We don't think of Isaiah as an evangelistic book. We perceive evangelism as a New Testament concept rather than an Old Testament one.
Yet we find many admonitions in the OT for Israel to be a testimony not just to its own people, but to the nations.
Our ladies' Bible study is going through Isaiah using Tim Chester's book, Isaiah for You, as a springboard. Chester says this about evangelistic encouragement in Isaiah:
They [Israel] were to live under God's rule expressed in the law in such a way that the nations would see that it is good to know God (Deuteronomy 4: 5-8). Isaiah himself uses this kind of language in Isaiah 2: 2-5: "Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord." Why? So that "many peoples will come and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord'". The people of Israel were to attract the nations to God.
The ladies discussed how we can do that in our day, when many people don't seem to want to hear it. There was a time in the USA when people were more open to Christianity. But now, we feel like we'll get a negative reaction if we try to share Christ with others.
A verse that came to mind during that discussion was Psalm 119:130: "The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple" (NKJV).
Even if someone says they don't believe God's Word, it can shine God's light into their hearts.
That light is not always a blinding Damascus Road experience like Paul had. Sometimes people understand fully when they are first presented with the gospel. But I would guess that doesn't happen often.
When I spent the night with my best friend in high school, her mother would often wake us up in the morning by coming in with a cheery voice while throwing open the curtains.
Going from darkness and sleep to bright light was not welcome. It was a shock to the system, though perhaps in some cases it's necessary.
When I wake up these days, I look toward the bathroom, where the nightlight is on, to get my eyes adjusted to a bit of light. Then I turn on my phone to guide me to the bathroom. Then I turn on the bathroom light, usually squinting in the process. Gradually my eyes get adjusted so I can take in the full light of day.
I think sharing God's light often works the same way. We receive a little, get our spiritual eyes adjusted, and then we're able to receive a little more.
When I was in college, a new family came to my church who I became very close to. I called them my adopted spiritual family. The father told us once that when he was younger and not a Christian, he took an acquaintance home from a school function. As she tried to talk to him about the Lord, he answered her gruffly.
When he dropped her off, she probably felt her efforts had failed. But he thought to himself, "What was she talking about, anyway?" That conversation was a catalyst to his finding out more and eventually coming to know the Lord.
Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:19, "We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
As we share God's Word, we can trust that He will use it to open understanding. We may not see any response at first, or we may see a negative one. Not everyone will receive His light. But for those who do, perhaps the light will gradually dawn like a slow sunrise until they see clearly.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
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