Trees by Flowing Streams

Isaiah 44:1–8

“But now listen, Jacob, My servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the LORD says— He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name Israel. “This is what the LORD says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from Me there is no God. Who then is like Me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before Me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come— yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are My witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

The LORD told His disciples, “but very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate/Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you (John 16:7).” God promised His Spirit unto the Early Church and upon us today, because Christ Immanuel is no longer with us incarnately. Sidebar: I gather two things from this verse, that (1) it is  either the physical Jesus Christ or the Advocate/Helper, His Spirit, which transcends physical space, distinct persons and that (2) the Spirit is Him, the same essence/substance, He is not some impersonal force that we wish others to be in the presence of ‘always’, in other words, ‘He’ is not an ‘it’. God indeed promised His Spirit upon His chosen people, Israel, and us, and the image is of cool water poured upon parched, dry, thirsty earth; He “will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants (v. 3).” The resurrected Christ breathed His Spirit upon His disciples (John 20:22) and in an upper room, fulfilled this promise 40 days after His ascension (Acts 2:1–13). The Spirit is our channel to God’s blessings, also a way towards the renewing of our consciences, sealing our convictions against the backdrop of a fallen world culture (~Rom 12:2), “when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:8)”, and here in Isaiah, God tells us it is His mark of ownership of us. Much like upon the Father’s first-born of all creation, “the Holy Spirit descended on Him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are My Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased (Luke 3:22, Matt 3:16).” God is simply awesome, and His promises are true, may He indeed pour out His Spirit upon generations and generations after us, “they will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams. Some will say, ‘I belong to the LORD’; others will call themselves by the name of Jacob; still others will write on their hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name Israel (vv. 4-5), and may we take part in that solemn task as witnesses to His power and grace (v. 8)!