Road to Gaza (part 4)
(I hope to conclude this in one more part. It’s a long road… about 140km)
The Ethiopian asks, “Who is this man talking about? Himself or someone else?” It’s with this scripture Philip shares the “Good News” of Jesus. What did Philip say? What story of Jesus came out? As I look at the relationship of Isaiah 53 to what took place in Jesus’ life, I can see there are many similarities to his “sacrifice”. If this scripture does refers to Jesus as the Messiah, then he [Jesus] is the atonement sacrifice for our sins that was promised. God is keeping his covenant with His people to rescue them.
As I explore this story in Isaiah, as a father, I’ve come to look at things a bit different. If any of my children were hurt or lost, believe me, I would never stop looking for them. Some of you reading this have lost your children in the shopping mall or somewhere else and know what I mean. If someone tried to harm my children, I would take any the abuse or pain that I could to save them. Sometimes they do get hurt or sick and I wish I could take it all away or transfer it to myself. If I could, I would. If someone took something that belonged to them and wouldn’t give it back, I might get it back for them or give them something better. That’s how much I love them. This is what I believe to be the “Nature of God” and the “Image of God” that I am “made in.” That God, as a father, would desire all of the above for me… That’s good news.
So I wanted to know what “good news” was in Isaiah for this Ethiopian eunuch and here are some of the things I found in Isaiah 53, 54, 55 that connect well with the message of Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven:
who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows.
He was pierced for our transgressions.
The LORD makes His life a guilt offering.
He poured out His life until death.
For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed.
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my unfailing kindnesses promised to David.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire.
Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.
See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples.
Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.”
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
Truly, many of these words speak of a wonderful Creator [Elohim] who desires relationship. A Father [Abba} who has the best in mind for his children even when they do not understand His ways. But, what’s the deal with the Ethiopian eunuch? How does any of this relate? I would read the story in the book of Acts, then jump over into Isaiah 53 to confirm this testimony, then back to Acts to see the final statements.
Until one day I walked the journey, [read] long enough to travel [the road] into Isaiah chapter 56. I had, many times before, stopped reading this prophecy of Isaiah at chapter 55, but not this time.
Isaiah 56
Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say, “The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.” And let not any eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”
For this is what the LORD says: “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
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