Isaiah 6:8-9. Why is this verse not the best reference for world missions?
The most famous world missions text ever is not about world missions, except for the obedient heart of God’s servant, Isaiah, willing to do anything the Lord asks. No, this passage is more of a home missions verse. Or perhaps even better, a revive-the-church passage. Isaiah is to go to his own people, and essentially pronounce a curse upon them for the hardness of their hearts. Jesus and Paul used the same ideas.
Interesting to note here is the use of the Divine plurality, “Us.” As in Genesis, God refers to His nature as a multiple Personage. Such a mystery to us, partially revealed through the coming of a Man Who was called Immanu-El, God with us.
Isaiah 6:10. What results were expected? Please explain.
No results, as we look at things. No one will be “saved” by Isaiah’s preaching. No glowing “mission report” for the supporters back home. No breakthroughs. It is over. Judgment is coming. Keep preaching until the judgment comes and is finished. Though God allows for some to be spared eventually, when His wrath is poured out, it is poured out. When men wait too long, the payment is severe.
Isaiah 7:8-9. Why tell him this?
Barnes has it this way: Ahaz, (king of the southern Kingdom, Judah), it may look like Rezin of Damascus, Syria,along with confederate Ephraim, is about to enlarge his kingdom via taking over Israel. Thus the capital of Syria might become Jerusalem. But no, Damascus will remain capital of Syria, Samaria of “Ephraim” (northern Kingdom, Israel), and Jerusalem of Judah. Just believe this and you will prosper.
Isaiah 7:20. What is this reference to shaving all about?
Ahaz has hired the Assyrians to help him against his immediate neighbors. One day God will use that very Empire, now growing, to subjugate all Israel and threaten Judah. Though there may be some literal understanding of this text, the general idea is that God is going to humiliate His people to a great extent.
5. Isaiah 10:21. A remnant of Israel will return. Has this happened yet?
Looking at history, it is tempting to look at the return of the Jews to the Promised land after the edicts of the Persian Emperors, and say, See, a remnant returned! Isaiah was right. Or we can look at the Jews who have returned to their land and created the state of Israel in 1948. They are back in their land! The Chosen People have returned. But Paul’s dealing with Isaiah’s “remnant” is different from that. Paul does not speak of mere bodies coming back to mere territory. He speaks of salvation. He brings out in Romans 9 and 11 the fact that “to this day” there is a remnant! He calls it a remnant of God’s grace. God has chosen not only Jews, but Gentiles too to come into a very special time and place at the end of all things. These are a saved and holy people, not born after the fleshly Israel, but circumcised in heart. Revelation names 144,000 of the Jewish race who will be anointed by the Spirit of God, and an innumerable company of Gentiles will join them. No, this has not all happened yet, but it is in the works now. When the time is right, the remnant will return, not only to their land, but to their God!
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