[The following devotional is a part of our 2014 Advent Devotional Guide. We will be posting a devotional each day on this blog between November 30 – December 31, 2014.]
The Bully Buster by Mark Robinson
Read: Isaiah 9:6-7
Do you know any bullies? People who take advantage of the weak and pick on the vulnerable? Most playgrounds have them. Some countries in the world are even ruled by one. People have always longed for a day when there would be no more bullies in the world. God promises in Isaiah 9:1-7 a time when the bullies will be defeated and peace will reign on the earth. According to the Bible, this peace will be accomplished by a most peculiar leader.
In Isaiah 9, we see that from the land of Galilee (a small rural province in northern Israel that often drew the first attack from invading armies because of its northern exposure) a leader would emerge that would bring glory and peace to God’s people. This leader would be a bully-buster who would establish peace on the earth. Surprisingly, the leader who would quell the bullies would not be a bigger bully, but a child. What a contrast! This child, of course, was Jesus who would grow up and reveal Himself as Mighty God. 700 years after this prophecy was given (in Isaiah 9), Jesus would be born as a child, clothing Himself in humanity, to set in motion a plan to bring lasting peace to the earth.
What is amazing about reading this prophecy from Isaiah at Christmas time, though, is that the accomplishment of this prophecy has not yet fully taken place. The gifts of Isaiah 9 are still wrapped under the Christmas tree of Christ’s second coming. When Jesus returns to the earth at a future time, He will put an end to war and He will rule the world in peace. One day war will cease, and the bullies will be stopped. The One who was born a Child will return in glorious triumph and shine His light throughout our world. That is one present I cannot wait to be unwrapped.
Questions:
- What is peace? When Isaiah 9 says that Jesus is the “Prince of Peace” what do you think it means?
- Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus will come to the earth again one day? When He does, it will bring about everlasting peace for those who know Him!
Advent Prayers:
- Thank God for the promise of peace He has given for our future.
- Pray and ask God for this future peace to impact the way we live our lives and relate to one another today.