Scripture: Isaiah 19:24 – “On that day Israel will be the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth…” (NRSVue)
Are you a bridge? We often act as conduits between people and situations. Think of the old idea of six degrees of separation (or six degrees of Kevin Bacon if you are a movie buff). We can be the links between otherwise perfect strangers. But we can also be the bridges between people who see each other as enemies.
Sometimes the best wisdom of the Bible comes in the most unlikely places. Among the prophetic books of the Bible, there often sections called “oracles to the nations.” These are generally divine condemnations upon Israel’s neighbors for their antagonism and sinful ways. But there is a strange passage deep in Isaiah that bucks this trend and caught my attention.
I think that at his core, Isaiah was an optimist who saw Israel as having a special destiny as a beacon of peace. In his time, Israel was at the crossroads between two powerful empires, Egypt and Assyria. These empires often used Israel as a pawn in their machinations against each other, usually resulting in angry armies raining destruction upon the Israelites in revenge. But Isaiah thought it didn’t need to be this way. Israel didn’t need to be the middle ground that the powerful fought over. It could be a bridge of hope that taught both sides about the peace that comes through faith in the Lord. Isaiah says that God will make the little vulnerable nation of Israel the link of peace between angry empires.
Isaiah was a dreamer, but we need dreamers, especially in times which are so fraught with war, violence, and a troubling amount of distrust and lack of respect.
What about you? You are a link between so many people. You, too, can be a bridge of peace. Think of two people in your life that are opposite sides of an issue. It might be the standard political stuff, but it might be people who disagree about a family or work issue, or who are holding onto grudges. Those opposing people have someone who ties them together: you! And while it is never fun to be in the middle, it provides you as a person of faith, as one who dreams of peace with an opportunity to bridge the gap. You can remind them of the things they have in common and the loves and concerns that we all share. When we think of the things that bind us rather than the things that divide, we can better understand, care for, and respect one another. And while we won’t easily find peace, it is a step in the right direction, and something that we all can do to make our world a little bit brighter.
You are a bridge. Be a bridge of peace.
Prayer: Lord, make me a vessel of your peace, and help me to show those I love that your love binds us all together. Amen.
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