“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Isaiah 9:7

Can you imagine waiting 700 years for something? Most of us can’t even wait the 2 minutes it takes to heat up food in the microwave without squirming! 

Here in Isaiah 9, God promises Israel that a future king from David’s line would reign forever as a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace — which was a much better deal than the war and distress they were currently facing under King Ahaz! God’s promise must have been encouraging to hear… but I’m sure there were questions and doubts when the years passed and nothing changed. 

While Israel was seeking an immediate answer to their political problems, God had eternity in mind. It took 700 years of waiting, but Israel finally met their long-awaited King — and they rejected Him. Jesus wasn’t anything like what they expected, and He certainly didn’t bring the political power they desired. Instead, He brought them what they truly needed — a peace and a justice that has no end, just as God promised in Isaiah 9:7. 

Many times, we don’t know what we need, either. We pray for our wants, and even for things we seem to need in the moment. But God knows the full storyline of the world, and He knows what is ultimately going to be most beneficial for us. Let God’s promises of a Savior King in Isaiah remind us that He does follow through on His promises, even if they don’t play out like we thought they would.

PRAYER:
God, thank you for knowing so much more than me. I can only see my tiny blip of a lifespan on the thread of eternity, but You can see it all. Please help me trust You even when I can’t tell what You’re doing. I know that You are good and I can trust You to take care of my needs. Amen.

-Laura