Chapter 31—Hope for the Heathen
Throughout his ministry Isaiah bore a plain testimony concerning
God’s purpose for the heathen. Other prophets had made mention of
the divine plan, but their language was not always understood. To
Isaiah it was given to make very plain to Judah the truth that among the
Israel of God were to be numbered many who were not descendants
of Abraham after the flesh. This teaching was not in harmony with the
theology of his age, yet he fearlessly proclaimed the messages given
him of God and brought hope to many a longing heart reaching out
after the spiritual blessings promised to the seed of Abraham.
The apostle to the Gentiles, in his letter to the believers in Rome,
calls attention to this characteristic of Isaiah’s teaching. “Isaiah is very
bold,” Paul declares, “and saith, I was found of them that sought Me
not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after Me.”
Romans
10:20
.
Often the Israelites seemed unable or unwilling to understand
God’s purpose for the heathen. Yet it was this very purpose that
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had made them a separate people and had established them as an
independent nation among the nations of the earth. Abraham, their
father, to whom the covenant promise was first given, had been called
to go forth from his kindred, to the regions beyond, that he might be a
light bearer to the heathen. Although the promise to him included a
posterity as numerous as the sand by the sea, yet it was for no selfish
purpose that he was to become the founder of a great nation in the
land of Canaan. God’s covenant with him embraced all the nations of
earth. “I will bless thee,” Jehovah declared, “and make thy name great;
and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that bless thee, and
curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth
be blessed.”
Genesis 12:2, 3
.
In the renewal of the covenant shortly before the birth of Isaac,
God’s purpose for mankind was again made plain. “All the nations
of the earth shall be blessed in him,” was the assurance of the Lord
concerning the child of promise.
Genesis 18:18
. And later the heavenly
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