Every person living in this world should lead their life with a specific purpose or vision. Those who lack a clear outlook and principles regarding their future may find themselves adrift amidst the temptations and the unpredictable currents of the world. As children of God, this vision and purpose in life are in harmony with the vision and purpose He has established. 

This is what God seeks to emphasise through the prophecies of the Prophet Isaiah. That nation had indeed suffered such severe judgement. They were in darkness, symbolising sin, moral confusion, and leadership that was not anchored in God. Now Jerusalem is in the light, but that light is not of their own making; rather, it is because God has made Himself known through the restoration and renewal of Israel. Therefore, they are now called to rise up and see the new reality that God has provided. 

In Israeli society, where kinship bonds are so strong, the reunification of all family members and tribes is a source of immeasurable joy; and so the restoration that God will one day bring about also includes the unification of the tribes of Israel through the return of those tribes that have been scattered. This is the hope that God will provide, and the people of Israel are commanded to establish and live out this vision in accordance with what He intends to reveal. 

Friends of the Bible, let us shape and organise our lives by always involving God in them. This vision is part of God’s great plan for the universe. Be assured that there is always hope and deliverance in all that the Lord does. There is much uncertainty in this world, but God’s love is not among them.