Today I would like to look at the last half of chapter 11 of Isaiah. In the first half of chapter 11, we are told what the Messiah who sprouts out of the stump of Jesse is like. Said in one word, He is filled with the Lord’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit. The Messiah who is filled with the Lord’s Spirit will bring a perfect kingdom.
In today’s passage, one other big event that will occur at the Lord’s second coming is prophesized. That is the return of the Jews to Jerusalem. The Jews who have been dispersed throughout the whole world will be gathered in Jerusalem. This will happen. When this happens the end of the world is near. Today let’s look at three points of this event.

I. Christ, the King of the world (Vs. 10)
First please look at verve 10.
“In that day” (10) is pointing to both an event in the age of Isaiah and an event in the far future. “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.” (1) The Root of Jesse” (10) also appeared in verse 1. It was a title of the Messiah. It is Jesus Christ. In that Day Jesus Christ “will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.” (10) Paul quoted this verse in Romans 15:12.
Romans 15:12
Here it says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations.” (Romans 5:12) Here Paul is referring to the salvation of the Gentiles. The Gentiles too by the mercy of God will be saved and together with the Jews “with one mind and one voice” (Romans 15:6) will “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:6) In other words, the coming Messiah is not just for the Jews, but is the Savior of whole world including the Gentiles. He will be the king of the whole earth. That is the meaning of “the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples.” (10) “In that day” (10) this will occur. In the last days when the later part of the 7 years of the Great Tribulation have passed, when Christ comes and stands again on this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, then he will rule the Kingdom of the Millennium. Here this Kingdom is called a “resting place”. (10) Christ is a “resting place” not only for the Jews, but for people from all over the world. People from the entire world will take refuge in Christ, “and his resting place will be glorious.” (10)
Where is your resting place? What is glorious for you? What are you putting your hope in? Christ is a resting place. Let’s remember that we should rally to the Messiah, the Savior, and Christ who “will stand as a banner for the peoples”. (10)

II. The Lord who gathers again (Vs. 11-13)
First please look at verses 11 and 12.
Here too the words, “In that day” appear again. This refers as I said earlier to an event both in the age of Isaiah and to an event in the future. “In that day the Lord will reach out his hand a second time to reclaim the surviving remnant of his people.” (11) Here it says, “A second time” (12) which means this has happened one time before. This was the event of the Exodus. In the past Israel was for 430 years in the condition of being enslaved, but God reached out his hand and saved them. In the same way God will reclaim Israel who had been captured and save her.
In the age of Isaiah this refers to the deportation by Babylon. In the age of Isaiah the country of Assyria was a menace. A huge issue was how to deal with the attack of Assyria. Northern Israel didn’t depend upon God, but formed a coalition with King Rezin of Aram in opposition so Israel was destroyed by Assyria. This was in 722 B.C. This was the chastisement of God against Israel who didn’t depend upon God, but depended upon Assyria. However, King Hezekiah of Northern Judah wasn’t like this. He received Isaiah’s advice and only depended upon God and prayed so he was able to overcome the danger. The Lord answered Hezekiah’s prayer and performed a miracle. In one night God killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers. However, after that they were destroyed by Ｂabylonia. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came to Jerusalem and completely destroyed the Jerusalem temple. This was in 586 B.C. Then they exiled the Jews captive to Babylon. This is what Isaiah is prophesizing about. Here it says, “Assyria, from Lower Egypt, from Upper Egypt, from Cush, from Elam, from Babylonia, from Hamath and from the islands of the Mediterranean.” (11) However, the Lord after 70 years in exile had mercy on them and brought them back again to their homeland, Jerusalem.
However, this is not the only thing this is saying. At the end of the world the same thing will occur. “He will raise a banner for the nations and gather the exiles of Israel; he will assemble the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” (12) The Jews that have been dispersed throughout the world until then will return to Jerusalem. Unexpectedly this prophecy was fulfilled in 1948. The Jews that were dispersed throughout the world returned to Jerusalem and rebuilt the country of Jerusalem. Who could have ever imagined that the Jews that were destroyed by Rome in 70 A.D. and dispersed throughout the world would after the passing of 1900 years would return again to Jerusalem? However, God just like this prophecy says “assembled the scattered people of Judah from the four quarters of the earth.” (12) Then on May 14, 1948 Israel was officially recognized as a country by the United Nations. That was to fulfill what was said here.
Matt. 5:18
What God says always happens. Let’s remember that what we can really depend upon is the Word of God, the Bible. No matter how great a person’s words may be, no matter how fascinating they are, they will change. “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.“ The only thing we can really depend on is the Word of God.
Here it says, “from the four quarters of the earth”. (12) Jesus quoted these words in Matt. 24:31
Matt. 24:31
Here Jesus is telling us about the signs of the last days. In the last days “they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matt. 24:31) When this happens, the end is near. It can be said that the event of Israel becoming established as a country is the beginning. When peace comes to the Middle East and the land of Israel then it is closer to coming to the end. Already summer is near. The Lord’s second coming is already come this close. Are you ready? Are you prepared for the Lord to come at any time?
Our Lord Jesus in Matt. 25 tells how those who are waiting expectantly for the Lord can prepare their hearts. That is in the story of the 10 virgins who were waiting for the bridegroom. 5 of them were foolish because they prepared the lamps, but they didn’t prepare the oil for them. On the other hand, the 5 other virgins brought oil with their lamps. The bridegroom was late in coming so everyone began to fall asleep. In the middle of the night someone cried out, “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” (Matt. 25:6) All the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. However, the foolish virgins didn’t bring oil for their lamps so they said to the wise virgins, “Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” (Matt. 25:8) However, the wise virgins said, “No…there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.” (Matt. 25:9) While they were shopping at the store, the bridegroom came and the 5 virgins that had prepared their oil went to the wedding banquet. Then “the door was shut.” (Matt. 25:10)
Christians must prepare oil for their lamps. Our lamps are the light of our faith. The oil is the Holy Spirit. Christians must not only have a faith of belief in Jesus Christ as their Savior, but they must have the oil of the Holy Spirit that continues to keep a burning faith. They must be filled with filled with the Holy Spirit. Before the second coming of our Lord, all men must receive the Holy Spirit and be filled with the Holy Spirit. The bridegroom came in the middle of the night. Our Lord Jesus might come in the middle of the night. When Christians are falling asleep they might hear the call, “Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!” (Matt. 25:6) When Christians are dozing off, Christ will come. Satan is desperate and is making Christians doze off. The church is moving in the direction of losing vigor, and becoming lukewarm. “Therefore, keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matt. 25:13) We need to be aware of this and along with our lamps, carry the oil of the Holy Spirit, and like the wise virgins, we should wait for the coming of the bridegroom, Christ.

