Our Deliverer
Isaiah, like all good Jewish prophets, reaches back into Israel’s history to describe its future. In verse four he reminds us of two important deliverances the people of God had experienced. First, the Exodus. This was the pre-eminent act of God that served as a harbinger of the Messianic work of bringing God’s people out of bondage and into the Promise Land.
The second event Isaiah recalls comes from the book of Judges. Although he doesn’t use Gideon’s name, that is clearly what he is referring to. Gideon was the deliverer of Zebulun and Naphtali (see verse 1). You might recall that the deliverance wrought through Gideon came about through light bursting forth in the dark hours of the night, causing the enemy to flee in confusion.
Isaiah, using Gideon’s deliverance as a foil, says Christ would deliver in three ways. He would break the yoke, the staff, and the rod of the oppressor. (See verse 4). The yoke represented the burdens placed on God’s people by their enemy. The staff on the back speaks about the beatings they took, and the rod was the rule of tyrannical oppression. So, Christ comes to set us free from the burdens, the blows, and the tyrannical rule of this world.
Jesus said, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give your rest.”
This Christmas season, remember Jesus is the rest your soul longs for.
