Isaiah provides the clearest statement yet the Nation of Israel would be made obsolete by their own choices. He makes clear in the context the Messiah would take up where Israel failed as a nation, and fulfill her calling.
Addressing the Nation as His wayward children, God dares them to charge Him with neglect. God neither sought nor granted a divorce to Israel. It was certainly not the case He owed anything to imaginary creditors in Babylon, that He had to sell Israel into slavery. Israel sold themselves into slavery. Could they have called upon Him one time, He would deliver them. With such power and swiftness they could not imagine, the One who made all things, and could by His briefest Word unmake all things, stands ready to deliver them.
However, His Servant is highly educated, of the kind who seek always to know more. Indeed, it is from God's own mouth He would be educated, able to lift up the fallen by His conversation -- an English word once used in the biblical sense of walking the talk. As the One who truly obeyed the will of the Father, He would gladly suffer condemnation and persecution as the price for walking in Truth. Such maltreatment would simply roll off His back, as it were. What condemnation they offered would have no effect, as He would stand in the shadow of Jehovah, who is the living standard by which all things are judged.
Compare that with the Nation. Who seeks to know God's will? It would be those who would embrace the teaching of the Servant. Everyone else, by definition, would walk in darkness. Jesus did surely call for them to hear His teaching, but they rejected it. Instead, they shot flaming arrows at Him, seeking to destroy Him. Instead, God promised the Nation would be the one set ablaze by their angry rejection.
We know of a certainty this prophecy was fulfilled. As the national leaders rejected their Messiah, it was the end of their role as leaders, and with them they took down the role of the Nation on this earth. It was transferred to Jesus, who built a new Kingdom of Israel rooted in Heaven.
Return to Isaiah Index
[<-- Previous]
[Next -->]
By Ed Hurst
18 June 2009
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: People of honor need no copyright laws; they are only too happy to give credit where credit is due. Others will ignore copyright laws whenever they please. If you are of the latter, please note what Moses said about dishonorable behavior -- "be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23)