Isaiah 9:2

New Living Translation

The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.

For Encouragement

 When the light shines, darkness flees, life comes, and joy breaks in the hearts of the people who receive it.

It is the expectation of everyone who has lived in pitch darkness for a long time before. We who have lived in villages without electricity can relate. Our streets embraced darkness when the moon faded. No one told us to go to bed. Unfortunately, our rooms had no lights either. We learned to navigate the dark until streetlights lit our streets. What a day that was.

We could see faces and find our way around at night. We lingered in the streets for long hours until Mama’s rod came chasing us home to bed. For us with no lights in our homes, the joy that swept our hearts when we sat close to a light pole and got our homework done to escape our teacher’s cane lashes is unspeakable.

It was like when Moses saw the burning bush that attracted him. The man from the city had spent forty years somewhere in the wilderness of Midian, away from civilization. Figuratively speaking, Midian imprisoned Moses and took away every hope of ever seeing the lights of Egypt again. Don’t imagine what he saw as you would see a small light from a burning fire. Moses saw the glory of God on the backside of Sinai (Exodus 3:1-3). The flames of fire became the revelation of his life and they were life-transforming.

Years later, Isaiah prophesied about a brilliant light that would appear to those who lived in Galilee of the Gentiles, those who walked in and lived in deep darkness. He foresaw the joy that would break on them (Isaiah 9:1-3). This joy would come from the birth of the Messiah—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (6).

He is the Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15) who was to be born of a virgin and named Immanuel—God with us (Isaiah 7:14). It is He of whom John said is the light of men that gives life from Himself (John 1:4). He is the Christmas Child we celebrate this season and infinitely adore.

May this light shine in the dark places in your life and bring life to every dead situation. Rejoice, for your Savior is born. Trust in His mighty hand in your life and give glory to the Father in His name, as His peace rests upon you, His favorite child.