delays to prepare His servants. Even before we draw breath, Isaiah 49 declares that the Lord was already at work preparing His purpose for our lives and that even now the Lord makes preparations for purposes not yet revealed.
This point deserves special consideration in a time of quarantine and isolation. Some believers see the virus as a test of faith and will not allow the risk of spreading infection to suppress their urge to do something. However, Isaiah 49 invites us all to consider the possibility of using these setbacks and delays not to put others in danger, but instead to use this time to prepare ourselves for even greater works once the danger passes.
For not only does the Lord prepare His servants, Isaiah 49 also makes clear that the Lord protects His servants as He hides them is the shadow of His hand and conceals them in His quiver. Therefore, as servants of the One who protects, let us provide for those in need and care for those in pain in ways that protects ourselves and those we serve. I realize leaving groceries on a porch isn’t as satisfying preparing and sharing meals, but during this time it is enough.
And having been prepared and protected, Isaiah 49 reveals to us both a task and a gift which God bestows to us. Though setbacks can cause adjustments, our task to bring the light of salvation to the ends of earth goes unchanged. While delays may require amendments, our gift of having God display His splendor through us remains undimmed.
So this week I want to encourage us all to keep preparing plans to take light into dark places. May we also continue to allow God’s splendor to be displayed through our words and actions. For even amidst the setbacks and delays, Isaiah 49 speaks of a faithful God whose love and mercy always arrives on time.
CJE