Isaiah’s Vision in a Pre-Post-COVID World
The book of Isaiah is a rich feast of truth for those who study it. Part of Isaiah’s vision for the coming salvation of the Lord through his promised Messiah was that people from every nation would participate in this incredible salvation. We see this global vision first in chapter 2 and then later in multiple passages
Isaiah’s Vision = God’s Vision
- “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountain and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it” (2:2).
- “Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth” (12:5).
- “’I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations’” (42:6).
- “He says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (49:6).
- “So shall he sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths because of him, for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand” (52:15).
- “The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give” (62:2).
- “For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory” (66:18).
A Global Vision: Start Small
Isn’t it a wonderful thing that our God is not a provincial God? He is not partial to one ethnic group nor does he limit his blessings to people of one tribe or language. Otherwise, you and I might never have heard the gospel!
But here’s the question for us as we emerge from our COVID cocoon: how can we enlarge our hearts to include love for people of all nations, to have God’s heart for the whole world? The key is to start small.
Tip: Pick One Area
With over two hundred countries and seventeen thousand people groups in the world, there’s no way that you would be able to know about all of them. The truth is that we can only know (and care) about a few things. But we can care for a few. So, pick one country or people group and adopt it as “yours.” Pray that God would grow a heart in you for those folks.
A great place to start is with your church’s missions focus. At College Park Church, we have a webpage that gives information and prayer requests for specific missionaries that we support. Using that, and the College Park Missionary Prayer Guide, I’m able to regularly pray for missionaries and people groups, even as I focus on one particular group or mission focus.
Tip: Go!
If you go to a Bible-believing, gospel-preaching church, I encourage you to consider going on a mission trip. It is a wonderful opportunity to catch the vision for what global partners are doing around the world.
Lifting Up Your Eyes
Will you follow Jesus with me in his encouragement to “lift up your eyes” and see the harvest (John 4:35)? It will not only help you become more like him in is love for the whole world—it just might be the cure you need for your own COVID-ravaged soul!
