Scripture to Read: Isaiah 9:4
Remember that Isaiah 9 is a prophecy about our Lord Jesus Christ and what He would do when He came. Many people of the nation of Israel missed Christ because they were looking for a worldly king and not the eternal King of all kings. As God led Isaiah to continue, we read in Isaiah 9:4, For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. Even as we read these words, we can understand how many thought this might be about an earthly ruler. God said this King would break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. But this was not the burden that earthly rulers had over Israel, but it was to break the oppression that the spiritual forces of darkness brought on the nation of Israel. Of course, Christ came to break the yoke of sin, which has all lost souls in slavery to their sin. Christ alone breaks the rod of Satan and all spiritual forces of wickedness. Now, God does compare Christ’s victory for us over sin to the victory God gave to Gideon over Midian in Judges 7. God gave Gideon and the incredibly small army of 300 men a great victory over Midian. The victory our Messiah gives us (and to everyone who surrenders to Him) is much more glorious than even the victory God had given to Gideon. We have much to be grateful for through the victory we have in Christ.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about the victory we have over sin and its power in our lives?
2. How are you walking in the victory you have in Christ, and how are you sharing this victory with others to glorify Him?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!