English Standard Version
When you see movies about the end times, it's often portrayed with the idea that only the strong survive. The weak will be preyed upon, while the rugged individualist will find a way through.
What we see in the Bible is a wonderful picture of true strength. God calls the prophet Isaiah to announce that they need not fear, for when God comes, God comes with a greater strength than the world has ever known. God's arm rules, and yet this strength isn't simply to power over -- it is used to bend down and pick up the lamb, to gently care for those who are with child. Strength doesn't only preserve the self -- it preserves the weak and vulnerable. This is the picture that Scripture paints for us of God -- it's the biography of Israel, really. Perhaps the continual existence of Israel, from the time of Abraham to today, is proof enough that there must be a God to care for this often small tribe in an area that has been fought over and conquered countless times in the last 4 millennia! How many other tribes have maintained their identity in such a way for such a long period of time?
But we truly see this on the cross -- Jesus Christ, the strongest person to ever live, voluntarily lays down his life so that humans, weak under the power of sin, might be lifted up and reconciled with God. We were hopeless, and Christ gave us hope. We were dead, and Christ gave us life.
The Gospel is a true picture of strength. May we celebrate a God who loves us enough to be vulnerable for us.
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