Isaiah 11:6
6 The wolf [za'eb] also shall dwell [guwr] with the lamb, [kebes] and
the leopard [namer] shall lie down [rabats] with the kid; [gadiy] and
the calf [`egel] and the young lion [kaphiyr] and the fatling [mariy']
together; [yachad] and a little [qatan] child [na`ar] shall lead [nahag] them. KJV-Interlinear
6 And the wolf
will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will lie down with the kid, And the
calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little boy will lead
them. NASB
The wolf, the leopard,
and the lion are all predators. The lamb, the kid (a young goat), the calf, and
the fatling (an older of the cattle) are all domestic animals.
Then these, all of them,
can be led by a child.
Whereas now, a young
child might have a difficult time leading a calf or a goat due to their rambunctiousness.
But there will come a time when a young child will not only be able to easily lead
these domestic animals around on a lead rope, but also the child will be able
to lead around a wolf, a leopard, or a lion as well. Just as one might lead around a puppy or a
kitten or a domestic cat or dog.
Within the space of this
chapter, we have learned that the Messiah, who was born an infant child, grew
up and learned about life just as we all did.
But more than that, this
particular child, who was Jesus Christ, was intensely interested in doctrine, which
unfortunately most of us when we grow up, are not so interested in
doctrine. So Jesus was different than
the rest of us, He was perfect, He was and is God.
He figured out who He was
and pursued that plan, which God had put into place for Him, since eternity
past. The scriptures confirmed His
identity as well as God confirming it.
Even Satan and the demons that He confronted, confirmed His identity.
But this verse introduces
us not to Jesus and His perfections, and not even His growing up, but to the repercussions
of truth, when it finally becomes the standard of life in the world.
There will be no longer
the predator and the prey. There will no longer be the ferocious and the meek.
But in truth, there will
be harmony and stability and prosperity and so forth. Such is the power and authority of truth over
creation.
In the Garden of Eden, there
was harmony. Then sin entered into the
picture and there came into the world, evil and trouble and destruction within
life itself.
When God created the
angels, they lived in harmony and happiness, but then Satan brought in sin and
evil and the harmony of the universe was upset.
These things we have to
take on faith.
Enter truth and then
enter harmony. This we are told from the
bible.
And then enter sin and then
evil brings unrest and destruction to the universe. This we are told by the bible and confirmed by
the findings of geologists and such historical detectives who have been able to
piece together various scenarios of prehistoric times, what with vicious
animals and extinctions and such things.
Enter in the Garden and
Adam and Eve and we have again harmony.
The source is God.
Enter in again, Satan,
and temptation and then sin and the Garden is closed and trouble enters into
history.
Next we will have the Millennium
and the rule of Christ. Again we have
harmony even among the animals.
So, who introduces
harmony? God of course. God is truth.
And who introduces
discord and trouble into history and into creation? Satan.
Satan is the example and pattern of the rejection or indifference toward
truth.
When truth rules, then
the vicious become gentle.
