A new branch comes forth from an old growth. Those new branches are signs of new growth and hope. Isaiah 11 prophesied the growth of a branch from “the stump of Jesse” (Is. 11:1). This new “branch” would bear fruit even though the tribe of Jesse was but a “stump.”

This branch would be especially blessed and especially used by the Father. Isaiah said, “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” (Is. 11:2).

This branch would succeed where Israel had failed in the past. “And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins” (Is. 11:3-5).

We know this righteous Branch to be Jesus. Isaiah’s prophecy of the Branch is a beautiful picture of how God brings hope from hopelessness. It is also a picture of how Jesus exercised perfection on behalf of God’s people where God’s people had consistently failed.

It is great to be a Christian. It is great to have Jesus. We will never appreciate the glory of his grace, but God’s people will enjoy it eternally.