Isaiah 63:1-14 (v7-10)

Isaiah 63-64 belong together.  We have divided it into manageable portions.  It is a continuation from Ch. 62 which speaks of the glorious change that will be brought about in the land and the people.  Here is an outline of these 2 chapters.

·        63:1-6: The LORD will judge Edom and its capital Bozrah.

·        63:7-14: A review of Israel’s history shows how they have come to the place they are at in Isaiah’s day, deserving of judgment.

·        63:15-64:12: Isaiah prays for Israel’s restoration in righteousness.

·        65-66: God’s answer to the prayer.

Edom was singled out above other nations for God’s judgment (Ezek. 35:1-36:7).  Edom (descendants of Esau) and Israel (descendants of Jacob) were brother nations; yet there was an ancient hatred (Ezek. 35:5) going back to the childhood days of the twins (Gen. 25,27).  That hatred was aroused when, as Jerusalem was burned, the Edomites concluded God was permanently removing Israel from the land.  They encouraged the Babylonians to destroy Jerusalem (Ps. 137:7) and then figured to take the land for themselves (Ezek. 35:10; 36:2).  

Isa. 63:1-6 pictures the LORD Himself (the Messiah) coming from Bozrah, dripping in red (blood) from the vengeance upon Edom and Bozrah.  Edom’s problem was that she thought God would go back on His word.  But that cannot be!  Even the depth of our sin cannot cause God to be unfaithful.

This understanding of God is what allows Isaiah to review Israel’s history, as he does in 63:7-14.  He remembers that God was gracious in the very beginning, to make Israel His people.  God did this knowing that He would have to become their Savior (v8), and knowing as well that His grace would mean that he would share in their afflictions (v9).  In fact they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit so that He fought against them (v10).  Yet God continued to lead them (v14).

Both of the brother nations were rebellious in their history.  But Edom did not turn to God in their judgment.  They continued to jealously deny God’s choice of Israel, the ancient hatred that dated back to their father Esau.  Israel too was like her father, Jacob, in that she was resistant to God’s grace.  But like Jacob, Israel will eventually experience God’s grace and mercy.  

There are people today that think God is finished with Israel.  After all, she crucified His Christ some 2000 years ago.  But Isa. 40-66 has been making it clear: God will keep His promise.  Let us now recognize this about God to believers in Christ.  God will keep His word to us as well.  Christ suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust (1 Pt. 3:18).  That is what makes it grace: the Offended One paid the price for the offender.  God has already been afflicted in our affliction.  No amount of sin on our part kept God from sacrificing His Son; no amount of sin on our part will cause God to deny Himself in the future.  He cannot, and thus He will not, deny Himself (2 Tim. 2:13).  Be comforted in this!