relationships (Isaiah 4:1-6) Seeking Oneness

(Isaiah 4:1-6)

1 For seven women will take hold of one man on that day, saying, “We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes, only let us be called by your name; take away our disgrace!”

2 On that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the beauty of the survivors of Israel. 3 And it will come about that the one who is left in Zion and remains behind in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. 4 When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, 5 then the Lord will create over the entire area of Mount Zion and over her assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke, and the brightness of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 And there will be a shelter to give shade from the heat by day, and refuge and protection from the storm and the rain.

TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:

God's creation and plan for relationships is based on the Trinity, which is oneness, and part of His character: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  He created man and woman, and in marriage (with consummation), the two become one flesh.  When both are believers, the third entity of this oneness includes the Lord God!  Three strands in a rope are stronger!

Of course, as a single, when we become believers, the Lord seals us with His Holy Spirit of promise.  In this, we are made whole.  It is only the Lord who can fulfill, satisfy and complete us!  And so, whether single or married, He has also created us for community.  Therefore being an active member of a church is part of His design!  This is our spiritual family, so that we and the Church are one body, and the third entity of this oneness includes the Lord God!  Three strands in a rope are stronger!

Without the Lord in a person's life, the sense and definitions of relationship/s become distorted, as they are driven by a person's own thinking and selfishness.  And while we will see ebbs and flows of this within our society, these things and a lot more will be far worse in the Tribulation.  

And just so that we can understand a little better...

"On that day" refers to "the Day of the Lord" which encompasses both Tribulation and Millennium.  Verse 1 describes a bit of the Tribulation, while verses 2 to 6 describe the Millennium.  Verses 2-3 very clearly says that there will be survivors of the Tribulation, who have been "left behind."  

Again, just so that we can understand better...

There are two events where people are "left behind."  Before the Tribulation, all believers of all time will be "raptured" (this is the Greek word which means "to be caught up").  Jesus will snatch up all believers and take them to heaven (1 & 2 Thessalonians).  Therefore, at the start of the Tribulation, only unbelievers are left behind here on the earth.  Throughout those seven years of judgement, some people will become believers, including the people of Israel.  They will see the signs of Jesus' second coming, and they as a nation will believe.

At the end of the Tribulation, Jesus will come to fight the battle of Armageddon and remove all evil and all unbelievers from the earth.  Therefore, at the start of the Millennial kingdom, there will only be believers here on the earth and it will be a new beginning.  Jesus will reign with righteousness and fulfill the covenants with Israel, so they will have their land, seed and blessings.  Jesus will also heal and protect the earth, to become more like the Garden of Eden.

We can be confident in these words, knowing that God is Sovereign and has a plan which He will carry out, so we do not have to worry about the future or the state of the earth.  He is fair and just, and He's got this!  So there is also comfort in these words.  One day, Jesus will bring physical healing and protection to the entire earth.  And for right now, we can experience spiritual healing and protection, which is only found in a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, the bread of life, who clothes us in His righteousness, allowing us to experience oneness in Him.