Yes — Israel's role was to be God's light to the Gentiles and to carry His salvation to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6 explicitly says God would give Israel as a light to the Gentiles, that Israel might be His salvation to the end of the earth. Isaiah 60:1-3 describes the Gentiles coming to Israel's light. Les Feldick teaches that this was God's intended purpose for Israel, but Israel rejected the offer of the kingdom in unbelief, and God set them aside and turned to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:6 — This verse directly states that Israel was given as a light to the Gentiles and was to be God's salvation to the ends of the earth.
In Isaiah 42:1, God presents His servant, the Messiah, saying, “He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.” Then in Isaiah 49:6 God declares, “I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” The servant addressed in this chapter is the one who restores the preserved of Israel; the promise is that His salvation will extend beyond Israel to the Gentile world. Isaiah 60:1-3 describes the result of this plan: when the LORD arises upon Israel and His glory is seen on her, “the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” From the beginning, God's promise to Abraham included the nations: “in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3).
Les Feldick teaches that the “thee” in Isaiah 49:6 is Israel. God's mind was set on Israel taking His light to the Gentiles, so that Israel would be God's salvation to the end of the earth. He emphasizes the word “also” in verse 6: Israel was to be there, and along with Israel, God would give Israel as a light to the Gentiles. Les says that even though God was dealing with Jew only from the call of Abraham until well into the New Testament, with exceptions, God had not lost sight of the Gentile world; the whole program was laid out so that Israel could have evangelized the Gentiles and brought them to a knowledge of Jehovah. Les also teaches that Israel rejected this calling. The nation was offered the king and kingdom in Jesus' earthly ministry and again in Peter's Acts preaching, and rejected it in unbelief. Israel had 2,000 years of being told they were special and could not get it out of their heads that anyone else was worth anything. In God's sovereignty, He set Israel aside and put the Gentile world into the place Israel had enjoyed, although most Israelites were not true believers.
God promised in Isaiah 49:6 to make Israel a light to the Gentiles, so that Israel would be His salvation to the end of the earth. Les Feldick emphasizes that the pronoun “thee” is Israel. Israel was not just to be restored for its own sake; it was to take God's light to the Gentiles. If Israel had become a prepared, spiritual, obedient people, God would have sent them into the Gentile world to bring the nations to a knowledge of their God.
Les teaches that Israel rejected the kingdom offer in unbelief — first during Jesus' earthly ministry and again when Peter preached to “Ye men of Israel” after the crucifixion. He notes that most Israelites were not true believers, even though they had the Word of God and every advantage. Israel had 2,000 years of having it pounded into them that they were special, and they could not get it out of their heads that anyone else was worth anything.
Les says God could not work with Israel and the rest of the world at the same time, so He had to set Israel aside, broke them off from the root of Abraham, and put the Gentile world into the place Israel had enjoyed. In the Old Testament covenants, the day was coming when God would turn to the Gentile world. The Gentiles now receive by grace the place that Israel enjoyed in the Old Testament, though that does not mean all Israelites were believers.
Israel's Rejection of the King and Kingdom
Les shows that Israel was repeatedly offered the kingdom — first in Jesus' earthly ministry and again in Acts — but rejected it in unbelief, which is why the nation did not fulfill its intended Gentile-reaching role.
Israel as a Light to the Gentiles
Les explains from Isaiah 42:1 and 49:6 that the Messiah would bring judgment/rule to the Gentiles and that Israel was to be God's salvation to the end of the earth.
Israel's Role in Isaiah 49
Les emphasizes that the 'thee' in Isaiah 49:6 is Israel, and Israel was to be God's salvation to the end of the earth.
The 'Also' in Isaiah 49:6
Les highlights the word 'also' to show Israel's role was not just restoration but also being a light to Gentiles — the whole program included Israel evangelizing the Gentile world.
Gentiles Grafted into Israel's Place
Les explains that God's Abrahamic promise included blessing the whole world, so God set Israel aside and put the Gentiles into the place Israel enjoyed.
Salt and Light Addressed to Israel
Les says Jesus' salt-and-light teaching was originally addressed to Israel, and the coming of the nations to Israel's light is described in Isaiah 60:1-3.
Israel's Completion Leading to the Gentiles
Les teaches that the Old Testament covenants pointed to a day when, after Israel completed the promises, God would turn to the Gentile world.
Israel's Failure to Take the Light
Les says Israel was to be prepared and obedient so God could send them into the Gentile world, but after 2,000 years of seeing themselves as special, they would not see anyone else as worth anything.
Isaiah 49:6: 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.
This is the key verse showing Israel as a light to the Gentiles and God's salvation to the ends of the earth.
Isaiah 42:1: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
The Messiah would bring judgment/rule to the Gentiles — the foundation of God's Gentile purpose.
Isaiah 60:1-3: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Describes the visible result of Israel's role: the nations come to Israel's light.
Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
God's promise to Abraham included blessing for all families of the earth.
Yes. Isaiah 49:6 says God would give Israel as a light to the Gentiles so that Israel might be His salvation to the end of the earth. Les Feldick says God's mind was set on Israel taking His light to the Gentile world.
Les teaches that Israel rejected the offered king and kingdom in unbelief, both in Jesus' earthly ministry and again when Peter preached in Acts. Israel had 2,000 years of being told they were special and would not recognize the value of other peoples. God then set Israel aside and put the Gentiles in their place.
Isaiah 49:6 is the key verse: 'I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.' Isaiah 60:3 also says 'the Gentiles shall come to thy light.'
Watch the Teaching: Why Peter Preached to "Ye Men of Israel" (Acts 2 & 3 Explained)