Prophets and Kings
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 31: Hope for the Heathen
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It was in order that God's name might be made known "throughout all the earth," that the Israelites were delivered from Egyptian bondage.
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Review and Herald Publ. Assoc. |
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Throughout his ministry Isaiah bore a plain testimony
concerning God's purpose for the heathen. Other prophets had made mention of
the divine plan, but their language was not always understood. To Isaiah it was
given to make very plain to Judah the truth that among the Israel of God were
to be numbered many who were not descendants of Abraham after the flesh. This
teaching was not in harmony with the theology of his age, yet he fearlessly
proclaimed the messages given him of God and brought hope to many a longing
heart reaching out after the spiritual blessings promised to the seed of
Abraham. {PK 367.1}
The apostle to the Gentiles, in his letter to the believers
in Rome, calls attention to this characteristic of Isaiah's teaching.
"Isaiah is very bold," Paul declares, "and saith, I was found of
them that sought Me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after
Me." Romans 10:20. {PK
367.2}
Often the Israelites seemed unable or unwilling to
understand God's purpose for the heathen. Yet it was this very [368]
purpose that had made them a separate people and had established them as an
independent nation among the nations of the earth. Abraham, their father, to
whom the covenant promise was first given, had been called to go forth from his
kindred, to the regions beyond, that he might be a light bearer to the heathen.
Although the promise to him included a posterity as numerous as the sand by the
sea, yet it was for no selfish purpose that he was to become the founder of a
great nation in the land of Canaan. God's covenant with him embraced all the
nations of earth. "I will bless thee," Jehovah declared, "and
make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will bless them that
bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of
the earth be blessed." Genesis 12:2, 3. {PK 367.3}
In the renewal of the covenant shortly before the birth of
Isaac, God's purpose for mankind was again made plain. "All the nations of
the earth shall be blessed in him," was the assurance of the Lord
concerning the child of promise. Genesis 18:18. And later the heavenly visitant
once more declared, "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be
blessed." Genesis 22:18. {PK 368.1}
The all-embracing terms of this covenant were familiar to
Abraham's children and to his children's children. It was in order that the
Israelites might be a blessing to the nations, and that God's name might be
made known "throughout all the earth" (Exodus 9:16), that they were
delivered from Egyptian bondage. If obedient to His requirements, they were to
be placed far in advance of other peoples in wisdom and understanding; but this
supremacy was to [369] be reached and maintained only
in order that through them the purpose of God for "all nations of the
earth" might be fulfilled. {PK 368.2}
The marvelous providences connected with Israel's
deliverance from Egyptian bondage and with their occupancy of the Promised Land
led many of the heathen to recognize the God of Israel as the Supreme Ruler.
"The Egyptians shall know," had been the promise, "that I am the
Lord, when I stretch forth Mine hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of
Israel from among them." Exodus 7:5. Even proud Pharaoh was constrained to
acknowledge Jehovah's power. "Go, serve the Lord," he urged Moses and
Aaron, "and bless me also." Exodus 12:31, 32. {PK 369.1}
The advancing hosts of Israel found that knowledge of the
mighty workings of the God of the Hebrews had gone before them, and that some
among the heathen were learning that He alone was the true God. In wicked
Jericho the testimony of a heathen woman was, "The Lord your God, He is
God in heaven above, and in earth beneath." Joshua 2:11. The knowledge of
Jehovah that had thus come to her, proved her salvation. By faith "Rahab
perished not with them that believed not." Hebrews 11:31. And her
conversion was not an isolated case of God's mercy toward idolaters who
acknowledged His divine authority. In the midst of the land a numerous people—the
Gibeonites—renounced their heathenism and united with Israel, sharing
in the blessings of the covenant. {PK 369.2}
No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is
recognized by God. He is the Maker of all mankind. [370] All
men are of one family by creation, and all are one through redemption. Christ
came to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment of
the temple courts, that every soul may have free access to God. His love is so
broad, so deep, so full, that it penetrates everywhere. It lifts out of Satan's
influence those who have been deluded by his deceptions, and places them within
reach of the throne of God, the throne encircled by the rainbow of promise. In
Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free. {PK 369.3}
In the years that followed the occupation of the Promised
Land, the beneficent designs of Jehovah for the salvation of the heathen were
almost wholly lost sight of, and it became necessary for Him to set forth His
plan anew. "All the ends of the world," the psalmist was inspired to sing,
"shall remember and turn unto the Lord: and all the kindreds of the
nations shall worship before Thee." "Princes shall come out of Egypt;
Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God." "The heathen
shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth Thy
glory." "This shall be written for the generation to come: and the
people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. For He hath looked down
from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; to
hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death;
to declare the name of the Lord in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem; when the
