Who will God give as a light to the Gentiles in Isaiah 49:6?
In Isaiah 49:6, God says He will give His servant—understood here as the nation or tribes of Israel—as a light to the Gentiles. The purpose was to raise up Jacob's tribes, restore preserved Israel, and bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
Les explains that Isaiah 49:6 is especially clear: God tells His servant it is a light thing to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel, but He will also give thee as a light to the Gentiles. Les sees this as speaking to the nation, the tribes of Israel. The whole idea of Israel's priesthood was to be a go-between to bring salvation to pagan Gentiles, so that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth. Earlier in Isaiah 42:1, the servant, that is the Messiah, is said to bring forth judgment or rule to the Gentile.
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.
What was God's purpose for Israel regarding the Gentiles in Isaiah 49:6?
God's purpose was for Israel to be His servant, not only to raise up the tribes of Jacob and restore the preserved of Israel, but also to be a light to the Gentiles, so that His salvation would reach to the end of the earth.
Who was supposed to be the light of the world according to the Old Testament promises?
According to the Old Testament promises, Israel—the Jew—was supposed to be the light of the world. But Israel rejected that opportunity. By application, believers today are the light of the world, since the same illustration Jesus gave to the twelve is applied to them.