In that day, the Root of Jesse [Jesus] will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to Him, and His place of rest will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10)

Think of a time when you were in a dark place, circumstances grim, “enemies” ready to pounce. Nothing seemed hopeful, and you were almost worn out praying. You knew God would act; you’d seen Him act before. You knew His promises. But it was the when, oh Lord?? that had you falling repeatedly to your knees. You had hope, but it was almost invisible at that time. 

About a week ago, I wandered among the 85 sculptures displayed in the NC Botanical Gardens. One - Precarious by Kimberly Sudkamp - stopped me cold. I beg the artist’s forgiveness for focusing only on the bottom half of the piece. Take a look:

Against the dark background, which is vast, what stands out? Of course, it’s the tiny rivulet of blue. I stared at that and thought, sometimes our hope in God’s deliverance seems just that tiny, just that far off. Nevertheless, It Is There. God is present. Hope is bright - even if it's just a flicker - against the darkness.

In the ~200 years since Solomon died, Israel has been attacked by different people groups, demoralizing enough on its own. They’ve sunk into idolatry under more bad kings than good. They’ve wandered further and further from God despite prophets’ calls to repentance and warnings of judgment and exile to come. All looked bleak.

But the prophet Isaiah promised them hope: God will “gather the exiles of Israel” (Isa. 11:12). At the same time, he told them a savior would emerge from the seemingly dead line of good King David: “a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse [David’s father]; from his roots, a Branch will bear fruit” (11:1). Filled with the Spirit, this wise King will rule righteously; justice will reign for all; peace will follow. However, Isaiah provided no timetable.

Let’s ponder that sculpture again. Darkness consumes the bulk of the sculpture. Israel’s history had been bleak for almost two centuries. Let’s imagine the brown swath as the prophesied exile. It won’t last nearly as long as those centuries, but it’s still not a pretty color. Cue the gorgeous blue: hope of return to the Promised Land with a promised Redeemer. But when, oh Lord? They’re not told, but the blue shines brightly. Despite being barely 1/30th of the whole, it gives life to the entire sculpture. 

That blue - it stopped me cold. I couldn’t look away. God’s greatest promises are those of hope. This artist’s greatest tool is her use of that indigo blue. 

Maybe your circumstances seem just as interminable and dark as Israel’s 200 years after the Glory Days of Solomon. But see the hope God holds out in His word: “Judah’s enemies will be cut off…a shoot will come up from the stump” (11:13b, 1). Peace and a Redeemer had to seem far off, almost invisible. Maybe resolution of your circumstances seems just as distant. But don’t lose sight of the blue gleam of hope.