The Face of God Series: The Face of God in Isaiah Chapter 11

 

Isaiah 11 (NABRE – New American Bible, Revised Edition)

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The Face of God in Isaiah 11: The Holy Root, the Just Judge, and the Peaceful King

If Isaiah 1 introduced us to the ache of God’s broken heart, Isaiah 11 brings us face to face with His dream for the world—a vision not born of fantasy, but rooted in the fierce realism of redemption. The first chapter was an invitation to repentance. This one is a vision of what restoration looks like. It is no coincidence that Isaiah’s prophecy pivots here to a figure filled with the Spirit of the Lord—the shoot from the stump of Jesse. This chapter gives us a vivid, poetic glimpse of the Messiah, but even more so, it gives us a window into the heart of God and the life He invites us into.

Isaiah 11:1

"But a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom."

God as the God of New Beginnings
God does not abandon the story when it looks barren. The stump of Jesse suggests devastation—a dynasty cut down, a promise that appears to have withered. But God is not done. He brings life from what seems dead. This is who He is: the God who makes resurrection possible, the God who sees potential in the ruins. Even when the Davidic line seems broken beyond repair, God is already planting hope. He is the gardener who never stops tending the soil.

This is a reminder for our own lives, too. When we feel like stumps—cut down by suffering, sin, or circumstances—God is not done with us. The shoot will come.

What This Means for Us
No matter how final our failures or how deep our wounds, God is already planting new life. The spiritual life is never static—there is always a shoot waiting to blossom. Trust Him in the silence. Hope is already taking root beneath the surface.

Isaiah 11:2-3a

"The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD."

God as the Source of Perfect Wisdom
In a world that prizes performance and cleverness, God reveals that true leadership begins in reverence. The one He anoints is not merely intelligent—He is Spirit-filled. And the Spirit He pours out is sevenfold, echoing the fullness of God’s character:

• Wisdom

• Understanding

• Counsel

• Strength

• Knowledge

• Fear of the Lord

• Delight in that fear

The repetition of "fear of the Lord" may feel strange to modern ears, but in Scripture, it means awe-filled love, humble reverence, and an awareness of God's utter otherness. This is not terror; it is trust in Someone infinitely greater. The Messiah delights in this reverence. And so should we. The face of God revealed here is not only wise but willingly worshiped by the one He sends.

What This Means for Us
The spiritual life begins in reverence. Ask God for this sevenfold Spirit. Let your prayer life move beyond requests and into relationship—a place of wonder, a place of surrender, a place where God's presence becomes your delight.

Isaiah 11:3b-5

"Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he decide, but he shall judge the poor with justice, and decide aright for the land’s afflicted... Justice shall be the band around his waist, and faithfulness a belt upon his hips."

God as the Just and Faithful Judge
In Isaiah 1, we saw God's concern for the vulnerable: the orphan, the widow, the oppressed. That concern is not a passing mention. It is central to His character. Now, in Isaiah 11, we see that the Messiah doesn’t rule by bias or perception. He rules by truth. His justice isn’t performative. It is real, impartial, and righteous.

God is not impressed by appearances. He doesn't judge by reputation. He sees to the heart. And the justice He brings is especially good news for the poor and afflicted. His faithfulness is not a soft trait—it is the strength He wears like armor. When we long for leaders who are both strong and good, this is the standard. And it flows from the very character of God.

What This Means for Us
We are called to reflect this same justice in our relationships. Don’t judge by appearances. Defend the afflicted. Let your words be guided by truth, not hearsay. Faithfulness in the small places of our lives becomes the belt we wear in service to the Kingdom.

Isaiah 11:6-9

"Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat... They shall not harm or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD, as water covers the sea."

God as the Bringer of Peace
This passage is more than poetic idealism. It is a vision of restored creation—a peace so deep it rewrites the instincts of predators and prey. In Eden, before sin, there was harmony. Isaiah 11 promises a return to that harmony, not through human effort alone, but through divine intervention.

This is the peace of the Kingdom. And it shows us something profound about God: He is not content with individual salvation. He wants cosmic restoration. He dreams of a world where even natural enemies are reconciled. And He is working toward that future.

What This Means for Us
We are called to be agents of this peace. Not merely to avoid conflict, but to be peacemakers—people who transform hostility with the knowledge of God. Let your presence disarm aggression. Let your words sow gentleness. Let the Kingdom break through in how you live.

Isaiah 11:10

"On that day, the root of Jesse, set up as a signal for the nations, the Gentiles shall seek out, for his dwelling shall be glorious."

God as the Hope of All Nations
Here we see God’s mission expanding beyond Israel. The root of Jesse—Jesus, as Christians will later understand—is not only the fulfillment of Jewish hope but the invitation to the whole world. This Messiah is not tribal. He is global. His dwelling is glorious not because of gold or grandeur but because He welcomes all who seek Him.

This is the face of God: open-armed, world-reaching, glory-bearing. He is not hidden. He is lifted up like a banner so that all may come.

What This Means for Us
We are part of a global family. Faith is not a private possession—it’s a signal to the world. Live your life like a banner lifted up. Let others be drawn to Christ not by your perfection, but by the spaciousness of His welcome flowing through you.

Isaiah 11:11-16

"On that day, the Lord shall again take it in hand to reclaim the remnant of his people... There shall be a highway for the remnant of his people that is left from Assyria, as there was for Israel when it came up from the land of Egypt."

God as the Gatherer of the Scattered
God does not forget His people, even when they are scattered across the nations. Isaiah closes this chapter with a vision of divine reclamation—a second Exodus, this time not from one land but from many. From Assyria, Egypt, Cush, Elam, and beyond, God will gather His people like a shepherd calling every last sheep.

This shows us the heart of God as a restorer of what has been broken, a mender of what was torn. He does not lose track of even one. The highway imagery is especially powerful: where once there were obstacles and barriers, now there is a way. He makes a path through the wilderness to bring His people home.

This promise has both a historical and spiritual dimension. For Israel, it foreshadowed return from exile. For us, it reminds us that no matter how far we’ve strayed, God is already building the road back. He is not just willing to welcome the lost; He is actively seeking them. Actively seeking us.

What This Means for Us
God has not lost you. You are not forgotten. There is always a path home. And once you begin walking it, you can help clear the way for others. Become part of the highway construction crew. Help remove obstacles. Be part of the gathering, not the scattering.

Final Reflection: God’s Heart in Isaiah 11

Isaiah 11 is one of the clearest portraits of the Messiah in all of Scripture—but more than that, it reveals God’s heart for His people, His creation, and His Kingdom. He is the God of new beginnings, the source of perfect wisdom, the righteous judge, the bringer of deep peace, the hope of every nation, and the gatherer of the scattered.

And He is not far off. He is already at work. In Christ, the shoot has sprouted. The Kingdom has come, even if not yet in full. And we are invited to live in its light—not just someday, but now.

What part of this vision speaks most to you today? Where do you need to remember that the shoot will come?

Let this chapter awaken hope in you. The face of God is not only just and holy—it is beautifully, faithfully near.

To explore these themes more deeply, I recommend the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible (affiliate link). It brings clarity and depth to every chapter of Scripture, and has been an invaluable companion in this series.

When The Face of God in Isaiah series is complete, you’ll be able to purchase the full edition in our Ko-Fi store at ko-fi.com/convertingtohope. Stay with us as we continue the journey.