The Wolf and the Lamb

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”  Isaiah 11:6

The prophet Isaiah did not just prophesy for the future of ancient Israel, warning them that judgment would come for their disobedience, but he also foretold of the future when Jesus Christ will return to earth to rule and reign in His glory.  Isaiah prophesied that “there shall come forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: and the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.”  Jesus’ lineage is traced back to Jesse, who was King David’s father.  Jesus would come through the line of Jesse after many generations and be born to a young virgin named Mary and step-father Joseph.  He is described as a “Rod” and a “Branch”, both symbolizing something that is weak, small, and easily broken.  However, the term “rod” is also used in scripture as symbolic of “correction”.  The term “branch” is translated from the Hebrew word “netzer”.  Some think that this refers to Nazareth, Mary and Joseph’s hometown.  Jesus was referred to as a “Nazarene” (Matthew 2:23).  However, the “Branch” or “Stem of Jesse” more likely refers to the fact that the royal family of David was cut down and only a “stump” left.  But out of this stump, that is, the roots of this stump, grew forth the “Branch” or Christ.  We’ve all seen how limbs will sprout from a tree stump because there’s still life in the roots.  And so it was with the royal line of David.

Isaiah foretold how that Jesus would be given every attribute necessary to carry out His mission of preparing the way for people to be able to be reconciled to the LORD.  The Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, would fill Jesus with wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the LORD.  Jesus understood perfectly His mission.  He knew that He must carry it out for the glory and honor of His Father.  There is a Christian song that says when Jesus was hanging on the cross, I was on His mind.  That is true, however, I think that it was His Father who was uppermost on Jesus’ mind.  He went to the cross to please His Father, not us.  By doing so, Jesus made it possible for God to redeem those who were lost.

When Jesus returns, He will judge, not on the outward appearance of man or on the words man speaks or the words others speak about him, but He will judge on the hidden man of the heart.  Jesus has the ability to go “straight to the heart of the matter”.  Jesus will defend those who are poor and oppressed.  He will judge those who are the oppressors.  He will use the “rod of His mouth” to punish the wicked.  We know that there is power in the words that Jesus speaks; He can speak, and it will happen.  Even His breath is so powerful that He can wipe out the wicked with one blow.  He is wrapped in righteousness and can do no wrong.  Jesus is completely fair in His dealing with man, and He is truth.

Isaiah then prophesies how peaceful everything will be when Jesus comes to rule His kingdom.  Animals who were natural enemies of one another will become peaceful with one another.  Children will be able to play with snakes without fear of poisonous bites.  People who were enemies will be at perfect peace with one another because they will have the Lord Jesus Christ reigning in their hearts.  Everyone will know the Lord.  The knowledge of Him will be in every city, every country, every continent.  What a difference from our world today!

I will admit that it is difficult to see our world this way.  Now we can only see turmoil, hate, division, greed, immorality, selfishness, and plenty of other ungodly behavior that seems like it will never end.  Of course, all of this ungodly behavior has been here since Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden.  However, God said we would return eventually to paradise like it was in the beginning, before sin took a foothold and brought grief and despondency to all mankind.  I think that eternity will be like God intended for the world and His people in the beginning, except this time, Satan will be banished and no longer able to deceive and hassle folks.  Politicians and pundits talk about a “new world order”, but I don’t think they have a clue as to what the real “new world order” will be like.  It will certainly far surpass the worldly “utopia” that unbelieving men and women seek.