Beautiful Mess
- Liana V.
- Feb 21, 2024
- 3 min read
Beautiful Mess
ISAIAH 13
Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; there no nomads will pitch their tents, there no shepherds will rest their flocks. But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about. Hyenas will inhabit her strongholds, jackals her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged.
Isaiah 13:19-22
As we have been learning, the book of Isaiah has been discussing prophecies from the Lord. In this chapter we learn of the predicted destruction of Babylon. The nation that had been the dominant and most powerful in the world. Isaiah tells us that a multi-nation army will be sent to destroy Babylon. The purpose of this is to urge God’s people to continue to put their trust in Him alone and not in other earthly kings, kingdoms, or gods.
The image described of the wreckage after Babylon is breathtaking. Amidst all the destruction, God takes the time to artistically develop the dramatic scene, the verse above tells. God takes destruction and makes it beautiful, intricate, and full of depth. He is so perfect and amazing that he can make a mess, beautiful. Reminding us that His value is never changed based on what is happening on earth. In fact, He is an amazing skillful artist that paints over destruction and creates beauty. Who else can do that?
God is able to take all of our human mess, all of our shortcomings and failures, and turn it into something beautiful. Even when it seems like there is no hope and that our humanity is ruling, God is sovereign. He can take all of the ugliness we humans make and use it for His good- putting people and circumstance in place to direct people to his ultimate goal: redemption.
The ruins of this ancient city-state of Babylon are currently being excavated about 50 miles south of Baghdad in modern Iraq. This city, built up on both sides of the Euphrates River, was thought to be the pinnacle of beauty, culture, and human achievement in the ancient Near East. Even now, 1000’s of years later, we are finding beauty in the destruction of Babylon.
As I wrote and prayed about this chapter, I found myself thinking of my own life. I can have a career I feel good about; achievements I am proud of. A beautiful home full of things I love and worked hard to buy. A closet full of clothes and shoes. A husband who adores me and loves me. I can go to bed at night feeling proud of how organized and tidy my home is. But none of it will fill me in the way only God can. Like Babylon, if I have all the things but if I don’t have faith in God, it is all meaningless.
Prayer: Lord, you trade ashes for beauty. You turn graves into gardens. You can take all that is broken in me and turn it for good. I am so flawed and broken, but you have a plan for my redemption. It terrifies me to think about what would happen to me without you. The King of king, Lord of lords…You are so good. Thank you for your plan for my life and the good You make from the beautiful mess I create. Amen.
We’re all beautiful messes, aren’t we? Even the ones who appear too dirty in our own opinion, the ones we don’t want to get near because it’s a bit scary, uncomfortable, or too much for us to handle. This is the reminder I needed, to never become to religious or righteous that I forget the Fathers heart, lost people.
Amen! Even though I feel less than so often, God takes those feelings to show me examples of how I am more. How I have more to offer and more to share. And in taking my brokenness to others we can heal each other and build beautiful redemption together 🩷 It is such a journey but so so worth opening to all God has for us if we choose faith 🙏🏻