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.
The Messianic Servant
This passage is a portion of the second of four Servant Songs in Isaiah 40-55. Biblical scholars have singled out these songs as celebrating the sacrificial life of the righteous servant of God who brings about redemption, not only for Israel but for the nations. They are Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:1-6, 50:4-9, and 52:13-53:12. The Servant is named “Israel” (49:3), but he is not limited to the nation of Israel. This passage is a Messianic reference to God’s Servant, who will represent the nation in fulfilling God’s global salvation plan.
In its original context, Isaiah is challenging the sinful stubbornness of God’s people (see chapter 48) while also providing comfort through His promised work of restoration for Israel and the extension of salvation to the “ends of the earth.” The passage clearly presents the Messianic Servant as one who will “gather Israel to himself.” Jesus alludes to this mission in Matthew 15:24-28 when he responds to the Canaanite woman who is begging for help for her demon-oppressed daughter. “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel,” Jesus tells her. However, the foreign woman senses His compassion and persists in her appeal. Jesus applauds her persistent faith in Him and heals her daughter in that very moment, and in the process, teaches His disciples a critical “light for the Gentiles” lesson.
Isaiah’s Greater Vision
Isaiah correctly sees that restoring Israel is not the sum total of God’s eternal plan. “It is too small a thing,” literally “too light a thing” to only restore Israel; Isaiah writes, “I will also make you a light for the Gentiles.” Paul and Barnabas, while preaching in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia, cite Isaiah’s prophetic passage.
Then Paul and Barnabas answered them boldly: “We had to speak the word of God to you first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
“‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles (Gr: ethnos: nations), that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed. The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. Acts 13:46-49 (NIV)
God’s missionary purposes have always included the nations, the world’s diverse ethnic groups. Isaiah understood this, as did Paul and Barnabas. How should we then understand this passage in our context?
Not an Either-Or Choice
Renewing and building up a local congregation in the Word of God and the abiding presence of Christ is always a worthy goal for any church leader. According to Isaiah, casting a vision for God’s global “ends of the earth” purpose is equally critical. Casting a biblical vision strongly encourages engagement. Such goals are not an either-or choice, as if we could rightly focus on one and let the other languish. Both are central to God’s eternal plan for His church.
ANM exists to help connect these equally important goals for local churches.
