Return to God. No Hostilities.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. (Isaiah 11:9)
And can it be that with no chain, a wolf will live well with the lamb; leopard and goat – causing no pain, the calf and lion play with a child? A conference on poverty reduction and ecological justice has just happened last week, and some of the propositions were quite controversial. One poem I listened to changed earth into a living being, and the poet discourages mining, especially of oil, because this is earth’s blood. The poem’s chorus, “the oil only flows when the earth bleeds” kept repeating and moving listeners’ emotions. But thinking about the vast wealth that many Middle East countries have obtained from oil, what would happen to them if they stopped mining? And Uganda is excitedly looking forward to when the oil starts to flow!
The Bible talks about a future when there will be no hostility among animals and between animals and people; there will be no hostility in the entire ecological realm. Maybe there will be no mining of oil, and this will comfort Nnimmo Bassey, the writer of the poem. But Isaiah 11:6-9 clearly talks about a sweet fellowship of wolf and lamb, leopard and goat, calf and lion, child and cobra and viper! One professor wondered if this is ever possible – if the carnivorous animals will not starve to death! Before concluding quickly, let’s join the inquiry and ask the question, how can this happen? How will all hostility die down? Will the hatred between rival people ever go away? What about the hostility between sinners and their Maker – how can it end?
In a short line Isaiah (11:9) offers the answer. “for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea”. The bringer of this knowledge in its fullness is the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He is prophesied in the same chapter as the Shoot from the stump of Jesse, a Branch that will bear fruit. The purpose of His coming was to reveal the Father, and all who receive him enter a sweet fellowship with the Father. The hostility Isaiah began with in chapter 1 will be no more when the Jesus Christ restores peace. His blood alone can wash sins and bridge the gap between the sinner and his Maker.
In our community, there are many people who are battling biting financial blunders, regrettable drug abuse, academic re-takes and failures, disappointments in relationships; some people are suffering prolonged trauma, low self-esteem because their tribe has been perennially despised, while others deeply regret having mistreated another group for such long! All these hostilities will be no more when we return to the Lord; when the earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord – as revealed by Christ Jesus. Away from the Lord, there is no peace; and it only gets worse after this life on earth! Return to God for peace today and in eternity.
God bless you all.