Around sixty years ago, my parents sailed (literally) from the US to the ends of the earth—the island nation of Papua New Guinea. With five children ages six and under (I came along later as number six), they made their home in a small remote village, learned a foreign and unwritten language, created an alphabet, analyzed the grammar, and translated the New Testament. They did this because they understood that God offers salvation to everyone and they wanted to give God’s Word to some who might otherwise never hear.

Likewise, my husband and I answered the same call thirty years after my parents did, moving to Indonesia to share this good news. We understood that God planned from the very beginning to save all peoples, not just the Israelites.

God’s original plan to save the nations figures prominently in the book of Isaiah.

Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.

Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm.

The LORD will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 45:22; 51:4–5; 52:10

Remember Israel’s history. God chose Abraham out of all the peoples of the earth and then grew his descendants into the nation of Israel. They were chosen and fashioned to represent God to all nations so they would know God, believe, and enjoy eternal peace.

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.

Genesis 22:17–18 (also Gen 12:2; 18:18–19)

God reiterates, through the prophet Isaiah, his plan to use Israel to represent him to the nations.

• In that day Israel will be the third, along with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing on the earth. (Is 19:24)
• They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they acclaim the LORD’s majesty. Therefore in the east give glory to the LORD; exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, in the islands of the sea. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” (Is 24:14–16)
• And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. The Sovereign LORD declares—he who gathers the exiles of Israel: “I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered.” (Is 56:6–8)
• Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Is 60:3)
• “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations … and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord,” says the Lord. (Is 66:19–20)

But Israel failed to live up to their calling so God sent another Servant, the Messiah, to save the nations.

• I, the LORD, have called you [my Servant] 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. (Is 42:6)
• In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. (Is 11:10)
• He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope. (Is 42:4)
• 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 my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Is 49:6)
• And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory. (66:18)

The Gospel of Luke further explains that the way Israel would bless the world would be through the descendant of their king David, the Messiah—Jesus:

• When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” (Lk 2:27–32)

The Apostle Paul then confirms that the message of salvation is for all people:

• We had to speak the word of God to you [Jews] first. Since you reject it and do not consider yourselves worthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 13:46–47)
• For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As … Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” (Rom 15:8–9, 12)

Jesus himself said, “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (Jn 10:16).

Jesus is that Light for all peoples. He is their Salvation and Shepherd. He is the Hope of all nations. And he invites us to take his wildly beautiful story to the ends of the earth.

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18–20

I don’t live in Indonesia anymore. My involvement in this Great Commission looks different than it did thirty years ago. Now I serve those who go. I disciple the disciplers, I care for the goers. The world’s landscape has changed since I went overseas. The nations are now coming to us. Time has given perspective to evaluate what did not go well in the past. The methods may change with the season, but the commission remains the same.

Have you received the Light? What part do you play in taking this Light to the nations?

PRAYER

Lord, my Light, thank you for saving me, a Gentile. Thank you for the variety of ways we all participate in taking the light to the nations. Help me to represent you well to all peoples wherever you send me.

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All scripture is from the New International Version unless otherwise noted with emphasis added.

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