Midweek Lenten -- 6 (2026)

Isaiah 11:11-16; Rev 7:9-17

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we see in our lessons tonight as we come to the final exodus that final great journey that it applies to all of God’s children no matter what land they might be in, or where they might be banished. Both Old and New Testament speak to this reality that God’s plan of salvation involved not just the rescue of Israel from their bondage and their slavery, but this remnant chosen by grace will be found in the other nations of the world. To the surprise of many people it includes nations that had afflicted and oppressed Israel throughout their history, but God will not be deterred when it comes to saving His creation.

The people of God were scattered in the Old Testament, this was because of their sinfulness, their rebellion and their refusal to abide by God’s Word, and yet even though not all of them had acted in a similar manner, the time came that they were all taken away.

Some might read the passage here in Isaiah, and think that as God raises this signal, to bring the banished of Israel out of the nations, that this is finally the day in which the people of Israel will take control of the earth. We see this hope at the ascension of Jesus when they ask if Jesus will now restore the Kingdom. They have in mind a kingdom here on earth where they will finally rule in power over all the nations, but Jesus’ words to Pilate that His Kingdom is not of this world ought to be taken to heart. But you can appreciate their confusion.

The passage here speaks of Israel being restored, and the people being gathered from the 4 corners of the earth and brought back to to the Lord. All the enemies and all the foes that they have dealt with will be gone, and they will finally have the victory over all these forces and rejoice in the victory that God works for his people, as they are able to traverse the Nile while only wearing sandals. But this section is speaking poetically about the last day.

The signal that is raised on that day is the root of Jesse himself, that is Jesus who will stand as a signal for the peoples, and it says of his resting place that it shall be glorious. What Isaiah speaks of here is that God’s people will finally be done with the suffering, with the pains, with the sorrows, and God himself will keep them safe as they enter into his everlasting Kingdom. So these nations that the Scriptures speak about, Assyria, Egypt, etc. they serve as examples of the hardship and affliction that Israel had faced, and it will finally be done, and this great, final exodus will bring this age to a close, and we enter the New Creation and dwell in the presence of God for all eternity.

This is the greatest exodus of mankind as we prepare to enter the true promised land that has been pointed to throughout the Old Testament. It wasn’t the land of Israel itself sitting over by the Mediterranean. This Kingdom is the eternal Kingdom of God in the New Creation that will be established forever, when Jesus returns in power and glory and might. When the signal goes forth it won’t just call together those who are living on the earth, at that trumpet sound, the dead will be raised and the grave shall not hold any of those who belong to Christ captive on that final day. We will enter that eternal paradise which He has gone ahead to prepare. This exodus we don’t fear, we don’t worry about for it is the end of the pain, suffering and all tears. We get to be with the Lord for all eternity and so we long for this day. So what does that look like?

Well, what we read here in Isaiah, John gets to see a picture of in heaven before the throne of God where the Lamb is seated in majesty. What a beautiful picture, it isn’t just Israel that is before the throne of God. It is a great multitude of the believers from where? Every nation, from all tribes, peoples, and languages standing before the Lamb with palm branches in their hands crying out in praise to our Lord and Savior. Indeed here on earth we are divided up and portioned out across the earth each entrusted to our separate nations and governments, and associating within our tribes, and shared languages, but before the throne of God in heaven, all of these divisions cease. For we are united in something far greater than any of the earthly divisions we have here on earth, we are united before the throne of God by Jesus Christ our Lord.

What a great and glorious day that will be not just for Israel who saw their nation taken off into slavery by other greater nations, but for us as well, when wars cease, when famine is gone, when we finally know peace for the Lamb who is seated on the throne will be our shepherd, and we will have already been led through the valley of the shadow of death and into paradise.

It’s hard though navigating this life and waiting to see that day, and that is why God gave us His Word, and the prophets and the apostles, to assure us that it was going to be ok. Consider John who is receives this vision of heaven and sees all the people of God gathered together around the throne of the Lamb. He’s the last apostle to die. His brother James was put to death by one of the Herod’s, and as the years went by, one by one each of those apostles that had walked with him as they were in the presence of Jesus has died a violent death. John receives this vision while he is on the prison island of Patmos, and what Jesus reveals to him is this scene of hope and comfort.

The book of Revelation does have some terrifying visions in it, but every time there is something terrifying or scary about the end of the world, what does God reveal to John? God will bring His people home to live in His presence. Most get caught up in the book of Revelation as a doomsday book, and full of nothing but gloom, and forget entirely about these moments. God brings His people out of the great tribulation, that they might live in His presence. That all the pains and sorrows and trials of this life are over, and we finally live in paradise as the effects of sin are gone.

Well what are those effects? Look at the world, why do we fight? why is there conflict? Well its because in the hearts of men you find covetousness and hatred, and a willingness to harm your neighbor because you don’t think they should have their stuff. So how do we stop that? Well we have governments whose purpose is to punish evildoers, do we need any of that in heaven? No.

What about our health? We get colds, diseases, sickness, there are cancers, arthritis, and degenerative diseases, and so we have hospital bills, and insurances, and all manner of other issues, but why? Why do we have all of this? Well because we are all being given over to death, that’s what all these illnesses are about, but they will be done.

What about having no one here in this life? That growing sense of isolation and unease as the people you used to know and hang out with begin to pass, friends, family, kids, and spouses, and you are left alone here on earth. You think being the only Apostle left alive was easy, but you can understand why this gave John hope, and why this Revelation was a comfort. God didn’t forget about him, nor does God forget about you and me as we go through this journey out of a land of death and into the Christ’s everlasting Kingdom. Our Shepherd was sent to guide us to springs of living water, and we will be reunited with all of those who have died in the faith.

So my Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we too are on an Exodus, we’ve been called out of death to life, and set on the path that leads to our eternal home. In that home we will be with God forever, together with all the saints. This is the great and wonderful promise that Jesus has given us, and it is one we want to share with all people that they too may join us in Paradise. If they don’t listen the first time, we try again, and again for Christ died for them too, and He does not desire their death, but that they might live for eternity. In jesus name. Amen.