By Guest Writer
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 13:1-22, Isaiah 14:1-32, Romans 11:30-36
If I could relive one year of my life, it would most certainly NOT be seventh grade! The social climbing, the raging hormones, the newfound insecurity—I could do without all of that. Of course, I could not have been more thrilled when summer finally arrived that year and I was free of those junior-high hallways for three glorious months.
Hopefully you have fonder memories of middle school than I do. Regardless, I’m sure we’ve all faced times in life where we felt stuck and wanted a reprieve. When we’re in the midst of a trial, it can feel like it will never end. For middle school me, the hope of summer was an escape route from all I wanted to get away from. But when God’s people were stuck under oppression, He had a much grander eternal freedom in store for them.
God’s chosen people frequently found themselves in times of trial throughout the Old Testament. Sometimes it was because of their disobedience to God that they had to face the consequences. Such was the case when Israel went astray and found themselves oppressed by Babylon.
At that time in history, Babylon was the pinnacle of human ingenuity. It was similar to how we might view New York City today—the most powerful city in the world, the hub of secular culture and influence. The ideas that Babylon could be overthrown and the Jewish people freed, would have seemed impossible. Yet God promised through His prophet Isaiah to deliver His people. Not because they deserved it, but because He loved His people and had compassion for them time and again.
And sure enough, the Lord had a plan to overthrow the most powerful city at the time and free Israel. Numerous books of the Old Testament tell how He called His people out of slavery and back under His good and just rule.
Because the Lord’s promises have been proven true, we can trust that He will always make good on His word. God has also given us a promise of deliverance. He said that if we believe in Him, we will have eternal life. Just as He showered compassion on Israel, He generously wipes away all our sins when we repent and follow Him. Not because we earned it, but because He loves us.
The good news is that we can be freed of the oppression of this world in our hearts today. But that’s not all—God also promised that one day He will come again to make everything new. Not just our hearts, but the systems of the world will finally be good and just, exactly as the Creator always intended. If we trust in the promise keeper, we will finally experience the peace we all long for in eternity. Let’s put our trust in the only One with the power to set us free.
Written by Kaitie Stoddard
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