Thayer Thursdays – “Is it too small a thing…?”
As I read through scripture, I’m often struck by how big God’s plans are.
While reading and studying Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:14-16, I saw one such plan.
14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Jesus alludes to Isaiah 42:6 and 49:6 in this passage. In those verses, Isaiah shares God’s plan to bring salvation to everybody.
Isaiah 49:6 is particularly beautiful:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”
I love the wording of that: “It is too small a thing” to restore Israel.
It’s striking because restoring Israel was not a small thing at all!
She had been ransacked by Assyria and Babylon and scattered throughout the nations. She was caught in the mire of her own sin and rejection of God. To restore Israel was nothing short of a miraculous act.
For God, however, this would be too small.
Instead, He wanted to deliver all of humanity, to bring salvation to all!
As Jesus is teaching during His sermon on the mount, He reminds His disciples of their task. They were not to be inward focused, but were to bring the light of God’s salvation to the entire world.
Even more exciting is that as we read through the New Testament, particularly the Gospels, we see that Jesus becomes the embodiment of Israel. We see that Jesus takes this mantle upon His own shoulders and as God’s servant brings salvation to Israel and ultimately to all of humanity.
Chris Thayer
Sermon: “Curb Appeal” – http://www.gsumc.org/Media_Resources.ihtml?id=686621
Categories: Biblical Theology, Blog, Hebrew Bible, Ministry, New Testament