Isaiah 49:5aAnd now the Lord says – he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him andgather Israel to himself,

From Genesis 12 onwards, God committed himselfespecially to lead and guide and bless one particular family – Abraham’s descendants - that grew into one particular nation – the people of Israel. Even though God always was and continues to be the creator and sustainer of everyone, everywhere, these people enjoyed a unique relationship with him. They had both God’s words – in the law – and his special presence among them – inthe tabernacle (and later, the temple). Yet still they repeatedly turned their backs on him and were unfaithful, following other gods and behaving just like all the other nations around them. And so it will be the job of the Servant to bring them back.

When you think about it, this pattern of turning away and restoration is the constant theme of the whole Bible. We’re given many striking images of God’s relationship with his people to express this same idea: He is the husband of an unfaithful wife in the book of Hosea, he is the shepherd of wandering sheep in Ezekiel 34, he is the patient father of a rebellious son (also in Hosea).

This ‘bringing back’ and ‘gathering to himself’ is not an occasional activity on God’s part. It’s his constant purpose, the expression of his essential character. And so it’s no surprise that this activity is characteristic of Jesus, too. When the promised Servant comes, he announces himself as the ‘good shepherd’ who will restore the lost sheep once and for all. His very first miracle, at Cana, reveals him to be the bridegroom of God’s people, who will purify his bride –the church – so that she can enjoya wedding banquet with him forever. One of his most famous stories features a loving father running with his arms wide open to welcome back the son who hadsquandered his entire inheritance.

We – the rebellious, unfaithful, wandering sheep –are so blessed to have a God like this. One who doesn’t turn his back on us when we turn away from him. One who is patient to restore us, and who gave his one and only son to bring us back to himself. Let’s not despise that because it is so familiar. Rather, let’s thank him for it afresh today. And let’s ask God to teach us to walk more and more closely with him until the day when we are finally gathered into his presence in glory.