people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord." Psalm
22:27; 68:31; Psalm 102:15, 18-22. [371] {PK 370.1}
Had Israel been true to her trust, all the nations of earth
would have shared in her blessings. But the hearts of those to whom had been
entrusted a knowledge of saving truth, were untouched by the needs of those
around them. As God's purpose was lost sight of, the heathen came to be looked
upon as beyond the pale of His mercy. The light of truth was withheld, and
darkness prevailed. The nations were overspread with a veil of ignorance; the
love of God was little known; error and superstition flourished. {PK 371.1}
Such was the prospect that greeted Isaiah when he was called
to the prophetic mission; yet he was not discouraged, for ringing in his ears
was the triumphal chorus of the angels surrounding the throne of God, "The
whole earth is full of His glory." Isaiah 6:3. And his faith was
strengthened by visions of glorious conquests by the church of God, when
"the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover
the sea." Isaiah 11:9. "The face of the covering cast over all
people, and the veil that is spread over all nations," was finally to be
destroyed. Isaiah 25:7. The Spirit of God was to be poured out upon all flesh.
Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness were to be numbered among the
Israel of God. "They shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the
watercourses," said the prophet. "One shall say, I am the Lord's; and
another shall call himself by the name of Jacob; and another shall subscribe
with his hand unto the Lord, and surname himself by the name of Israel."
Isaiah 44:4, 5. {PK 371.2}
To the prophet was given a revelation of the beneficent
design of God in scattering impenitent Judah among the [372]
nations of earth. "My people shall know My name," the Lord declared;
"they shall know in that day that I am He that doth speak." Isaiah
52:6. And not only were they themselves to learn the lesson of obedience and
trust; in their places of exile they were also to impart to others a knowledge
of the living God. Many from among the sons of the strangers were to learn to
love Him as their Creator and their Redeemer; they were to begin the observance
of His holy Sabbath day as a memorial of His creative power; and when He should
make "bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations," to deliver
His people from captivity, "all the ends of the earth" should see of
the salvation of God. Verse 10. Many of these converts from heathenism would
wish to unite themselves fully with the Israelites and accompany them on the
return journey to Judea. None of these were to say, "The Lord hath utterly
separated me from His people" (Isaiah 56:3), for the word of God through
His prophet to those who should yield themselves to Him and observe His law was
that they should thenceforth be numbered among spiritual Israel—His
church on earth. {PK
371.3}
"The sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the
Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants,
everyone that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of My
covenant; even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in
My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be
accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for
all people. The Lord God which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will
[373]
I gather others to Him, beside those that are gathered unto Him." Verses
6-8. {PK 372.1}
The prophet was permitted to look down the centuries to the
time of the advent of the promised Messiah. At first he beheld only
"trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish." Isaiah 8:22. Many who
were longing for the light of truth were being led astray by false teachers
into the bewildering mazes of philosophy and spiritism; others were placing
their trust in a form of godliness, but were not bringing true holiness into
the life practice. The outlook seemed hopeless; but soon the scene changed, and
before the eyes of the prophet was spread a wondrous vision. He saw the Sun of
Righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and, lost in admiration, he
exclaimed: "The dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at
the first He lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan,
in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great
light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the
light shined." Isaiah 9:1, 2. {PK 373.1}
This glorious Light of the world was to bring salvation to
every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. Of the work before Him, the prophet
heard the eternal Father declare: "It is a light thing that Thou shouldest
be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of
Israel: I will also give Thee for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be
My salvation unto the end of the earth." "In an acceptable time have
I heard Thee, and in a day of [374] salvation have I helped Thee:
and I will preserve Thee, and give Thee for a covenant of the people, to
establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that Thou
mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show
yourselves." "Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from
the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim." Isaiah
49:6, 8, 9, 12. {PK 373.2}
Looking on still farther through the ages, the prophet
beheld the literal fulfillment of these glorious promises. He saw the bearers
of the glad tidings of salvation going to the ends of the earth, to every
kindred and people. He heard the Lord saying of the gospel church,
"Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the
Gentiles like a flowing stream;" and he heard the commission, "Enlarge
the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine
habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou
shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit
the Gentiles." Isaiah 66:12; 54:2, 3. {PK 374.1}
Jehovah declared to the prophet that He would send His
witnesses "unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, . . . to
Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off." Isaiah 66:19.
