Isaiah 11:1 – “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
There are few images in Scripture more striking than this one—a stump. A stump is what’s left when something once tall and thriving has been cut down. It’s a picture of loss, of finality, of something that used to be alive but is now lifeless. For Judah, that stump represented the fallen house of David. The mighty tree of Israel’s monarchy—once flourishing under David and Solomon—had been reduced to a remnant. The royal line looked finished. The promises of God seemed severed.
But then Isaiah says something unexpected: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse.” From what looked dead, new life would spring. From what seemed hopeless, hope would grow. The “shoot” is a prophecy of Christ—the promised King who would come from David’s line, humble and small at first, but destined to bear eternal fruit.
This verse reminds us that God’s purposes are never thwarted by what seems like failure or decline. When the world sees a stump, God sees the roots. When all we can see is what has been cut down, God is already preparing what will grow next.
Perhaps you feel like you’re living among stumps—dreams that didn’t work out, relationships that broke down, or spiritual vitality that has withered over time. But the message of Isaiah 11:1 is clear: God brings life out of what looks dead. His promises may lie hidden underground for a season, but they are never forgotten.
Jesus is the proof. From a forgotten family line in Bethlehem came the true King—the One who restores, redeems, and reigns forever.
So today, take heart. The stump is not the end of the story. With God, it’s the beginning of something new.
