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ALL CREATION REJOICES (ISAIAH 55:12-13).

REFLECTION

“All creation rejoices” is the theme for our reflection. To rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight. We shall reflect on the fact that we rejoice when we experience the glory of God in our lives.

God spoke through Isaiah to the Israelites who were in captivity and a state of despair. When we find ourselves in a deplorable and hopeless situation, the promise of redemption from a helper gives us a great sigh of relief. It should be noted that sometimes our fellow human beings make promises to help us in times of need, but fail us or circumstances beyond their control make it impossible for them to fulfil their promise. The good news is that we have a dependable God whose glory or presence in our lives causes us to rejoice and experience peace. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (Isaiah 55:12) It is instructive to note that other creations apart from human beings also benefit from the glory of God and would rejoice when granted the opportunity. We need to be good stewards of the environment so that mountains, trees, water bodies and air can also rejoice and praise God. When the environment is healthy and happy, we human beings will also be healthy and happy. When the disciples were singing “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”  “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38) during Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, “the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:39-40). If stones and non-living things can cry out or praise the Lord, then it is our utmost duty as people who have been created in the image and likeness of God to praise and express our joy and gratitude for our salvation and all that He continues to do for us.

Again, we rejoice because God’s glory manifests with His power so that even the impossible is made possible. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper (useful trees), and instead of briers(pricky or thorny plants) the myrtle (beautiful flowers) will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” (Isaiah 55:13) In other words, the glory of God in our lives turns our pains, symbolised by the thornbush, into a situation of hope, resilience and productivity. Again, we rejoice because the glory of God turns our uncomfortable and challenging situations into briers or prickly or thorny flowers, to a comfortable, beautiful and peaceful situation, symbolised by the myrtle. My dear friend, I don’t know your current situation and what you are going through but I am certain and believe in Jesus’s assurance, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) God’s glory is manifested in Jesus so that all who believe in Him, irrespective of their current suffering and agony may rejoice in peace and “have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10)

In summary, we have discovered that we rejoice when we experience God’s glory in our lives. Shalom.