A Light for the Gentiles

Isaiah 49:1-7

Key Verse 49:6

This passage shows us God’s universal purpose in calling each person as his servant. We use the term “universal” to mean that God has all peoples in mind when he calls each of his children.

Read the entire passage. Who does “I” or “me” refer to? What does this passage indicate about the Lord’s concern for [the people living in the remote] islands and distant nations?

** In a narrow sense it refers to the Israelites. But in a broader sense, it refers to all who believe in the LORD.

** God wants to bring salvation to all peoples on earth through his servants.  

Read verses 1-3. When did the Lord call his servant? How did the LORD equip his servant? Why did the LORD call his servant?

** God calls each person prior to the LORD allowing him or her to be born. 

** The LORD equips his servant by: a) making his servant into an instrument of his word; and b) preserving his servant from elements that make him ineffective. 

** The LORD calls his servant to display God’s splendor.

Read verses 4-7. Compare: a) what the servant said about his service (4a) and his reward (4b); with b) what the Lord says about his service and his reward (5-7).

** What the servant says: 

1) About his service: 

The servant said that his service [thus far] was to no purpose, or in vain [for he bore no fruit at all]. The passage indicates that his servant might have thought that his service was limited to the Israelites. 

2) About his reward

Most likely he thought about the [meagerness of the] fruit he bore, which caused him to despair.  Had many repented fully, turning to the LORD with great enthusiasm, per the messages he had proclaimed, the servant would have been elated, and so would not have said, “Where is my reward?” But the reality was different. Since no one accepted his message, he tried to comfort and sooth himself saying, “Look, the number [of followers] is not important; after all my reward is not the number of repentant people but with the LORD. 

** What the LORD says:

About his service

The scope of service is not national (limited to the nation Israel) but universal (encompassing all peoples living in all islands and distant nations. 

About his reward

It is suggested that the service will bear lots of fruit (in terms of the number of souls returning to the LORD); even many kings and queens will be made disciples, and thereby bring honor and glory to the servant of God.

Read verse 6b again and think about the statements reading: a) I will also make you a light for the Gentiles; and b) that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. How are the two statements related?

** The former represents the means to fulfill the end described in the latter. That is, God first makes his servant to be a light to the Gentiles, so that his servant would bring salvation to the ends of the earth.

The end