“Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.” Isaiah 49:1
August 17, 2022
Polls often dominate the news. From time to time some of these polls attempt to show how “religion” plays less and less of a role in public life. Young people are singled out as said to be increasingly disinterested in what is called organized Christianity. You get the impression that the wish is the father of the thought. The prophet Isaiah offers a contrary view of what is the success of God’s plan and what is in store for the nations of the world. God’s Servant, referred to as Israel in 49:4, will accomplish what Israel failed to do. The whole world will listen to the Servant, God’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. One day He will defeat the darkness, restore the nation of Israel, and save many among the nations. The cause of God seems almost a failure, so constricted as it is. However, the picture comes more into focus in the Servant songs. The Servant of God will be born of a woman. He will be unexcelled in His ability to teach the Word of God (49:2). He will be prepared for His work and protected in His work, manifest the glory of God, struggle with apparent failure (49:4), will restore Israel and bring light to the Gentiles (49:5-6). There is so much to say in a minute or two of reading. Take this away. Israel’s real problem was not captivity in Babylon. It was estrangement from God. Who would solve that problem? Jesus Christ will have the last word in human history. Is He having the final word in our outlook on life? Dear reader, listen to Him now or on the day of judgment. Jesus knew the cross would not be the end. The cross comes before the crown. No poll can touch that reality. H
Ponder this thought: “The glorious success of the discouraged Son of God.” Don’t measure your success by the response to the gospel but instead by what we know about Jesus Christ.