Isaiah’s Word is God

I have a hard time hearing Isaiah. I live in a place and time where I am not a slave, not a refugee, and not returning to a home and city decimated by war. Collective despair is unknown to me. But we have neighbours and friends who have known such despair. And what attracts me to them is their joy and laughter at the little things.

When tulip greens begin to show in early spring, surrounded by dead grass and bare earth, I will smile with joy and laugh with delight. And I feel God is near and God smiles and laughs with me.

Isaiah speaks words that are within all of us, words we recognize as holy and righteous. I call these words life-giving, liberating, healing and saving, and resurrecting. I think that Isaiah was Jesus’ favourite prophet. With Jesus we see God’s vindication, not in one city renewed, but in humanity renewed. With Jesus-with-us, we are seeing and experiencing God’s words in our words and God’s ways in our ways.

As long as one little girl is born into despair, God will not rest. Isaiah will continue to speak to us, to call us to go find her and bring joy and laughter into her life.

God, keep calling us with your prophetic word. Amen. — BL