Daily Devotional | The Docile Wolf

Wolves are known predators, and their favorite prey is sheep. Jesus captured this sense of danger in the Sermon on the Mount when He warned of false prophets “who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:14).

In Isaiah 11:1–6, the prophet turns this image completely around and paints a vivid picture of a future where God’s reign will bring about unprecedented peace and harmony. This passage begins with the promise of a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse—the arrival of a new leader from the lineage of David who would later turn out to be Jesus (v. 1). Endowed with the Spirit of the Lord, He embodies wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord (vv. 2–3).

Verse 6 captures a striking vision of what type of kingdom this future leader will bring: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.” The natural order, marred by sin and conflict, will be restored to its original harmony. Predators and prey will coexist peacefully. This prophetic vision finds its ultimate fulfillment in the millennial kingdom of God, as portrayed in Revelation 20. During this thousand-year reign, Christ will establish His kingdom on earth, marked by the presence of divine harmony, peace, and righteousness foretold by Isaiah. Revelation 20 describes a time when Satan is bound, and Christ rules with justice and peace.

Under Christ’s reign, there will be no need for fear or enmity. The peaceful coexistence of the wolf and the lamb reflects the nature of Christ’s kingdom—where love, justice, and righteousness will prevail.