In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and lifted up. Isaiah 6:1
He shall be called… Everlasting Father. Isaiah 9:6
We crave stability.
In the 1940’s, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected to an unprecedented third and fourth term as a U.S. president. George Washington had set the unwritten precedent that a president should serve only two terms.
How was the precedent of 150 years so easily overturned?
America was traversing the uncertainty of the Great Depression and World War II. When all around is uncertain, it was comforting to look to the stability of our leaders. The comfort of stability was greater than precedent.
We want leaders we can have confidence in.
Isaiah must have deeply felt this uncertainty when he learned that Uzziah died. The king, whose name means the Lord is my strength, had reigned for 52 years. Under him, Israel had regained some of its former prosperity, rebuilt and rearmored its military.
But now he was gone. And the future was cloudy.
It was during that time of uncertainty that God gave Isaiah a vision of Jesus (Isaiah 6:1, John 12:41) seated on the throne, majestic, powerful, and surrounded with praise.
Jesus had been on the throne all the time but now Isaiah saw it.
When we face times of uncertainty, we need to remember that though we crave stable, trustworthy human leaders – all will fail. Ultimately, Jesus is that Fatherly leader we crave. This comforting role of Jesus is what Isaiah refers to when he says the titles of the Messiah will be: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus is the Everlasting Father, a much better FDR and Uzziah put together.
And just as we crave stable leadership, so do our children. As our children navigate their uncertain world, rocked by changes, we have a high calling to be the steady rock. But let us remember we are merely a shadow of the true leader. Jesus is the one who brings true stability.
Let this calling drive us to our knees. And let us also make sure we point our children to the Everlasting Father – the all wise king on the throne – Jesus.
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus who is a personal, strong and steady ruler in these days of uncertainty. Help me to reflect this emotional and spiritual stability to my children as his undershepherd.
