Do not let the son of the foreigner, who has joined himself to the Lord speak, saying, “The Lord has utterly separated me from His people”; nor let the eunuch say, “Here I am, a dry tree.” Isaiah 56:3
REFERENCE
Isaiah 56:1-8
Who you are connected to determines so much; your connections in school, business, family, neighborhood, community, marriage, etc., can make so much impact and change your life. Such connections will often give you access to what the other person has, knows and does. In some cases, it allows you to use their name, titles and position beneficially. Sure, you have heard people say, “My life changed the day I met so and so person.”
Today’s text springs from the background of foreigners (Gentile nations) and eunuchs been excluded from Israel’s commonwealth and covenant of blessings. Deuteronomy 23:1-3 lists the categories of those excluded from God’s congregation. However, Isaiah here promises hope for the foreigners and all who are joined to the Lord.
A foreigner is an outsider who works or lives in a country outside their country of origin. Such a person, in most cases, does not have the rights or benefits of a citizen of that country and stands the risk of being deported. A eunuch on the other hand is someone who has been castrated or naturally lacks the ability to bear fruits; no wonder he calls himself a ‘dry tree.’ But no, if these are joined to the Lord, they have become grafted into Christ and now have a right to the commonwealth of Israel and should expect every sap in the Vine to flow into them. Therefore, their expectation must change; their confession must change, simply because their reality has changed.
It doesn’t matter who you are: your past experiences, geographical location or educational background, your weaknesses, physical challenges or financial circumstances do not matter. You are now in Christ, a great connection has taken place, you are no longer ostracized from good, there is no bareness or dryness on you, you have been grafted into the true Vine, Jesus Christ, and you are joint-heirs with Him. Who He is and all He has are yours; you share in His power, position, and privileges. As absurd as it will be for a branch connected to a healthy tree to say that it is dry and sidelined (cut off), so absurd will it be for you to say, “I never have good fortunes,” “So and so has it better than I do,” “I am dry, impoverished, helpless, fearful, barren, or sick.” The life of God now flows in you…WHAT IS IN HIM IS ALSO IN YOU!
Therefore, your expectations must change; your confession must change, and it’s simply because your reality has changed. The GREAT CONNECTION has taken place, hallelujah, you are now in Christ!
SCRIPTURE PHOTO
ADDITIONAL STUDY
II Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 2:11-19, I Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)
TO DO
Make bold declarations about who you are in Christ, the things you want to see as a result of this reality, and the changes you expect to manifest in different aspects of your life because you are grafted in the Vine. DO THIS FROM A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF TODAY’S TRUTH
