Daily Byte As kids, my brother and I used to have “backwards” day. We would wear our clothes backwards, walk backwards, sit backwards in the car, try to talk backwards - you can imagine how much this pleased our parents!
Backwardness is what Christians are called to. Plain and simple. God chose the weak to shame the strong. God chose the stupid to shame the wise. We have the ultimate example of backwardness in Christ, who, in the face of temptation said no to comfort, security, and power (Matthew 4).
The vision offered by Isaiah is a vision of backwardness. In the midst of war and injustice Isaiah shows the Israelites what God plans for God’s people—a glorious and peaceful future. The order that we think is simply ‘natural’ (fill in what “natural” means for you - predator eats prey, rich are smarter than poor, God helps those who help themselves, etc.) is totally disrupted. On this beautiful, holy mount there is a totally new order. The leopard and the lamb live together in harmony. The lion becomes a vegetarian. Any of us who have been to a game reserve know the backwardness — the absurdity — of that! Life, creation, the world, is what it is - why try to change it? But, Isaiah tells us that this — life as we know —isn’t God’s plan for us.
Isaiah tells us that in God’s plan creation itself will be re-ordered. Everything will be backward. The wolf and lamb will lie down in harmony. There will be no more hunger, no more war, no more hurt. And a little child will lead us all. In chapter 65, Isaiah tells Israel that God will create a new heaven and new earth, where even the most vulnerable — children and helpless animals — will be safe. How very backward.
What would a backwards day look like for you? Would you be on top of the world? Would someone else?
PRAY AS YOU GO
Jesus, help us to see the world and our neighbors as you see them. Thank you for the care you take of the most vulnerable. Teach to share your care and respect.
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 11:5-6
Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins. The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them.
