Read: Isaiah 10-14.

Today’s Passage: Isaiah 11:1-2

Isaiah gives us a beautiful picture of hope in the midst of difficulty. Chapters 10 through 14 are Messianic in nature, meaning they point us to Jesus, the promised Messiah. In these passages, God reminds His people that no matter how bleak things may seem, His plan of salvation will stand.

Isaiah describes Jesus as the Branch, a tender shoot that grows from the stump of Jesse. Though the line of David seemed cut down, life would spring forth again. Jesus would be raised in Nazareth, yet He was also the Root of Jesse, the One from whom true life and promise would come. Isaiah 11:1-2 declares, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”

The Old Testament is filled with glimpses of Jesus. From the Psalms to 2 Samuel, and throughout Isaiah, God was pointing His people toward the Savior. These prophecies were not just words for the future, but promises to build faith and stir hope. They remind us that God is always faithful to what He has spoken.

The Bible takes great care to show us the lineage of Jesus. Both Matthew and Luke carefully record His family line, connecting Him to David. This matters, because it proves that Jesus is the rightful King, the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise. Luke 1:32 promises that He will sit on David’s throne, and Romans 1:3 affirms He was descended from David according to the flesh. God wanted us to see that His plan was no accident.

Isaiah also reveals that Jesus would be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Though He was God in the flesh, He chose to rely on the Spirit’s wisdom, discernment, and strength in His earthly ministry. He modeled what it means to walk in step with the Spirit, trusting completely in the Father’s guidance. The Spirit gave Him understanding, counsel, and power, equipping Him for every good work.

The same Spirit who rested on Jesus is given to those who belong to Him. Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17 that we would receive wisdom and revelation to know God better. Galatians 5:22-23 reminds us that the Spirit’s fruit should overflow in our lives. What Jesus demonstrated perfectly, the Spirit now works in us as we surrender to Him.

Isaiah’s vision of the Branch and Root is more than history. It is a reminder that Christ is alive, faithful, and still at work in His people. As we walk with Him, the same Spirit who empowered Jesus empowers us. May we lean into His wisdom, seek His counsel, and trust His guidance, knowing that the Lord who fulfilled every promise will also be faithful in our lives today.

Reflection: Where in your life right now? Do you need to rely more fully on the Spirit’s wisdom and strength?