In a world that can feel hopeless, Isaiah reminds us that goodness, righteousness, and faithfulness win after all.

The author J. R. R. Tolkien used the term eucatastrophe to describe a particular turn of events within stories. While a catastrophe is a terrible event that causes destruction and death, a eucatastrophe depicts events that turn a story from a catastrophe to living happily ever after. Tolkien said that a eucatastrophe is “the sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that bring tears” (The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Letter 89).

Christ’s return at the end of time and the story of the Christian faith are eucatastrophes. The prophecy of a Branch from the stump of Jesse in Isaiah 11:1-9 tells us why. We often hear this prophecy in the season of Advent as we look forward to the birth of the royal child at Christmas. Certainly, the stump has already sprouted. Hope is not lost, but there can be days for Christians when all we see is catastrophe. But the Branch will return, and when he does, he will bring about a blessed new beginning.

Isaiah 11:1-9
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together, and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

A turn of events

Isaiah chapter 11 begins by describing a scene that seems catastrophic. David’s royal dynasty, described as a tree, has been cut down, and all that remained was a dead, old stump. By the time of Judah’s exile in Babylon years later, the dynasty would be dead. Certainly, the people of Judah would one day return to Jerusalem, but the house of David would still be a dead, old stump. Without a king like David, let alone a king at all, how could such a disaster ever turn out for good? But when all seems to be a catastrophe, the Lord produces a Branch.

Maybe you wonder, How will this turn out for good? as your disappointment in your own government leaders grows. In his prophecy, we might expect Isaiah to say that a shoot would come up from the stump of David. Instead, he speaks of David’s father, Jesse. This is likely to indicate that the Branch would be a new David. If we are going to have a king, we need a King who will break the mold of leadership. That is what the Branch does. Compared to the godless kings of Judah—and even your own leaders—this King would be different.

This new David would have the Spirit of the Lord resting on him. When the prophet Samuel anointed David as the future king, “the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon David” (1 Samuel 16:13). Not only was the Spirit equipping David for his task as king, but also the Spirit divinely appointed him as king. Our King has also been appointed. Our King has been endowed with qualities that would make him the king you have always desired.

“How will this turn out for good?” you sigh as you survey the prevailing cultural landscape. The Branch’s reign is so good that he will make everything right. Evil and wrong will be called what they are—evil and wrong. His judgments will not be arbitrary or subjective but will be rendered on the basis of righteousness for the benefit of those who need his righteousness. He will be a King who will be faithful to his office—and to you—even when it could cost him everything.

“How will this turn out for good?” you groan as the problems of life continue to mount. Out of what looks like a very near catastrophe, our King will bring everything to a blessed end. This end will look very much like the Garden of Eden, when God said that it was very good. Isaiah gives us a vivid picture of domesticated animals not fearing predators and a child suffering no harm from a viper (Isaiah 11:6-9). At this end, there will be no danger or threat. There will be only peace and security.

Our happy ending

The end has already begun, even if it seems impossible. Consider that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Weeks later, he left his disciples behind on earth. You could call these things disasters, but in view of Isaiah chapter 11, they are the turn of events we need. Though righteous, the King selflessly dies on a cross for the salvation of all people. Then the King leaves this world, only to return visibly on the Last Day as the King of kings.

Isaiah chapter 11 is no platitude or the empty hope of escapism. It is the story in full that continues to unfold for us who live in the end times. It is the assurance that what we believe and live is still true; with God we will remain safe. It is the promise that Jesus Christ—crucified, risen, and ascended—is coming to us. It is the reminder that goodness, righteousness, and faithfulness win after all.

Tolkien said that a eucatastrophe could be so joyous it would drive you to tears. But if we are brought to tears, it is only because we long for something wonderful that we do not yet have in full. When Jesus comes, we will have him in full, and there will be no more reason for tears. When Jesus comes, we will see for ourselves that he is our new King for a new life. When the Branch arrives in full bloom, we will have our happy ending, which will be a blessed beginning.

This is the first article in a series on Isaiah’s prophecies.

Learn more about FIC’s newest Bible study writer, Aaron Goetzinger.

Author: Aaron Goetzinger
Volume 111, Number 11
Issue: November 2024

The ministry of Isaiah

Isaiah’s ministry began in Jerusalem (ca. 742 B.C.) during the reign of King Uzziah and continued into the reign of King Hezekiah. Near the beginning of Isaiah’s work, Judah was strong, wealthy, and decadent. But by the end, the kingdom faced a multitude of crises, both foreign and domestic.

Isaiah delivered a twofold message. On the one hand, he spoke God’s judgment. Because of Israel’s idolatry, corruption, and rebellion against God, Isaiah warned that the empire of Assyria, and later Babylon, would cut it down. On the other hand, he spoke God’s promises. A King would come from King David’s family tree. God would build a new Jerusalem. God would not abandon his people or his promises to them.

One Bible commentator suggests that Isaiah is a book of contrasts. There is judgment and hope, divine glory and human failure, people’s arrogance and God’s patience. We can see one of the most beautiful contrasts by asking a question: Can the story end happily when everything looks like a disaster? Yes, Isaiah says. God can make dead things alive, and out of destruction he can bring peace.