I think that Where Ostriches Dwell could be the title of a Shel Silverstein poem. But I digress. Isaiah mentions the ostrich three times in his book. These big desert-dwelling birds were a common sight in Israel during Bible times and were used in scripture as an image of desolation. “Where the ostriches dwell” would not have been a good slogan for a vacation resort. If ostriches lived somewhere, it was not where people would want to be.
Chapters 13-27 of Isaiah can be a bit of a slog. In these 17 chapters, we find Isaiah prophesying against all of the nations surrounding Israel. God is declaring universal judgment on the nations, including Israel and Judah, in order to show everybody that He is supreme over all things, even the superpowers of the day that everyone was afraid of. In the opening oracle, Isaiah prophesies that Babylon will be destroyed. How bad will it be? The once great city will be full of owls, the ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will dance there (v. 21). Yes, it will be that bad! The ostriches will dwell there!
Isaiah goes on to say that Israel should remember that the same thing that happens to Baylon will happen to them unless they change their ways and put their trust in God. But Israel continues to put their trust in the nations. What Isaiah prophesied of course happens to Israel and then to Judah. After being conquered and exiled, they become the land where ostriches dwell.
But there is hope! A servant will rise from the house of David! The chosen one on whom the Spirit of God rests will bring salvation to the remnant of the nations (42:1-4). The servant will bring life to the people, he will open blind eyes, and set prisoners free (42:5-7)! Does this sound like anyone you know?
Then, through this servant, Israel will be redeemed. In the goodness of God he will take the ostrich-dwelling-place and bring rivers of life-giving water! In the day of salvation the beasts of the field will glorify God, even the jackals and ostriches (43:20). What a beautiful picture!
You may be going through a tough time right now. You might feel like you are dwelling with the ostriches. But God is full of mercy and grace. He has sent His servant, Jesus Christ, to restore you, to bring you into a family – a community of people who put their trust in the Lord. When we trust in God, He will turn our wilderness, our ostrich-dwelling-place, into a place of victory and praise.