I And The Children

MAY 9, 2024

 “Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.” (Isaiah 8:18)

So many times in the Old Testament Scriptures, if we are listening, we hear the voice of our blessed Savior as He speaks of Himself and His redeemed people. Isaiah’s prophecy is replete with such passages, of which perhaps none are more precious than our present text. We might assume that Isaiah is here speaking of himself and his own two young sons to whom we were just recently introduced. (Ch. 7:3; 8:1) Although that may be so in the immediate sense, we have it on Divine authority that it is indeed Christ Jesus Who is here prophesying of Himself and His children. In the second chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews, the writer is declaring that Christ Jesus Who sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. The Apostle notes that He owns them as His brethren. He then takes it a step further. Not only does our Lord call us brethren, but he calls us His children, quoting from Isaiah 8:18: “I and the children whom Thou hast given me.” What a comforting thought!

The context sets forth different results which come from the appearance of the Savior. He is rejected by many and accepted by others. To those who receive Him, He is “a sanctuary,” but to those who reject Him, He is “a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence.” (Vs. 14, 15) It is well established in both Testaments that Christ, Who is our Rock, in Whom all believers are sheltered safe, is the very Stone that shall grind to powder all Christ rejectors, upon whom it shall fall. (Isa. 28:16; Rom. 9:33; Matt. 21:42-44)

Even now, the Gospel is a “savour of death unto death,” as well as a “savour of life unto life.” The election of grace is always being worked out, the separating process continues, and will continue, until the eternal purpose has been completely fulfilled. Those whom the Lord has given to the Savior will feel the attractions, and being drawn to Him, they shall come. (John 6:37, 44, 45) Others willfully and wickedly reject Him, and are left to their willing unbelief. “He came unto his own, and his own received him not, but to as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”(John 1:11)

Another thing that results from the Lord’s calling His own unto Himself is that they find it written that the testimony of God is left to their charge. “Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.” (Vs. 16) The outside world rejects the testimony of God; its own thoughts and opinions are much preferred to it. But among the Lord’s disciples, His commands are prized, and His teachings are sacred, and they set to it their seal that God is true. They accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ as very truth and mean to defend it against all deniers.

To the true disciples of Jesus there will surely come times when it seems that His face is hidden from them. At such times what is their hope? Our Lord and Savior says, “I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face…I will look for Him.” (Vs. 17) It is our Savior who sits upon the watch towers; it is He who prays for us, and sees that, “For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” (Isa. 54:7, 8)

It is a remarkable and wonderful relationship that believers enjoy with their Redeemer. True, “He is not ashamed to call us brethren,” and make Himself of one with us, but He also delights to call us Hischildren. “I and the children.” Now, it is not according to precise theology, or formal doctrinal statements to call Jesus Father, for He is not “the Father,” and we must not be confused as to proper distinction of the persons of the Godhead. He is, however, our Father in that He is bringing many sons to glory. He is our Father, as a Son over His own house. (Heb. 2:10; 3:6) By His teaching as a Father we are born unto God, and as in our text, it is as a Father that He takes responsibility for us. It is also as He is our Father that His likeness we strive to achieve.

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