Watch Salvation Grow

17 I will wait for the Lord, 

who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. 

I will put my trust in him. 

18 Here am I, and the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the Lord Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.

Reflection: Watch Salvation Grow

By John Tillman

Two mysterious children appear in today’s Isaiah passage.

Isaiah and his wife, the prophetess, conceive a child named Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz, which means “quick to the plunder, swift to the spoil.”

Then part of Isaiah’s poetic vision from God is addressed to Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Immanuel, previously introduced in chapter 7, was conceived by a young woman or virgin, but the parents are not named (Isaiah 7.14-16).

These births, and the children’s growth, are connected to promises regarding Assyria. God promised that before specific growth milestones, Assyria would wipe out Judah’s feared enemies. Before Immanuel knew right from wrong (Isaiah 7.15) and before Isaiah’s child knew how to say, “Dada” or “Mama,” (Isaiah 8.4) Judah would be saved.

Any teacher or parent can tell you how long and grinding days can seem when raising or teaching children. Each day is a slog. It feels impossible and never-ending. Those same people can tell you how fast children grow and how quickly their bodies, language, and abilities develop.

The children I taught in theater classes and in children’s ministry rooms are grown adults with children of their own. Many friends a few years younger than I am have children learning to drive this year. It seems an impossible milestone. How can that child be a grown human, behind the wheel of a car or holding their own baby?

The children Isaiah mentioned were born into a time of fear, division, struggle, economic crisis, and war. It was an awful time that seemed like it would never end. The children were signs that change was coming. Isaiah said he and his children were signs and symbols for Israel. The writer of Hebrews identified these words as the words of Jesus and identified us as God’s children (Hebrews 2.11-13).

In times of fear, division, struggle, economic crisis, and war, or times of sin, temptation, persecution, and doubts, our salvation is coming. Things we fear will not last as long as we think. In the time a child matures, mighty kings, dangerous enemies, and entire nations can fall and people be saved. When we mature spiritually, sinful patterns can be broken, traumas can heal, and bright hopes can grow.

Salvation is spiritual and physical—small at first, like a mustard seed or a child. But it grows. And when salvation is full-grown, it will only seem to have been a short time.

Have hope. Wait for the Lord. Watch salvation grow.