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, modern earthly nation.

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, a vastly larger one than just the beginning of one tiny, secular nation in the last century.

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:

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

Jesus also used the analogy of birth for what was about to happen through His crucifixion:

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. John 16:21-22

The mistake of too many religious teachers attempting to teach prophecy today is in trying to force literal meaning out of symbolic imagery. We miss the greater meaning, beauty and poetry when we do so.

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

Jesus warned us the end times would contain so many deceptions, some so great even the elect (believers) would struggle to know truth. Therefore, we must be very careful which churches and leaders we trust. Check their theology against Scripture. Don’t get on a ship if you cannot confirm the safe direction of the captain. We should rather be floating alone, or with just a few others, in a dingy heading in the right direction than be part of an impressive armada of ships heading straight for the most jagged rocks in the ocean. For more recent thoughts on the corporate Church, suggest you consider reading: Houses of the Holy.

Let’s take a new look at Isaiah now and unravel it symbolically. Comments in brackets [] are 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. God will consider their actions evil.]

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 those who would be obedient and follow Him out of the old covenant into the new (aka the Remnant)… 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 and the Lord is up to mighty things to defeat His foes. Yes, this is certainly fulfilled in the events surrounding the death and Resurrection of Christ.]

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 revealed first ONE MAN was born to Zion whose life would be followed by serious pain and, instantly, 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 family of God. However, the identity of the people who followed, to God, would be the same, the continuation (of 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, and a transformed people…]

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.

[In one view, earthly Jerusalem had just given birth to the Answer for mankind, the Redeemer Messiah. Her purpose on earth had been fulfilled and this was cause to rejoice. In another view, and this is very hard for literalists to accept, but I believe in this passage, God, through Isaiah, was likely 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 it follows 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.

[We believe this is even more clear He is 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.]

Underscoring the appropriately symbolic interpretation of Hebrew prophecies, hear the words of disciple and apostle, (“Saint”) Peter from the New Testament:

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,’ [Failing to trust Christ equals disobedience to God; and the people He came from – aka the builders – rejected Him thereby missing the transition to New Covenant; He nevertheless became the foundational rock of God’s family as it transformed forever.]

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God… 1 Peter 2:7,9-10

Dearest followers of Messiah Jesus, WE are that “holy nation”, the “nation born in a day”. Don’t let anyone tell you differently.

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…