1. Isaiah 44:28-45:7. Who is Cyrus?

Here is one of those places where a chapter should not have been divided! Cyrus is none other than the coming King of Persia, who will defeat the Babylonians and rule the world. At this writing, Cyrus had not been born. He conquered Babylon in 539 b.c., nearly 200 years after these prophetic words of God’s man!

2. Isaiah 45:23. Every knee shall bow. Every tongue confess… what? To Whom?

Says Jehovah here. But Paul says that one is Jesus. Solution? Jehovah and Jesus are one!

3. Isaiah 42, 49, 50, 52, 53. Who is the “Servant” referred to so often by Isaiah?

We look for clues in each chapter, and the conclusion is so obvious. Isaiah sees Jesus. Consider:

• Isaiah 42. God’s Spirit is on Him. He brings justice to the nations. He is gentle.
• Isaiah 49. Called from the womb. Called to bring Jacob back to God. A light to the nations. A despised one.
• Isaiah 50. Gives His back to those who beat Him. Humiliated, spit upon.
• Isaiah 52. Appearance marred more than any man. Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him.
• Isaiah 53. Will justify many. Will bear iniquities of many. Poured Himself out to death. Numbered with transgressors. Interceded for transgressors.

4. Isaiah 49:3. If the Servant is Jesus, why is he called “Israel” here?

This one has puzzled a lot of folks for a long time. Careless readers will ignore all the clues I gave above and just conclude He is talking of Israel when He says “servant”. But the clues don’t fit for Israel. Israel did not die for sins. Israel was not beaten. Israel does not bring justice to the nations. Rather than force all the clues, we look carefully at this one verse.

No, it is not a manuscript error. All the major mss. say the same thing.

Some want it to be Isaiah himself, the author. Doesn’t work. Why would Isaiah be called Israel any more than Messiah would?

As always, obvious and literal is always best. Go back to Jacob. Jacob was told by God that he would now be known as Israel, prince of God. If God can call Jacob the prince of God, how much more can He refer to His own son, who is the real “Prince of God” in this way!

Jesus is the fullness of the plan and work and people of God. He is the true Isra-El, whether this word is thought of as a man or a people or an idea. The Prince of God in the Heavens is the Servant of God and Man on Earth.

5. Isaiah 53:2-12. Why is this famous prophecy of the work of Jesus for our sins, spoken in the past tense by the prophet?