A BLESSING IS IN IT -- Monday:
"Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for A BLESSING IS IN IT: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all."
(Isaiah 65:8)
The Children of Israel were like a remarkable vine that had been planted by the Lord. The Lord said of them, "Yet I had planted you a noble vine, a seed of highest quality." Notwithstanding, He asked, "How then have you turned before Me Into the degenerate plant of an alien vine?" (Jer 2:21). Those who imagine Divine advantage, of itself, guarantees being found favorable in His eyes, need to consider the people of Israel. They had a completely right beginning, with no flaw or degeneracy. They were a "wholly right seed," or seed of the "highest quality." However, as time progressed, they turned out to be a "degenerate plant."
One might expect Israel in its totality to be cut off, dug up out of the spoil of Divine purpose, and discarded in the moral scrap heap of humanity. But this is not at all the response of the Lord. There were some rich clusters of grapes found, even within this degenerate vine! Who can forget such notables as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. And what of Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb. Mighty women were found like Sarah, Miriam, Ruth, and Debra. The holy prophets were rich clusters within this vine, including Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Malachi, and others. And who could forget Zachariah, Elizabeth, John the Baptist, Joseph, Mary, Simeon, Anna, Peter, James, John, and others? God did not destroy the vine with these sparse clusters, but saw their value and retained them.
This is the precise point of our text. There were some scattered clumps of rich grapes on an otherwise degenerate vine. It was a "remnant," which God always ensures remains. God refused to utterly destroy Israel because of the unlikely choice clusters found within her. Although Satan, and perhaps even holy angels themselves, would have uprooted the entire vine, yet the mighty God thunders, "Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it." There remain some succulent clusters from which blessing can be realized, and joy flow into the hearts of men! There were men and women who were rich with potential – people who could be used by God Himself.
And, which of us have not been blessed by those rich and rare saints of old. They were like jewels in a swine's snout, or rich clusters of fruit on a degenerate vine. Yet, their record has been an abundant source of encouragement to us, challenging us to anticipate the working of the Lord.
Jesus once said of some people who were in a spiritually impotent environment, "You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy" (Rev 3:4). They were like rich clusters of grapes in whom a blessing could be found. Their presence would bring benefit to others. I have often thought of those "few" unnamed souls. They kept the faith in a most unlikely place, and were maintained by God rather than being destroyed by Him. Methinks there are still people like this, existing, as it were, in a fruitless and lifeless realm. Sometimes, I am granted the grace to see them, hanging like a rich cluster among withered and bitter groups. When I see them, it is as though the Lord says, "Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it." What a wonderful thing to consider! God does not forget these precious souls, and neither can we!
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the remnant You have left among the people, and for the encouragement they minister to my own heart.