Isaiah 8:18
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.
This verse falls at the end of a chapter written by Isaiah on the topic of fear…fearing God. He tells us in this chapter that many in Jerusalem will stumble on the stone and a “rock” will cause them to fall. The Rock we know is Jesus who will arrive on the earthly scene hundreds of years later. Isaiah sees that many people, who profess to know the LORD are living far from Him. He says in verse 17 that the LORD is hiding His face from the house of Jacob because of their sin. But, Isaiah says immediately after wards that he will put his trust in the LORD. Even though all those around him are stumbling and falling into ways contrary to the LORD…Isaiah remains steadfast and chooses to put his trust in the LORD.
And then verse 18 comes in all it’s simplistic beauty. Here am I. But, not just him…for he adds others to the equation. Here am I AND the children the LORD has given me. He is speaking in behalf of himself and his children. Whether he is speaking literally that they are his physical children or if he is speaking figuratively and they are his spiritual children matters not. He is speaking of those that are closest to him. Those that the LORD has entrusted into his care and he has made SURE they are two things. Vs. 18b We are SIGNS and SYMBOLS from the LORD Almighty. The word signs in Hebrew means “A distinguishing mark or remembrance”. The word symbols in the original form means “to be bright and beautiful”. Isaiah has made sure that himself and those he loves and is closest to are a distinguishing mark that shines brightly in Israel. In the midst of unbelief and horrible sin (he says they consult mediums and spiritists) Isaiah has made a difference in these precious lives.
We each have people in our lives that we are close to. We may have children still at home, a husband, wife or other family members who we are close to. We may have no close family, but still have a circle of friends whom we influence. Or it may be that our family is the church…that is how it should be! Whoever we spend most of our time with…whoever God has placed in our lives…we have a great responsibility toward. This world is so full of people who are stumbling on the stone and falling over the Rock, Jesus Christ. He is here with us, but people refuse to change and so continue to be ensnared and captured by sin. We must make sure…just like Isaiah…that we say..Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols…
What is our distinguishing mark…what shines out of us? Is our mark Christ? Are we and our children so much like Him that we show His “mark”? Are we living so differently from the world that we really are bright and beautiful like Jesus? As I write this, I am so convicted. There are so many things that I should be doing to be more like Him. So many more things that my life should be “marked ” with. So much more that I should be instilling into my “children”. Will we be bold enough and willing to say…Here I am LORD and the children you have given me…we want to be signs and symbols in this generation. May it be so LORD…
Sending much love,
Debbie
This entry was written on June 3, 2010 at 12:00 am
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