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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Out of the Wilderness” A wilderness is an uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region. Out of the wilderness means to emerge from a period of obscurity, hardship, or inactivity and return to a position of prominence, fruitfulness, success, happiness and peace. It also means overcoming struggles, stagnation, or spiritual dryness. We shall reflect on the fact that it takes the power of the Holy Spirit or the divine presence of God to come out of the wilderness and to experience genuine righteousness and peace.

Beloved in the Lord, Isaiah 32 was written during the reign of King Azah, who was known for disobeying God by patronising idolatry and forming an alliance with Assyria. During his era, Judah experienced spiritual drought, or wilderness, and a false sense of security and peace borne of Assyrian protection. He turned away from God and sought refuge from Assyria, a pagan nation, creating a false sense of security and hope among the inhabitants of Judah. It was for this reason that Isaiah prophesied, You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say! 10 In little more than a year, you who feel secure will tremble; the grape harvest will fail, and the harvest of fruit will not come. 11 Tremble, you complacent women; shudder, you daughters who feel secure! Strip off your fine clothes and wrap yourselves in rags. (Isaiah 32:9-11) In other words, we cannot experience true happiness and peace when we lack the Spirit of God and righteousness. We cannot experience peace through ungodly leadership and a false sense of security. The women of Israel were complacent because King Ahaz created false security and peace through idol worship and reliance on a pagan and foreign nation instead of God. Beloved in the Lord, we find ourselves in the wilderness if we are led by ungodly leaders. For those of us who are leaders, we are greatly admonished to turn to God for spiritual empowerment and success during our time of leadership so that we do not experience spiritual wilderness in our lives. Again, as Christians, let us always turn to God even when we have ungodly leaders who are going astray.

Irrespective of the ungodly leadership of King Ahaz, God had a plan for His nation. He planned to bring them out of the wilderness of bad leadership and spiritual drought by providing an atmosphere of righteousness and joy borne out of the outpouring of His Spirit on a new King and on the people. (Isaiah 32:1-8). This King is believed to be King Hezekiah, who was the son and successor of King Ahaz. Ultimately, Isaiah assured the nation, “…the Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest. 16 The LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. 17 The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever. 18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest. 19 Though hail flattens the forest and the city is levelled completely, 20 how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.” (Isaiah 32:15-20) In other words, we are delivered from spiritual wilderness when we submit to the indwelling and leadership of the Holy Spirit. We are made righteous by the Holy Spirit, and out of this righteousness we experience the peace that the world, its leadership and false security cannot give us. Again, the Prophesy of Isaiah transcends the reign of Hezekiah in that when we have submitted to the reign of Jesus Christ, our true King and leader, we shall experience the glory of God or the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He has assured us that “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) Our wilderness is completely transformed into a forest of fruitfulness, hope, peace and joy because through Jesus Christ we have the presence of the Holy Spirit abiding with us.

In summary, we have discovered that it takes the power of the Holy Spirit or the divine presence of God to come out of the wilderness and to experience genuine righteousness and peace.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit guide our leaders, and may we be filled with the righteousness of God so that we shall come out of the wildness and experience the glory and peace of God in our lives.