“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles -the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:15-16)
Matthew writes that “when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah”: (Matthew 4:12-14)
In other words, Jesus’ going and living in Capernaum was in fulfilment of Isaiah 9:1,2. Isaiah prophesied about Jesus’ visiting and residing momentarily in Capernaum 800 years before it came to pass!
We need to hear directly from the prophet in order for us to appreciate the significance of the event and the implication for us: Isaiah 9:1, “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea along the Jordan.
It took Jesus’ visit for the spiritual condition of Zebulun and Naphtali (in Galilee of the Gentiles) to change. Note that the bible here says that Jesus went to the people living in darkness and such people are said to be living in the land of the shadow of death -Yes, death has a shadow which is cast over those who live in darkness. Gloom, humiliation and distress are the portions of such people, but, it must be said emphatically, it is not the will of God for them.
We like to use the metaphor of “turning the page” to indicate a turning point in life, usually from bad to good. Well, Jesus’ visit was a turning point for Zebulun and Naphtali. Hence, Isaiah writes that “there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” Both lands were humbled in the past, but the future holds honour for them, Isaiah said.
It is important to note that until Jesus, the light of the world (John 1:9), went to and lived with them the people living in Zebulun and Naphtali had no idea that they were living in darkness, like many people today. True, they were distressed, humiliated by life circumstances – sicknesses, poverty, failures, but they could not relate it to living in darkness or living in the shadow of death.
Lord Jesus remember our nations! We need your visitation to lift our nations out of darkness as your light dawns on us to God’s glory!
