The Root Appears
Even in the most barren and hopeless situations, God can bring about life and growth through His miraculous power.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the miraculous nature of growth and life, illustrating that just as moisture is essential for seeds to germinate, divine intervention is necessary for spiritual life to flourish. He reflects on Isaiah's vision of a tender plant emerging from dry ground, symbolizing the miraculous virgin birth of Christ, which defies natural laws. Tozer asserts that this miracle, performed by the arm of the Lord, serves as a testament to God's power and the truth of the Christian faith. He encourages believers to recognize the profound significance of this event, which stands as a cornerstone of Christian doctrine.
Text
Now everyone knows that moisture is necessary to the germination of seeds, to the swelling of buds and to the sprouting of the root buried there in the ground. Where there is no water, life lies suspended in sleepy inaction. Even the desert plant must have a minimal quantity of moisture before there can be any growth at all. No slip of vegetable life has yet pushed up out of soil that was totally arid. No root has yet sprung out of the dry ground.
Yet Isaiah saw a tender plant grow out of ground where no moisture was; that is, he saw it in prophetic vision, and he knew a miracle was at work. Nature could not have wrought this wonder by herself. The arm of the Lord had done this, and let all the world marvel and be still. As certainly as the dry soil must remain barren, so must apostate Israel be fruitless, so must a virgin maid be childless. No root could grow out of a dry ground.
The prophet had said before that His name should be called Wonderful; and His very first wonder was to be born above nature. We do not wish to read into Isaiah?s strangely beautiful words meanings that are not there; but the believing heart that sees the Bible an organic spiritual unit will have no trouble finding here the truth long held sacred by all Christians, the truth of the virgin birth.
Sermon Outline
- The Necessity of Moisture
- The Miracle of the Dry Ground
- The Significance of the Virgin Birth
- The virgin birth is a wonder above nature
- It is a truth held sacred by Christians
Key Quotes
“No root has yet sprung out of the dry ground.” — A.W. Tozer
“Nature could not have wrought this wonder by herself.” — A.W. Tozer
“The arm of the Lord had done this, and let all the world marvel and be still.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We must recognize that even in our most challenging situations, we still require the nourishment and sustenance that only God can provide.
- We can trust in God's miraculous power to bring about life and growth in our lives, even in the most barren and hopeless situations.
- We must not underestimate the significance of the virgin birth as a truth that is held sacred by Christians.