How far did God intend His salvation to reach according to Isaiah 49:6?
According to Isaiah 49:6, God intended His salvation to extend to the end of the earth. He declared that giving His servant as a light to the Gentiles was too small a thing; Israel's restoration was not the limit. The servant would be God's salvation reaching beyond Israel to all nations, even the remotest parts of the earth.
Les teaches that God's intention in Isaiah 49:6 was not to restrict salvation to Israel. God says it is a light thing for the servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel; He will also give the servant as a light to the Gentiles, so that He may be His salvation to the end of the earth. Earlier, in Isaiah 42:1, the servant—Christ, the Messiah—is said to bring forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles. So God's mind was set on Israel taking His light to the Gentiles, and His salvation reaching all the way to the end of the earth.
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
More Questions
Who is God speaking to in Isaiah 49:6 when He says 'I will give thee for a light to the Gentiles'?
In Isaiah 49:6 the servant called 'thee' whom God gives as a light to the Gentiles is the nation of Israel, whose task was to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel.
Why is the word 'also' important in Isaiah 49:6?
The word 'also' in Isaiah 49:6 is important because it shows that God's servant would be a light to the Gentiles in addition to restoring Israel.