Wednesday, December 15, 2004
Isaiah 9:2,4 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined. For You have broken the yoke of his burden and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.
AS IN THE DAY OF MIDIAN
So certain is Isaiah of the Messiah's coming, that he speaks of it as if it had already occurred, and the victory were already won -- won by God in such a way that those delivered could never conclude that it was their doing -- as was the case when the Lord used Gideon to rout the vastly superior forces of Midian.
And God had seen to it that Israel was greatly outnumbered. He had pared down the 32,000 who had answered Gideon's call until only 300 remained -- the 300 most frightened, least likely of warriors.
Yet, when Gideon and his men broke the jars that hid their torches, blew on their trumpets and cried out: "The sword of the LORD and of Gideon!" the result was a thorough-going rout of the Midianites.
Isaiah uses Gideon's victory to picture a far greater one -- the victory of God's greatest champion over Satan and his demon forces. For Gideon's victory was great, but it was nothing compared to Christ's. Gideon's victory over Midian was great and bloody, but not final. Jesus' victory over Satan was bloody (the Victor's blood!)
-- and eternally final.
And because Christ came to win His greater victory for us -- with His own blood -- a far greater joy than that of victorious Gideon is ours.
But as with Gideon vs. Midian our God wins the day in a way most surprising and unexpected way. He sends an army of One! And that One who comes as a child, comes to die a seemingly helpless death.
Yet from the dark shadow of the grave itself, the Light has shined! 