Reframing a Familiar Story

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Isaiah 9:4

Reframing a Familiar Story

Rereading a familiar passage of the Bible often obscures the unfamiliar. We tend to focus on what we know, and even what we like. Sometimes what we’ve been taught about a passage also tends to innocently direct our focus. 

I suspect for those who have grown up in the church, isolating verse 4 out of this chapter of Isaiah is a little like eating cold soup. It has some familiar flavor, but it just doesn’t taste right, if it is edible at all. Many of us will resonate more with verse 6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” There, now we’re more in tune with the Christmas vibe. And to be sure, you’ll likely hear that verse, among a few other familiar ones, a few more times this Advent.

So why does Isaiah compare the coming Messiah to a destroyed army? And who were the Midianites? Why do they get placed here, in this context? Before we go on, let’s read the whole passage in context. 

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:1-7)

The imagery of war and defeated armies, oppression, darkness, boots, and blood - not the stuff of Christmas stories. It’s probably not anything that many of us can relate to, though I am reminded even as I write of some of my close Congolese & Burundian brothers and sisters who do know this reality of war all too well. And, though not war in the traditional sense, certainly my BIPOC friends can relate to oppression, and the struggle to thrive in systems stacked against them. But, even if we can relate, these verses still don’t necessarily fit the paradigm of the season we’re in. How many of you have ever stopped and asked anything about Midian in these verses?

Who were the Midianites?

The Midianites were actually descendants of Abraham and forbears of Moses’ wife Zipporah. Obviously, at one time they were not enemies of Israel. But that changed. The reference made in this verse by Isaiah refers to a specific time in the history of Israel as chronicled in the book of Judges chapters 6-7. It is the story of Gideon. 

Judges 6 starts out declaring that Israel was doing evil in the eyes of the Lord and He had given them over to the Midianites for 7 years. It was an incredibly oppressive time filled with terror, fear, stealing, food deprivation, and all manner of abuse of power and control. Predictably, the nation of Israel believed that God had left them. So they cried to him, and God provided an answer in the person of Gideon.

If you recall, after testing God to assure He was with him, Gideon assembled an army to go do the work of defeating the Midianites. At 32,000 strong, he likely still felt like there weren’t enough. But, what did God say? You have too many. In fact, if you go against them with this many, you will most assuredly say that it was in your own power and strength that you defeated the Midianites. So God reduces the army down to 300. And, not only that, but Gideon then arms them with pots, torches, and trumpets. This, against what is described as a combined army filling the valley as thick as locusts. 

Herein lies the key and connection to the passage in Isaiah. God worked through Gideon but only in a way that God could get the glory. God brought light into the darkness and victory out of the chaos using seemingly insignificant weapons. Victory produced a day of unparalleled rejoicing in the God of salvation.

Light In The Darkness

I think the torches of Gideon’s battle plan were in the mind of Isaiah. What does verse 2 say in Isaiah? “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” Another set of verses spoken by Paul might be ringing in your ears.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Hmmm - jars of clay and light? These images are rich in the story of the Israelites. God uses the seemingly impossible to bring restoration and hope to His people. Only this time it will be the ultimate victory in the form of a baby King.

In John’s gospel we read this:

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. (John 1:5, 9, 11-13)

A savior is coming that is the true light and darkness will not be able to overcome it. As with Midian’s defeat, so with the realities, we all face. God can make a way out of the impossible, but it’s going to be His way! 

Not On Your Own

Let’s tie it all together. God used the weakness of Gideon to bring a great victory to the people of Israel. The “Day of Midian” was the day when the oppressive realities that were overwhelming the people ended. Broken vessels, bright light piercing the darkness, and the triumphant declaration of who God was (and still is!) changed everything overnight. 

In referring to that day, Isaiah is drawing a parallel to the coming Messiah. Weak and vulnerable, the child born King will bring light and salvation into the world and everything is going to change. As with Gideon, so with the coming Messiah - we cannot achieve salvation in our own strength. Light and salvation are from God and must be experienced and received. 

Think forward to the angels announcing the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Think of the trumpets and glorious songs. Think of the bright and glorious light of both the angels and the star piercing the night sky. Then think of the shepherds rejoicing and running to see this new baby King. Think of how one night changed everything. A new Kingdom based on righteousness and justice. God’s Way! 

“The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)

As you hear, read and meditate on these familiar verses from Isaiah 9 (and John and Corinthians) again this holiday season, take some time to ponder your own posture before God. Does putting this story of Gideon in the context of Isaiah’s prophecy help you reframe the power of the imagery Isaiah was trying to convey? Are you open to Him achieving victory for you in His ways? Do you recognize the answer that the Messiah represented to the people of Israel? He delights in our recognition of our need for Him. He is our light and our salvation.

I pray you all to have a joyous Christmas and the remainder of your holiday season. Pray for and check in on those who are sick and remember that God loves you dearly!

Blessings,

Pastor Scott

 

The phrase “day of Midian '' stood out to me in my rereading of this passage recently. I’d never pondered how it fit together. The inspiration and insight for my blog post was obtained from some research and from this article posted by oneforisrael.org.

Scott Sittig