At the very onset of the Fall of humanity into sin and rebellion, God promised that the Messiah would come through the line of the seed of the first woman, Eve, and that he would crush the head of the Serpent, Satan (Genesis 3:15). At the same time, God warned that the seed of the Serpent would strike the heel of Redeemer in an attempt to destroy him, though he would fail. Theologians refer to this as the protoevangelium or the first Gospel since it provides the initial picture of the coming Messiah. From this time forward in Scripture we see the conflict erupt between Satan and the people of the promise as he also seeks to destroy them. While the battle is real and continues, the Lord shows us by example how to stand firm with resolute confidence that he and the Father are very near and that no accusation or condemnation can stand against us!
Darkness hates the light and seeks to extinguish it
Genesis 4 zeroes in on the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, who killed him “because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous” (1 John 3:12). The bitter jealousy and envy in Cain’s life drove him to extinguish the life and light of his brother. This same thread of murder and revenge can be seen in story after story throughout the Bible as the Serpent incites his children against God's children. Isaiah, in particular, highlights the Serpent’s hatred of the coming Messiah, not only to provide a picture of his future suffering and death but to stand as a warning for us about what to expect as children of God. This window of warning in the Servant Song of Isaiah 50:6-9 shows us the methods and tactics the Serpent and his followers will use against the Christ and his followers. As Jesus promised, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also” (John 15:20).
He did not hide his face from mocking and spitting
In Isaiah 50:6, we see the coming Messiah’s response to this evil opposition as he declares, “I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.” This is exactly how we witness Christ responding to his persecutors as they mock and hit him. Peter summarizes his response in 1 Peter 2:23, “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.” He then shows the action he took in place of seeking revenge or trying to defend himself, “Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). This beautifully coincides with the Isaiah passage where the writer explains why did he did not hide from the “mocking and spitting”: “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced.” Again, in verse 9 he declares that because his help comes from the Sovereign God, he is confident he will be protected from the attacks of his accusers.
He set his face like flint
In addition to refusing to retaliate because he’s confidently trusting in the Sovereign God, he says that he set his face like flint (Isaiah 50:6). Having a face that is like flint is one that is solid, hard as stone and unbreakable. As we know from the Gospel accounts, Jesus’ face was set with unwavering determination on the cross and finishing the work the Father sent him to do so that nothing and no one could stop him. This concept is also mentioned in Ezekiel 3:8-9 where God promises to give the prophet a forehead like flint to powerfully withstand the attacks of the “snakes” and “scorpions” among him (Ezekiel 2:6). In addition to these examples, we see the Lord giving this kind of hardness and resistance against the enemy’s attacks to all of his prophets and his apostles.
He is confident he will not be put to shame
In spite of the escalating persecution and opposition, Jesus was confident he would not be put to shame or disgraced. He trusted that the Father would vindicate him and do just as he promised by raising him from the dead and ultimately defeating sin, death and Satan. The apostle Paul, who also writes about opposition from evil men, shares this same eclipsing confidence. Though he is often hard pressed and persecuted, he is certain that God will never fail or forsake him and will be with him in trouble (1 Corinthians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:9; Hebrews 13:5). As a result, he urges others in the church in Philippians 1:28 to stand firm in this resolute confidence that they will not be put to shame. He instructs them to trust the LORD rather than being intimidated and fearing opposition, which he promises “Is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.”
His vindicator is near
Jesus knew throughout the mockery of his trial and crucifixion that his vindicator was near and would bring judgment on the wicked, just as he promised. Though he did not come to condemn the world but rather to bring salvation (John 3:17), he warned about hell and the great judgment day of the Serpent and his offspring more than any other New Testament writer. Following in his footsteps, the other writers of the NT spoke about this judgment day to encourage believers to remain steadfast and immovable in the Gospel in spite of opposition with the assurance that the Lord will reward them and punish the wicked (Hebrews 13:5, James 5:7-11,1 Peter 4:12-19, 1 John 3:13-15). This great day of the Lord will be one of vindication for the followers of Christ and one of eternal death for those who oppose God and his people and refuse to repent.
All charges and accusations are powerless
They hurled insults, false accusations and charges against Christ, but all were powerless since he alone is the righteous Judge (2 Timothy 4:8), the King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16). He and his Father sit in the highest place in the heavenlies, where he reigns and rules over all leaders and people (Psalm 2; 110, 1 Corinthians 15:20-28). Since he is both the Just One and the Justifier (Romans 3:26), it is impossible for any accusation or charge to stand in his court. He guarantees that those who are his children by rebirth are safe from every one of these vicious attacks. The apostle Paul writes about this in Romans 8:31-39, echoing Isaiah 50:6, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns?” (Romans 8:33). Paul’s conclusion is that “no one” can bring a charge against or condemn God’s people. Why, because “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). These accusations, which come like arrows against the children of God, are impotent before the Messiah King who is eternally declaring each accused one of his children, “Not guilty” and righteous in Christ.
What are we to do in the face of such evil opposition?
When we face similar mocking, scoffing and accusations from the Serpent and his children, we need to remember that Christ’s confident response is ours as his adopted children and heirs (Romans 8:17). As those who are now joined to Christ in his death and resurrection, everything that belongs to him is ours through this this vital union (Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 3:3). By faith, we can stand in his resurrection power (Romans 6:10-11) and wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:16). We can appropriate by faith the same armor he put on when he came to defeat sin, death and Satan as seen in Isaiah 11:5, 49:2, 52:7, 59:17 and in Ephesians 6:10-18. As they hurl insults against us, we can follow Christ’s beautiful example and stand firm in confident, unmovable trust that the Sovereign LORD is with us and that he is near. He guarantees that he will not let us be ashamed or disgraced but instead will fight for us and rescue us eternally from all evil and harm (Psalm 35:1).
“But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:17-18).
"Arrows: I will be with you" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je3lmscEkBc&vl=en-US
