Tag Archives: Old Testament

Isaiah and other prophets sometimes refer to the coming Messiah as the “Branch”. For instance, in one prophecy found in chapter 11, Isaiah writes: 1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him,The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,The Spirit of counsel and might,The Spirit ofContinue reading “The Branch – Isaiah 11”

One day, after quoting from the prophet Isaiah to teach His disciples, Jesus told them: 17 For assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:17 (NKJV) Isaiah had written down many prophetic words describing theContinue reading “Longing for God’s Kingdom – Isaiah 9”

Isaiah prophesied that a Great Light that would come to visit the people of Zebulun and Naphtali near the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  This area was singled out over all others as the future home for the coming Messiah. The area of Zebulun likely contained the city of Nazareth, where Jesus would beContinue reading “A Child Is Born – Isaiah 9”

When God brought His people into the Promised Land of Israel, they parceled out the land by tribe, descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob.  The descendants of two of his sons, Zebulun and Naphtali, were given land on the west and northwest side of the Sea of Galilee, the area where Jesus would oneContinue reading “A Great Light – Isaiah 9”

Jesus taught His disciples using parables – short stories which explained spiritual concepts using familiar examples from the occupations and tasks of the day.  In the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers, recorded in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus drew from a previous parable told by the prophet Isaiah, almost seven centuries earlier. Isaiah’s parable referredContinue reading “The Lord’s Vineyard – Isaiah 5”

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 (NKJV) The Lord gave this message to the prophet Isaiah to pass along to Judah’s King Ahaz, grandson of the late king, Uzziah. It was a pretty interesting time and place for GodContinue reading “A Message from the Lord – Isaiah 7”

In his prophetic writings about both the near- and long-term events for Israel and the coming of its Messiah, Jesus Christ, Isaiah also prophesies about the impact on the world at the time of Christ’s return, an era sometimes referred to as the “Day of the Lord”: 17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down,And theContinue reading “Shaking the Earth – Isaiah 2”

God sent the prophet Isaiah, along with contemporaries Micah and Hosea, to warn the people of Judah and Jerusalem of the consequences of their ongoing idolatry and outright rejection of the Lord. God sent these prophets despite knowing that the people would not listen to them – He even warned Isaiah about this in advance,Continue reading “The Coming Messianic Age – Isaiah 2”

With the Northern Kingdom of Israel in a terminal decline due to their stubborn idolatry, the Lord focused His attention on preserving the Southern Kingdom of Judah, which held the temple in Jerusalem, overseen by David’s descendants, the kings in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. Whereas God had sent the prophets Elijah and Elisha toContinue reading “The Generous Offer of the Lord – Isaiah 1”

Awhile back, a good friend and mentor of mine received a word of knowledge from God while in the shower. I do not know why God often chooses to communicate with people while they are in the shower, but I know of multiple instances where this has happened.  And in one case, I can personallyContinue reading “The Wheat and the Tares – Matthew 13”