"How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,
That publisheth peace;
That bringeth good tidings of good,
That publisheth salvation;
That saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"
Isaiah 52:7. [375]
{PK 374.2}
The prophet heard the voice of God calling His church to her
appointed work, that the way might be prepared for the ushering in of His
everlasting kingdom. The message was unmistakably plain:
"Arise, shine; for thy light is come,
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
"For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And gross darkness the people:
But the Lord shall arise upon thee,
And His glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light,
And kings to the brightness of thy rising.
"Lift up thine eyes round about, and see:
All they gather themselves together, they come to thee:
Thy sons shall come from far,
And thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side."
"And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls,
And their kings shall minister unto thee:
For in My wrath I smote thee,
But in My favor have I had mercy on thee.
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually;
They shall not be shut day nor night;
That men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles,
And that their kings may be brought."
"Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:
For I am God, and there is none else."
Isaiah 60:1-4, 10, 11; 45:22. {PK 375.1}
These prophecies of a great spiritual awakening in a time of
gross darkness are today meeting fulfillment in the advancing lines of mission
stations that are reaching out into the benighted regions of earth. The groups
of missionaries in heathen lands have been likened by the prophet to ensigns [376]
set up for the guidance of those who are looking for the light of truth. {PK 375.2}
"In that day," says Isaiah, "there shall be a
root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the
Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious. And it shall come to pass in
that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the
remnant of His people. . . . And He shall set up an ensign for the
nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the
dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." Isaiah 11:10-12. {PK 376.1}
The day of deliverance is at hand. "The eyes of the
Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the
behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him." 2 Chronicles 16:9.
Among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, He sees men and women who are praying
for light and knowledge. Their souls are unsatisfied; long have they fed on
ashes. See Isaiah 44:20. The enemy of all righteousness has turned them aside,
and they grope as blind men. But they are honest in heart and desire to learn a
better way. Although in the depths of heathenism, with no knowledge of the
written law of God nor of His Son Jesus, they have revealed in manifold ways
the working of a divine power on mind and character. {PK 376.2}
At times those who have no knowledge of God aside from that
which they have received under the operations of divine grace have been kind to
His servants, protecting them at the risk of their own lives. The Holy Spirit
is implanting the grace of Christ in the heart of many a noble [377]
seeker after truth, quickening his sympathies contrary to his nature, contrary
to his former education. The "Light, which lighteth every man that cometh
into the world" (John 1:9), is shining in his soul; and this Light, if
heeded, will guide his feet to the kingdom of God. The prophet Micah said:
"When I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.
. . . He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His
righteousness." Micah 7:8, 9. {PK 376.3}
Heaven's plan of salvation is broad enough to embrace the
whole world. God longs to breathe into prostrate humanity the breath of life.
And He will not permit any soul to [378] be disappointed who
is sincere in his longing for something higher and nobler than anything the
world can offer. Constantly He is sending His angels to those who, while
surrounded by circumstances the most discouraging, pray in faith for some power
higher than themselves to take possession of them and bring deliverance and
peace. In various ways God will reveal Himself to them and will place them in
touch with providences that will establish their confidence in the One who has
given Himself a ransom for all, "that they might set their hope in God,
and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments." Psalm 78:7. {PK 377.1}
"Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful
captive delivered?" "Thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the
mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be
delivered." Isaiah 49:24, 25. "They shall be greatly ashamed, that
trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods."
Isaiah 42:17. {PK 378.1}
"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help,
whose hope is in the Lord his God!" Psalm 146:5. "Turn you to the
stronghold, ye prisoners of hope!" Zechariah 9:12. Unto all the honest in
heart in heathen lands—"the upright" in the sight of Heaven—"there
ariseth light in the darkness." Psalm 112:4. God hath spoken: "I will
bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that
they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things
straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." Isaiah
42:16. {PK 378.2}
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"Manasseh and Josiah"
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