"And now the Lord says—he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength—he says: “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
These next few chapters, 49-52, provides perhaps the clearest picture in the entire Bible of the ministry of Jesus.
Jesus, himself, said "before I was born the Lord called me...but I said I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
Chew on this. These are some of the very first words we ever hear from the mouth of Jesus .
1. God called me
2. I obediently responded...in vain
3. I've accomplished nothing
4. The results and rewards are up to God
An interesting perspective: Clearly, Christ was involved in the life of Israel millennia before His incarnation. It would have been a spiritual involvement but it was Jesus...just like the Holy Spirit who lives in us today is the perfect presence of Christ.
I've never really thought about it that way...and, what does it mean?
It means the ability to know and understand God personally during the time of Babylon is established fact. After all, none of us knows God unless the Holy Spirit reveals Him to us. Granted, this was before Pentecost so the lack of personal indwelling would have been a disadvantage. It does, however, help explain how men like Isaiah, or David, or Moses, or Job could have such a solid conviction of their redeemer.
It's because they knew Him...
It doesn't mean everybody did...not unlike today. Jesus looked around at Israel and said "I've accomplished nothing!" But that was just one point on the time/space continuum. It didn't mean Jesus was a failure. It simply meant the unfolding plan of God had not yet come to fruition. The more I consider this, the more I like it. It means all of the mighty acts of God from Creation to the New Heaven are woven into an integrated destiny. It's been Jesus all along.
And God will reward His Son just as Christ said. The reward did not come without sacrifice. Calvary broke the power of sin forever and redeemed a disobedient nation. But...that was too small. Eventually all of the Gentiles were included as well.
Aren't we blessed!
In some ways, the rest is academic. The work has been done. The goal has been achieved. We are now simply waiting to realize the promise. It will come. You know all those fierce warriors of evil that hold us captive to sin? You know all the peace and joy they have stolen from us? We are promised deliverance. "Captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save...then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
This whole marvelous truth tells me I should quit looking around asking "WHY? and should start looking up asking "WHEN?"
and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
These next few chapters, 49-52, provides perhaps the clearest picture in the entire Bible of the ministry of Jesus.
Jesus, himself, said "before I was born the Lord called me...but I said I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing at all. Yet what is due me is in the Lord’s hand, and my reward is with my God.”
Chew on this. These are some of the very first words we ever hear from the mouth of Jesus .
1. God called me
2. I obediently responded...in vain
3. I've accomplished nothing
4. The results and rewards are up to God
An interesting perspective: Clearly, Christ was involved in the life of Israel millennia before His incarnation. It would have been a spiritual involvement but it was Jesus...just like the Holy Spirit who lives in us today is the perfect presence of Christ.
I've never really thought about it that way...and, what does it mean?
It means the ability to know and understand God personally during the time of Babylon is established fact. After all, none of us knows God unless the Holy Spirit reveals Him to us. Granted, this was before Pentecost so the lack of personal indwelling would have been a disadvantage. It does, however, help explain how men like Isaiah, or David, or Moses, or Job could have such a solid conviction of their redeemer.
It's because they knew Him...
It doesn't mean everybody did...not unlike today. Jesus looked around at Israel and said "I've accomplished nothing!" But that was just one point on the time/space continuum. It didn't mean Jesus was a failure. It simply meant the unfolding plan of God had not yet come to fruition. The more I consider this, the more I like it. It means all of the mighty acts of God from Creation to the New Heaven are woven into an integrated destiny. It's been Jesus all along.
And God will reward His Son just as Christ said. The reward did not come without sacrifice. Calvary broke the power of sin forever and redeemed a disobedient nation. But...that was too small. Eventually all of the Gentiles were included as well.
Aren't we blessed!
In some ways, the rest is academic. The work has been done. The goal has been achieved. We are now simply waiting to realize the promise. It will come. You know all those fierce warriors of evil that hold us captive to sin? You know all the peace and joy they have stolen from us? We are promised deliverance. "Captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save...then all mankind will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
This whole marvelous truth tells me I should quit looking around asking "WHY? and should start looking up asking "WHEN?"
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