Isaiah 26:12-21 – Be God’s redemptive agents today

Isaiah, speaking on behalf of the remnant, was assured that God would establish peace for them. He acknowledged that God in all His works was acting on their behalf. In verse 13, he provided a hint for why Israel was in such a predicament and had to suffer like a woman in the pain of labor. He said it was because of “the other masters”, besides God, that had ruled over them. However, the remnant did not succumb to those “other masters.” They had experienced Yahweh’s works in their lives and was assured that He would establish their peace. So, despite their unpleasant experiences, they would steadfastly confess the name of the LORD. The foreign powers which God would use to discipline Israel would be removed and would trouble them no more. They would be dead and not rise again to enslave them. God would punish, destroy, and eliminate them and they would be remembered no more.

The discipline of the LORD made the people felt as if they were like a pregnant woman going through the pain of labor. The suffering they had to go through made them capable of only whispering their prayers. Every pregnant woman in travail would bring forth her baby but not so for Israel. They failed to produce the blessings God had made her to be to the world. But there would come a time when Mount Zion would be a blessing to the nation.

However, verse 19 speaks of resurrection. As the dew that falls at dawn would renew the soil and bring life to vegetation, so there would come a moment when God would raise the death of the earth. Death would be overwhelmingly conquered. In verses 20-21, God spoke and assured the remnant that He would protect them from the attack of the enemy. God would allow the judgment to take its course before He would deliver a final blow on the inhabitants of the earth for all their wrongdoings.

Israel was blessed so that they could be a blessing to the world. They failed because there were those among them who submitted themselves to other masters. God had to deal with them. In Christ, we are now called to be a blessing to the world. We are called to be God’s instrument to bring about new births in the world. A breed of people who would believe in Jesus and acknowledge His Lordship over their lives. Let’s go into the world and be God’s redemptive agents. It’s a great privilege!