Bible Studies for Life Sunday School Commentary - Week of December 7, 2008
GodÂ’s Missionary Heart Isaiah 49, 56, 66
In the Old Testament, we can trace GodÂ’s heart for reaching people in all the worldÂ’s nations. GodÂ’s desire to evangelize the world is especially noticed in the writings of the prophets. In IsaiahÂ’s prophecy, the Lord promised to send His servant (a nameless person or entity that could be Isaiah, Israel, or even Jesus Christ) to be a light to all the nations.
As of 2007, the world population stood at around 6.6 billion people. According to the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, only 1,189 out of 11,573 people groups are presently engaged directly or indirectly by IMB personnel. Nearly 1.6 billion people live in the “last frontier” of missions, in people groups where the majority of people have little or no access to the gospel. And the full Scripture has been translated into less than a thousand of the earth’s 6,912 languages. (These statistics are found on page 10 of the BSFL Life Truths Learner Guide and are taken from Empowering Kingdom Growth, by Jerry Rankin, published by Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2006).
In Isaiah 49:1-6 the nameless servant called out to the residents of the coastlands, people who lived outside the nation of Israel. The servant wanted the Gentile people to listen to what God had to say. God shows that He has room in His heart for everyone, everywhere, not just the people of Israel. This message affirms GodÂ’s willingness to receive all people who come to Him, regardless of their race, language, or origin. God does not reject anyone who comes to Him by faith.
The servantÂ’s role here is today fulfilled by the church. God has commissioned the church to be His servant to share the light of the gospel with everyone on the earth. God has called us to take His light everywhere. The nations around the world dominated by spiritual darkness need the light of His gospel. (The Sunday morning message from November 30 is a great tool for sharing the simple gospel with friends and strangers. Point them to our web site or give them a copy of the audio CD, and discuss it with them at a later time!)
In chapter 56 Isaiah prophesied of events that would happen during the period following the return of Israeli exiles from Babylon and the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. GodÂ’s message to His people in Isaiah 56:3-8 impacted the Israelites as they resumed temple worship. The Lord expected His temple to be open to everyone.
The Israelites of IsaiahÂ’s time were on the threshold of a new age when God desired to gather outsiders into His Kingdom on a scale they never imagined. The Lord mentioned two particular groups in this passage that were to be granted access to His temple: foreigners and eunuchs. According to the Mosaic Law both were excluded from the assembly of Israel; they were disdained because of their standing and status as relating to GodÂ’s chosen, the Israelites. But with ChristÂ’s coming, the gathering of outcasts into GodÂ’s Kingdom began in earnest. Perhaps the most wonderful example that bears relating in this lesson is the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40. He was reading the scroll of Isaiah when the evangelist Philip approached him. How he must have rejoiced over Isaiah 56! Even he would be included! And so he was!
God has good news for all who consider themselves excluded: He takes all comers! God values even the excluded, as shown by the eternal reward promised to foreigners and eunuchs in Isaiah 56. His house was to be a house of prayer for all nations (see where this thought is reiterated by Jesus in Mark 11:17).
According to the passages considered so far, people in every country have a place in GodÂ’s heart. That is why God works to extend His light to them all (Isaiah 49:1-6) and to include the excluded in His passion to share the gift of salvation with everyone (Isaiah 56:3-8). Now In Isaiah 66:18-20, 23 God shows how He will accomplish His eternal purpose. In this vision of Isaiah God will gather His people from every nation. The people sent out to proclaim GodÂ’s glory returned to Him. They brought with them those who had responded positively to their proclamation of GodÂ’s glory. These saved souls were presented as an offering of worship at GodÂ’s altar.
In this weekÂ’s lesson two missionary families are featured. Visit their ministries at www.zermateam.org and www.GoWestAfrica.org and let them know of your prayers for them. They are part of the fulfillment of the vision in Isaiah 66. But we do not have to go to Africa or another foreign country to reflect GodÂ’s missionary heart. Share the gospel of His glory with your friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances, and even strangers.
All mankind will come and bow before the King of Kings to worship Him and reflect His glory! What an astounding sight that will be! “After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Revelation 7:9-10 (HCSB)