Life from Dry Ground

Read Isaiah 53
 
Isaiah 53:2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 
 
WE continue with our view of our Suffering Servant King from Isaiah 53:
 
He grew up before him like a tender shoot
 
The Son of God grew up in the Father’s presence. Jesus was of the line of David, an ancestry line that had no power in Judah at the time Jesus was born. There was no way that any person in Israel would know Jesus’ identity based on his physical birth and life. The “tender shoot” is one who will not be noticed. He is, though, made strong for his ministry in God’s watchful care. Luke 2:49 “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn't you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”
 
like a root out of dry ground
 
When we think of dry ground, we may consider plants struggling to grow in dusty soil. They are withered, barely holding to life. Jesus’ human life began when the Romans impoverished Israel through heavy taxes. We can imagine his peasant parents struggling day-to-day for physical needs. The people Israel were also living in spiritual dryness.
   Think of Jesus’ ministry, too. It began in the “dry ground” of the wilderness with his baptism and temptation. The Savior came into and from economic, spiritual and physical dryness.
 
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him.
 
People would not be drawn to Jesus of Nazareth. His physical appearance or his position in life were unworthy of special note. His hometown was even considered a place of no value. John 1:46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
 
One very essential truth of a God-empowered life is that it is God who empowers us. I know that may seem redundant, but we must believe this. We often say, “No.” to God’s call because we feel too “tender” – too dry, too unworthy and incapable of using our gifts. When God raises you up from a tender shoot to an oak of righteousness to himself, you must trust him to empower your life to complete your call.
   There is no one too “tender” or “dry” for God’s purpose.
 
Isaiah 33:2 O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.