In Isaiah 22:15-25, the prophet foretells the replacement of Shebna, an unfaithful steward, with Eliakim, who “will be like a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah” (Isaiah 22:21). Notice the authority entrusted to Eliakim for a season: “I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one can close; what he closes, no one can open” (Isaiah 22:22). To the problem of abused authority and manipulative control, God announces something better to come.
Is there any lack of abused authority and manipulative control today? Unfaithful stewards abound in government offices, places of business, family homes, and even in the house of God, the Church. This is not a new problem. Jesus, the Messiah Isaiah foretold, had powerfully strong words for unfaithful stewards of the temple during His earthly ministry. In Matthew 23, Jesus speaks curse (“woe to you…”) over the scribes and Pharisees, the religious leaders who controlled access to the temple and to the rhythms of worship. Among a litany of woes we read, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in” (Matthew 23:13). There is truly nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9).
To the problem of abused authority and manipulative control, God still announces something better to come. We read in Revelation 3:7 that Jesus is, “…the Holy One, the true One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and who closes and no one opens…” The baby we celebrate in the manger is the Messiah who defeated sin and death at Calvary, and who will return again in glory. Until that day, Jesus holds the true keys of authority to open wide our heavenly home. To the faithful, Jesus still declares, “I know your works. Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power…” (Revelation 3:8). The days of abused authority and manipulative control are numbered by Jesus, the only true steward of heaven.
“Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!”
