The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness
— on them light has shined.
(from Isaiah 9:1-4)
I admire the faith of the Ukrainian people, who in the midst of war, destruction all around, not knowing when the next explosion would occur, attended church.
The Ukrainian backstory is one of domination by the Russians due to their geography which would eventually lead to an attack of some sort.
Deep darkness for them is brutality, poverty and hunger, leaving a time without hope and creating anguish and contempt.
Walking in this darkness of destruction, the Ukrainians trusted the light of Christ to illuminate hope in their time of trouble.
A similar situation faced the tribes of Zebulon and Naphtali who were vulnerable to attack during the Syro-Ephraimite War and the anti-Assyrian coalition which causes the downfall of Israel by Assyria.
Israel's deep darkness is similar to Ukraine experience of brutality, poverty and hunger leaving them without hope.
Isaiah's words remind Israel to trust in God's work to light the way through the deep darkness.
God's promise spoken through Isaiah is a eternal message in a time of deep darkness.
Sometimes though, God's work to light the way light is not obvious.
Where, for example, do you see God's work lighting the way in Ukraine?
Or where, for example, do you see God's work lighting the way when you or a loved one is suffering? Or when you are going through a rough patch?
The message from Isaiah is this: a Light is piercing the darkness and always has been,
that God is always with us.
Trust God's work, you will see a great light, on you the light will shine!
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