Remnant

This piece is called “Remnant”.  I have seen Isaiah 11:1 depicted with a tree stump with a views straight on and I myself have depicted it that way too.  But this time the Holy Spirit inclined my heart to view it looking down, a heavenly perspective.  Looking at it this way revealed the rings of the tree.  The rings of a tree are like a living document, history recorded in the wood cells.  These rings tell a story of growth, climate change, fire, drought, and rainfall.  

The rings in this piece are broken up into 1000 years each.  Although the bible does not explicitly say it anywhere, the biblical worldview of how old the earth is, about 6,000 years old.  Since the Father, Son and Holy Spirit were all present at creation I put all three Names in Hebrew within the center ring, (YHWH) called the tetragrammaton-Yahweh, Yeshua (Jesus) and Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit).  Scripture confirms all three were present at creation in the verses below. 

Genesis 1:1,2 says “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”  

Colossians 1:15,16 says, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.” (See also John 1:1-4; Hebrews 1:1,2; John 17:5)

So as of 2021 the Hebrew calendar year is 5782.  

Throughout the centuries God has always had a remnant- “What is left of a community after it undergoes a catastrophe.” (Anchor Bible). Every century has its story of plenty and drought, peace and persecution, and destruction and growth.  One can see this consistent thread throughout the bible.  Here are some examples in scripture.

-        God destroyed the face of the earth and Noah was left along with his family and the chosen animals on the ark Gen. 7:23 

-        Joseph recognized “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.” Gen.45:7

-        God delivered the Israelites out of 400 years of slavery in Egypt, to the Israelites who went into the Promised land. 

-        God telling the prophet Elijah (who thought he was the only one left who didn’t turn away) that He reserved 7000 thousand in Israel who were still faithful to Him (1Kings19:18).

-        Following the 70 years of Babylonian captivity the book of Ezra records the first return of the Jews to the land led by Zerubbabel over a 23 year period (538-515 BC) (Ezra 1-6/Haggai 1:12-14) , to 60 years later when Ezra led a second group of exiles back to Israel in 458 BC (Ezra 7-10). 

Despite what we are witnessing and experiencing today may we have continual peace and assurance as we journey through our time in history, that is why I put 2Timothy 2:19 in which reads “The Lord knows those who are His,”.  Paul wrote in the book of Romans “So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.” (Rom.11:5).   This remnant is far from perfect, but they have put their hope and trust in Him.  They stand on the word of God and are not swayed by man, politics, or the media.  

I used the Hebrew word Shalom because it means more than peace.  It means completeness, soundness, welfare and peace.  This complete peace is found in the Branch, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).  Isaiah 11:1 says, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse.  From his roots a Branch will bear fruit”.   Jesse is King David’s father, and the Messiah comes from the line of David.

11x the word remnant is used in Isaiah

Isaiah 37:31 “Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above.”

Isaiah 28:5 “In that day the LORD Almighty will be a glorious crown, a beautiful wreath for the remnant of his people.”

Jeremiah 23:3 ““I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.

Romans 9:27 “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: “Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved.”