When my friend texted asking for prayer, I knew before she even told me what was going on that her one relative was back in town. This family member has been creating painful, wicked, and divisive drama for years. My friend was desperate and asking for prayer AGAIN. We have prayed and prayed and nothing has happened for so long. I could hear her discouragement. I could hear the anxiety of what this person would do this time around. I could hear the questions of “God, will You finally intervene?”
That same morning, I had read this passage, which I sent to her. It was not the normal “Hang in there” message, or a cliché “God will work it out”. Instead, it was a passage of violence.
Isaiah 63:1-6
Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, proclaiming victory, mighty to save.” Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress? “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. It was for me the day of vengeance; the year for me to redeem had come. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm achieved salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.”
These verses depict a gory scene of destruction. The Messiah, the One who is mighty to save, caused the havoc. He trampled the nations who came against Israel. He waged the war alone for none could help. His clothes were stained with the blood of the enemy. When I read this passage of war, I felt the Lord say, “Deliverance is messy.”
We are in a war. Peel back behind what is seen on this earth and the reality of a terrible spiritual war becomes painfully evident. Demons are raging against people; wanting to steal, kill, and destroy. They do not want to lose their territory in our lives. The battle is vicious. There are times that the deliverance from evil is a huge mess. Yet, the mess is not ours to fix. Jesus fights for us. Jesus fights for you. The fight takes time. He trampled the enemy but it was not in just a moment. Over time, He waged war until victory was complete.
Jesus is our warrior. Whatever is coming against you, know that He will win the fight. It is not in our time, or in the way we expect, but He will be victorious. It may be messy along the way, but victory will come. And when it does, we will praise His name:
Isaiah 63:7
I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
Jesus, our warrior, the Messy Deliverer, is worthy of praise because He truly has done many good things for us. He has rescued us and will deliver us. Soon, we will see His complete victory in our lives.