Israel was meant to be a light to the nations.
In science they describe one of the characteristic of light as something that initiates growth and sustains the life of plants in the process called photosynthesis. From the beginning of germination, light plays a crucial role to commence and give new life to the new plant, to make it grow and sustain it.
Israel, as the light to other nations, was to initiate life, growth and sustain it. This is the situation the Prophet Isaiah was envisioning about the Israel who were the chosen mountain to be light to the other mountains that surrounded it. A mountain chosen by God to be the bearer of light. Their life came from God and they grew and were sustained by it.
The Prophet Isaiah explained it in two ways: they were to grow internally and then to grow externally. The internal part was that God would first establish Israel as God's Temple to be a spiritual institution which was rooted in the Word of God and his ways. We see the same characteristic in the Early Church as represented in the book of Acts of Apostles whereby it was established by initial internal (or local) growth and then went out to grow externally as it reached the Gentiles.
The Prophet Isaiah went on to remind Israel that all the far-away nations would flow to to them and many people would come. He foresaw the physical growth of the God's chosen people expanding in an extraordinary way as it reached those who were not Israelite. He dreamed that they would be a powerful attracting force bringing many to God.
Another way to describe these two movements are the concepts of centripetal and centrifugal movement. Centripetal is the movement towards the centre, that is our internal growth, where we grow towards God and in his grace. Centrifugal being the movement away from the centre, where the external movement happens in a way that our light attracts those outside in the world to come to God and the Church makes use of the light in them to reach out the world.
Like John the Baptist, we the church are to bear witness to Christ Jesus by burning and shining like a lamp as we show light so that the world can be witnessed to. It is the light that we shine that gives life of Christ Jesus to the world. It grows and sustains it, just like the sun to the plants in the process of photosynthesis.
| In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD." (Isaiah2:2-5) |
Rev Sam Ruzivo is married to Charity. Blessed with two kids Makanakaishe and Kudakwashe. Serving at Sakubva Presbyterian Church, Mutare within Presbytery of Zimbabwe. Enjoys doing mechanics and rebuilding cars.
