John 8:12-20

Isaiah’s wife, “the prophetess,” is among the many unnamed people in the Bible. Though her words and her gifts are lost to us, we can speculate about what she might have said in her unique voice, responding to God’s revelation.

“Child to come, I will be in my grave long before you are born. I will have no name, but you will have many. I live in the shadow of my husband, but there will be no shadows to obscure you. My words will be forgotten, but your words will be remembered. My story will vanish into obscurity, while your story will be told forever.

“Child to come, I am a mother. I have sons, and I pray urgently for you just as I pray for them. I pray that you will live into your many names. I pray that you will be wise and compassionate and courageous. I pray that you will grow strong in body and in will, so that your shoulders will be broad enough to take on all the yokes, bars, and rods that are oppressing God’s people. I pray that you will always stay true to your calling and that you will never lose trust in God. I pray that the days of laughter in your life will outnumber the days of grief. I pray that when pain comes to you, God will give you endurance. I pray that your life will bring hope to people who are living without it, and that when you come to die, the hope you engender will live on beyond your death. I pray that you will be a beacon of light for everyone around you.

“Child to come, I whose name is known only to God, a voice from the past, am praying for you now, praying across time. May God hear my prayer, watch over you, and bring you peace.”

Consider

What can we learn from the unnamed characters in the Bible?

Pray

God help us listen for voices that have been silenced and marginalized. Let their music fill our ears and enliven our hearts. Amen.



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