FAITH AND FASTING

Most of us have heard this verse fragment quoted, “can a nation be born in a day?”, uttered over many years by religious leaders. If we were paying attention, we realized those quoting it actually believe that prophetic bit of Isaiah 66 to be referring to a specific earthly place.

However, a careful study of the book of Isaiah reveals this prophecy to be a far more sacred and pivotal moment for God’s people than the modern beginning of one, secular nation. Rather, it meant the birth of something completely independent of earth altogether. It indicated a day which changed all of history and opened the pathway to God’s family for ALL people.

Yes, “can a nation be born in a day” actually refers to the day of the Cross, the anniversary of which we celebrate this very day, which many call, Good Friday. The day Jesus was lifted up upon the Cross, the people of God were also lifted up from one earthly place to a Heavenly identity.

Did you know history scholars have pinpointed the day Jesus died on the Cross as April 3, 30 AD. Today, then, is the very anniversary of that severe mercy for humanity.

This day transformed the people of God called Zion (not a place, but a people) forever, as Zion birthed the Bride of Christ, the Church, the followers of Christ, Kingdom or Israel of God, however you wish to refer to God’s people.

Isaiah had previously revealed Zion would lose children and gain many more new children. The ancient Hebrew prophet was referring to a people, not a place:

For your waste and desolate places,
And the land of your destruction,
Will even now be too small for the inhabitants;
And those who swallowed you up will be far away.
The children you will have,
After you have lost the others,
Will say again in your ears,
‘The place is too small for me;
Give me a place where I may dwell.’ Isaiah 49:19-20

The mistake of too many religious teachers today is in trying to draw literal meaning out of symbolic imagery. We miss the vastly greater meaning, beauty and pageantry when we do so.

Worse, we are proliferating deception when a false, literal interpretation is spread. We will leave the reader to discern this, but we are caught in deceptions right now in the world because of false theologies embraced by too many in both church and government.

Let’s take a new look at Isaiah now and unravel it symbolically. Comments in brackets [] will be mine. God bless you as we read His word together:

ISAIAH 66

Thus says the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool: where is the house that you build for me? and where is the place of my rest?

[In other words, I Am so big, the entire heaven is My dominion and planet earth is just a footstool to Me. Where would you possibly build a house to hold Me? You cannot and My home is not earth! For those who continue to insist God has one favorite place He will return and rule, reflect carefully upon this verse.]

2 For all those things has My hand made, and those things have [already] been, says the LORD: but to this (type of) man will I look, who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at My word.

[God is reiterating that He has made all things, the heaven and the earth and needing nothing physical from us, He only wants one thing from humans now: humble repentance and obedience. We cannot know God’s way if we cannot give up our own preconceived ideas.]

3 He that kills an ox will be as if he killed a man; he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offers an oblation, as though he offered swine’s blood; he that burns incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations.

[In other words, there will come a day animal sacrifices will be so offensive, it will be an abomination. There was only one act which ended all need for additional sacrifices: the sacrifice of God Himself through Jesus on the Cross. So, this is talking about life after Christ. No more sacrifices are needed and now they are offensive to God.]

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before My eyes, and chose what in which I delighted not.

[There will be a cost to those who fail to follow the plan of the Lord. They will walk in delusions and deceptions.]

5 Hear the word of the LORD, you that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

[He is literally speaking to the remnant, to those who would be obedient and follow Him out of the old covenant into the new… with a dark prophecy: your former brothers (family, countrymen, etc) will hate you and cast you out. But, the Lord is your joy and they will ultimately be ashamed.]

6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that recompenses His enemies.

[His most important day and time will be accompanied by much ado in both civic and religious halls.]

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. 8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

[When quoting, “shall a nation be born at once (or in a day)”, verse 8, it should never be separated from the previous one, verse 7! Isaiah reveals first ONE MAN was born to Zion whose life would be followed by serious pain and many new children. This is Jesus and His followers, continuing Zion (the family of God) into a new, permanent and everlasting Covenant.

His life brought complete upheaval to the old nation and former people of God. However, the identity of the people who did follow, to God, is the same (Zion or Israel of God), having been transformed like a butterfly birthed from the cocoon.]

9 Shall I bring about the birth, and not have it actually happen? says the LORD: shall I make it ready but then shut the womb and not allow it?

[God is asking, do I ever fail to accomplish what I promised? Of course, the answer is no. All the prophets had been promising a deliverer, redeemer…]

10 Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all that mourn for her: 11 That you may nurse, and be satisfied; that you may be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

[This is very hard for literalists to accept, but in this passage, God, through Isaiah, was not referring to earthly Jerusalem. The entire passage is about the transformation of God’s people, through one man, to all the world, and so now He is talking about Heavenly Jerusalem, the whole family of God bound not to one place on earth anymore.]

12 For thus says the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall you nurse and carried… 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

[Still talking about Heavenly Jerusalem, and note the huge nod to Gentiles, who will now be recipients of God’s peace and glory. It is the Kingdom of God in Christ.]

People of God, may the eyes and ears of your spirits be yielded and open to His voice and heart every day. God bless and anoint you to share His greatest gift, our glorious Savior, Jesus, with those in your lives who need to hear.

For Him who gave all for us…