In That Day

In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious. In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people. (Isaiah 11:10–11, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “In that day” refers to days described in the preceding verses. “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the hole of the cobra, and the young child put his hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:6–9, NIV 1984). There have not been such days since The Garden. So, it is yet to come.

“The Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the remnant that is left of his people.” Most commentators believe that the “first time” refers to the past – the Exodus from Egypt. “But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:8, NIV 1984). That the “land flowing with milk and honey” was the first “place of rest.” Yet not a lasting one. Thus, the need for a “second time.”

But in a sense, it might also refer to a future “first time” that God reached out His hand to His people – the Incarnation. It could have been the “second time,” but His people were unwilling. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'” (Luke 13:34–35, NIV 1984). Their hearts were hardened. So, it was still yet to come.

When it comes, “the remnant that is left of his people” will include not just Israel, but “the nations will [also] rally to him,” just as God promised Abraham. “Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.” (Genesis 18:18, NIV 1984). The full import of this was a mystery then, since revealed. “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so, all Israel will be saved.” (Romans 11:25–26, NIV 1984).

My Advice – Some mystery remains. What is “the full number of the Gentiles” and what does it mean by “all Israel?” What we do know the “second time” is still to come.

Yet one thing you can be sure of, whether you are Jew or Gentile. One thing that is no mystery at all. “That is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, ‘Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'” (Romans 10:8–13, NIV 1984).

There will not be a “third time.” “Call on Him now,” because there is an urgency. “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2, NIV 1984). For the signs are indicating that the “day the Lord,” the “second time,” is near. At that time, God can only “reclaim” those who are His. His remnant. Those who have “[called] on the name of the Lord.”