The Hope That Will Not Disappoint

If you live long enough, you will undoubtedly encounter disappointment. Like the love that was supposed to be forever but was lost…disappointment. Like the job promotion that went to someone else less qualified….disappointment. Like the child with so much promise who instead has gone astray…disappointment. In this week’s scripture (Isaiah 49:18-23), God knew the years of disappointment that His people were going to have to face as they were punished in captivity because of their refusal to turn back to Him. He let them know that despite their desolation and ruin and their land being laid waste, He would bring them back. Even though they might feel they were forever displaced, God would return them to His promised land. And even though they might feel spiritually barren, He would fill the land with so many of their spiritual children that it would burst at the seams. He vowed that He would not disappoint their Hope in Him…and then they would know that He is the LORD! May God strengthen your hope in Him for your deliverance, restoration and joy.

Lift up your eyes and look around;

all your children gather and come to you.

As surely as I live, ” declares the LORD,

“you will wear them all as ornaments;

you will put them on, like a bride. (Isaiah 49:18). God offered hope to Israel (and to the church) that periods of desolation and depletion do not mean God has deserted His people. He told Israel to lift up her eyes to see what God would do. That is instructive for us, because in our times of trial and tribulation, we too need to look to the Lord and place our hope in Him. Then we will be able to see what He has done behind the scenes on our behalf. In this case, though Israel would be scattered in captivity, the LORD swore by Himself that He would gather and bring her and her children back. This scripture is interpreted as God not only bringing Israel back, but also bringing the church together to unite with her at Christ’s second coming (advent).

“Though you were ruined and made desolate

and your land laid waste,

now you will be too small for your people,

and those who devoured you will be far away.

The children born during your bereavement

will yet say in your hearing,

‘This place is too small for us;

give us more space to live in.’

Then you will say in your heart,

‘Who bore me these?

I was bereaved and barren;

I was exiled and rejected.

Who brought these up?

I was left all alone,

but these—where have they come from?’” (Isaiah 49:18-21). Israel as a nation would be ruined and taken into captivity. Jerusalem along with the temple would be destroyed. Israel’s purpose had been to be priests to the nations and bring others to worship of God. Not only would the land be laid waste and barren of life, but Israel would be barren in her purpose of bringing other nations to worship God and become His children. But God promised that Israel would return, and the land would again be populated to the point where it would be said that the land was too small (not enough space for all of the inhabitants). Israel would also receive many people (not just Jewish, but also the church) who would come and worship God. This fact would cause her to question how these “children” had been added, given that she had been spiritually “barren” and unable to birth them.

This is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“See, I will beckon to the nations,

I will lift up my banner to the peoples;

they will bring your sons in their arms

and carry your daughters on their hips.

Kings will be your foster fathers,

and their queens your nursing mothers.

They will bow down before you with their faces to the ground;

they will lick the dust at your feet.

Then you will know that I am the LORD;

those who hope in me will not be disappointed. (Isaiah 49:22-23). In the time of Israel’s restoration, the nations would bring Israel’s spiritual offspring back to her in the place designated by God’s banner. God would use Kings and Queens to ensure that her “children” were nurtured and taken care of and brought back. Israel’s restoration would see powerful people honoring her (bow down to her) and those that opposed God being humbled (“lick the dust at your feet”). God ended with a powerful promise. He promised that when you put your hope in Him, it would not misplaced, He would not let you down or leave you disappointed.

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and let me say happy Father’s Day to all of the great fathers and men who serve as mentors in our communities. It is a running joke that fathers don’t get the same celebration that mothers get on their day. I noticed commercials on tv that are playing into this theme of fathers experiencing disappointment on their special day. But praise God, I am connected to men who inspire and celebrate one another. In times of pain and disappointment, we encourage each other and fan the flames of hope for a brighter day for our families, our communities and our world. As much as I appreciate these connections to those who encourage me, my greatest hope is in God whose promises of hope (and His fulfillment of promises) can be found throughout His word. The more you walk with God, the more you understand that if God said it, you can count on it. For He is The Hope that will not disappoint!

Blessings,

Rev. Glenn

Then you will know that I am the Lord;
those who hope in me will not be disappointed.
—Isaiah 49:23c

so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. —Isaiah 55:11