Advent Reader: Darkness & Light, Then & Now

Isaiah 9:1-7

Isaiah has a stark message to give. Imminent destruction due to disobeying God, set against the future hope that many of his hearers would never see.

The lands of the tribes Zebulun and Naphtali around Galilee were laid waste and occupied by Gentiles. Even after the restoration of Jerusalem, Galilee was regarded as a land of darkness but one into which the glorious light of the prophesied Messiah appeared.This was all in God's will and plan.

Jesus came but was not received. The Light was rejected, darkness was preferred. But not by all.

He has become our Light - our call out of darkness. Who else could be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, but Jesus?

We shall have no fear of punishment because we have victory and deliverance - by who? Yehoshua, Jesus the prophesied Messiah. The child born for us, the Son of God given to us, who turns our dark to light, our worries, fears and distress to joy, hope and fulfilment in His wonderful never-ending kingdom.