In Isaiah chapter 6, Isaiah is called to be a prophet. He is given an incredible vision of the Lord sitting on his throne. He recognizes he is in the presence of absolute holiness and is afraid. God sends one of the seraphim to grab a burning coal from the altar and then place that coal on Isaiah’s lips, signifying that his guilt is taken away and his sin atoned for (Isaiah 6:1–7). When God calls him to prophesy to the people, he tells Isaiah that no one will listen to him (vv 8–13). Can you imagine?
In chapter 7 God tells him that one day a virgin will conceive and bear a son (7:14). In chapter 8 he warns that Assyria will invade and bring great destruction. Even in the midst of dire warnings God promises salvation! In chapter 9 he promises that Galilee, the northern region of Israel, though they have walked in darkness yet they will see a great light. Why? “For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given.” Not just any son. This son will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He will reign from David’s throne forever (9:1–7). In chapter 11 God says “there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse” and “the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him” (11:1–2).
Then we come to chapter 12. While those in Isaiah’s day did not listen to his warnings―or his promises of salvation―God knew that a remnant would return to him (10:20–23). To that remnant he would add many from the nations. We see this promise begin to be fulfilled in the life of Jesus as he spent a considerable amount of his public ministry among non-Jews, among the Gentiles or nations.
In chapter 12 Isaiah tells the people,
You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
Isaiah 12:1–6 ESV
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
We often miss the imagery the biblical authors used due to time and distance. Imagine a world that is rather dry and barren. There were no faucets, no municipal water sources. Wells were not merely a convenience. They were necessary for life. Isaiah tells the remnant from Israel and from the nations that they would draw water from the wells of salvation. The implication is that God’s salvation is not limited. It is not a finite resource. We do not have to wait in line to receive the blessings of his salvation! We each have direct, immediate access to the True Source of salvation, the very one Isaiah had been promising. How many wells are there? As many as there are with faith in Jesus!
As we spend time in prayer today, let’s rejoice in our salvation. Let’s praise God that each one of us can draw water from his well again and again, getting eternal life directly from the source. Let’s praise God for his limitless supply of grace and mercy to his people. Let’s praise him for removing any barrier that exists between him and us, praising him that he did so through the One he promised to Isaiah.