A Nation of stumps
God appoints Isaiah as a preacher but he proves to be particularly unsuccessful preacher wise. Despite having access to the King, his Godly counsel is ignored and that Israel will be destroyed. Isaiah is utterly desolate Assyria did destroy Israel and there is nothing left but stumps, after a lifetime in God’s service. Just a nation of stumps. We are thrilled and intoxicated by success stories, but Isaiah’s story is one of despondency during his life time. But from the holy seed of Isaiah’s words is we discover the stump from which salvation will grow. A shoot will come out of the stump of Jesse. That stump still plays a part in our lives today, yet at the time of Isaiah’s death it looked as if all his visionary preaching had failed. Oh for us today is this not a word to abandon instant gratification and recognise that God too often uses the holy stump. From death and destruction often comes life. Invite someone today to take a closer look at Christ and his church.