III. There will be a highway (vs. 13-16)
Lastly let’s finish by looking at verses 13 to 16. First let’s read verses 13 and 14.
“Ephraim (13) is Northern Israel. Of the 12 tribes, 10 tribes belonged to Northern Israel. Among them the largest tribe was Ephraim so Northern Israel was called “Ephraim”. On the other hand “Judah” was the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
Besides the tribe of Judah which belonged to the Southern kingdom of Judah there was also the tribe of Benjamin. Judah was representative of the Southern Kingdom so it was called Judah. “Ephraim’s jealousy will vanish, and Judah’s enemies will be destroyed.” (13) In other words, Israel which was divided into the North and South will become one. After Solomon’s death since 931 B.C. Israel was divided between the North and South and they opposed each other. However, by Christ’s coming they will be unified. Now the Israel that we see is the beginning of the fulfillment of this prophecy. Worldwide the Jews are returning to Jerusalem, and the Republic of Israel was founded. That country is not divided. It is an unified country. However, this perfect reality can’t be seen yet. When Jesus returns again, we will see this.
“They will swoop down on the slopes of Philistia to the west; together they will plunder the people to the east. They will subdue Edom and Moab, and the Ammonites will be subject to them.” (14) These countries that are mentioned here were old enemies that had in the past subjected, harassed and threatened Israel. Such countries will be subject to Jews.
Today too Israel is threatened by powers. In the periphery are the Islamic small Arab countries. However, this is a prophecy that they also will obey Israel and will co-operate with Israel. There will be no one that will check Israel’s way. No one will put an obstacle in front of them and they can return freely to Jerusalem.
This is written in verses 15 and 16.
“The gulf of the Egyptian sea” is the Red Sea. Both the Red Sea and The Euphrates River protect the Mesopotamia, but in that day, when the remnant of Israel return, God will break the Euphrates River “up into seven streams so that anyone can cross over in sandals.” (15) The Lord will prepare a highway for the Israelites. Before like the day when they came from Egypt and God divided the Red Sea in half and made a road for them to take. No one will be hindered and they will be able to return.
The problem is whether you will take this road or not. Just like the Israelites who were slaves to Egypt were set free by the Lord’s strong power, the Lord will again through the real Savior Jesus Christ save you from the pits of sin’s judgment. The Lord will gather you up again. You must answer God’s invitation, and by faith make one step forward. In order to become a citizen of this new kingdom of God that God is giving you, you must walk this highway. However, inside of us we have a sinful nature of old habits and customs of the world that we can’t readily separate ourselves from.
However, the Lord will prepare a highway for you. If you will walk that road by faith, you will be able to have a joy and peace that you have never experienced up until now and you will be blessed. It all depends on whether you can step out on the highway the Lord has prepared or not. Please step out in faith. The Lord will gather you again.

Let’s apply it to our lives
* What is your “resting place”? (10) What hare you placing your hope in?

* Are you prepared for Christ’s coming? Do you have oil in your lamp?

* Are you walking on the highway that the Lord prepared? What things in your old life are you trying to leave behind you?