Isaiah 42:6-7 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
Today’s verse is referring to The Servant, who is often and mostly used as prophecy for the coming Savior – or Jesus. It describes the covenant for the people, for Israel, and was used for years as the One who would be coming to set them free of the bondage they were in, free from the suppression, the oppression, the struggles they faced as a nation.
But something jumped out at me as I was reading it and preparing for today’s devotion. For the first time I saw the phrase, “and a light for the Gentiles.” And it hit me that Jesus, who we know is that Light, was sent not just for the people, for the Israelites, but also for the Gentiles – the rest of the world. You and me. He was sent to open eyes that are blind, to free captives, to release us from the dungeons of darkness and depravity. Jesus was sent for everyone, not just the people. He would be the light to the world, to any who believed in Him and the freedom we all so desperately needed.
Even in prophecy, God pointed the way for the world, not just His chosen people. He prepared the solution for our bondage in sin. He knew we needed saving and The Servant would be the One to do that for EVERYONE. He would establish a new covenant with God’s people, one that opened the doors for salvation for not just the Israelites but also for the world.
Jesus came as the Light of the world, the Light for everyone, Jew and Gentile alike. In Him we find our identity. In Him we experience His redeeming love and favor, we experience the forgiveness of sin. We are freed from the spiritual darkness that doomed us to hell and our eyes are opened to His goodness and grace. Sinners are reconciled to God through Him, not by their own works, but by His amazing grace of God’s Word brought to the people.
How amazing is our God? How amazing is it that even in prophecy He provides the freedom we all need. He points the way to the One who would give His life and save us all. Today let’s step out in faith, talk to those people who need to hear the gospel, and spread that Light to others who need freeing. Today let’s extend the Light to those in need and break chains for those lost in bondage.
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