“And My wrath upheld me.”

Isaiah 63:1-5, WHO is this who comes from Edom, with garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, this One who is majestic in His apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Why is Your apparel red, and Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? I have trodden the wine trough alone, and from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger, and trampled them in My wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, and I stained all My raiment. For the day of vengeance was in My heart, and My year of redemption has come. And I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold; so My own arm brought salvation to Me; and My wrath upheld Me. And I trod down the peoples in My anger, and made them drunk in My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.”

To be clear: this vision of the prophet is that of a powerful, conquering King, whose garments are covered in the blood of His enemies! One question people often ask is “If there is a God, why is there so much evil in the world?” Of course there is no simple answer, other than the one the Bible gives: God did not set things up that way and by the folly of one man, Adam, sin entered the world. Right now we live in the age of grace, for one man, Jesus, gives us life that we may have it more abundantly! He has come not to judge the world but to save it. One day He will pour out His wrath upon evil itself, by His own strength because “there was no one to help.” As believers, it is our calling to push back the darkness with the light of Christ, for darkness must flee in His light. One day He will tread out the wine press of vengeance once and for all; until that day we must be faithful to do all that He has called us to do!

The cries of evil seem to be rising in our world; employ us in Your rising tide of grace even though evil abounds!