Yes, Israel has certainly been punished for her sins, her rebellion against God. In fact, Isaiah 40:2 says: “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: FOR SHE HATH RECEIVED OF THE LORD’S HAND DOUBLE FOR ALL HER SINS.”

Wow!

Yes, God has (although temporarily) turned away from His people the Jews. He has “broken off” Israel from His Olive Tree and “grafted” (“graffed”) in us vile, polluted (but repentant, then cleansed) gentiles!

Absolutely, a “separation” demanded by Israel’s sins … “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: BUT your INIQUITIES have SEPARATED between you and your God, and your SINS have HID his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2

Do not misunderstand. God is still saving lost Jews, likely every single day! But redeeming them as “individuals,” without consideration of their “national” status. “Whosoever will may come ….” Revelation 22:17

I am trying to lead up to this morning’s Bible Text!

A Passage where the Jews lament … “Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” Isaiah 49:14, about the same thing Job thought in the middle of his trial by fire! But both Zion (the nation of Israel) and Job were wrong! God had not forgotten/forsaken either!

Whereupon (in our Text) God steps in and asks Zion … “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?” An unlikely event, Isaiah 49:15

(Unless you live in the United States today, not even considering the rest of the world. Where over 1,700 babies in utero are murdered each day! That’s a Mom forgetting the son or daughter of her womb, I’d say! Murdering the unborn, an immoral act.)

But back to the Lord’s Question, to which He supplies an immediate answer: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? YES, THEY MAY FORGET.”

They “may” forget and they “do” forget!

Then God tells Israel, Zion in her desolation … “Yet will I not forget thee.” Still quoting Isaiah 49:15, the very end of the verse.

“I WILL NOT FORGET THEE,” Zion, Israel, the Jewish people!

And just when will God turn back to Israel the Nation? Graft her back into His Olive Tree? (Romans 11:23 … “God is able to graff them in again.”)

I’ll tell you when … at the end of Armageddon and the beginning of the Millennium!

Yes, Isaiah 66:8 suggests so: “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth (give birth) in one day? or shall a NATION be BORN (born again) at once?”

Yes, Yes, Yes!

Then God will immediately tell Israel … “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16, what a promise!

Not just one Palm, though it be Almighty! Plural … “Palms!” Implying “lots of names,” I think!

And that expression “have graven” is a Qal stem “perfect” verb (Hebrew grammar) showing us a one time Event! Once a name is engraved in God’s Hands … that’s it! It’s there permanently!

“Chaqaq” in Hebrew, undoubtedly means “to cut into.” So I have this morning learned a new way I am “in His Hands!” I am indelibly, eternally, once and for all “engraved” there!

Yes, prophetically this Promise belong to Israel. And it is Millennial, hermeneutically speaking.

But I’m personally going to enjoy it too!

If God in the future is doing this for His people Israel … perhaps God has already done this for me (and you.) The very second He saved us!

I’m going to rejoice in that fact, anyway!

We Bagwells were rather poor growing up as children, nothing to be ashamed of I might add. I don’t know of anything we had in our home that was truly engraved!

Except me … when I got saved! (Well, Mom and Dad were already saved before me. Then I guess I am wrong … there were several engravings in the house after all!

Hallelujah!

We believers now .. Israel later, her Believers!

Engraved in His Palms!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Amazing!

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It’s Jesus, let me tell you that up front. The greatest Evangelist the planet has ever seen. (In fact He is both the Message and the Messenger!)

And in today’s Bible Text, Isaiah 49:6 we have God the Father speaking to God the Son, a Trinitarian Dialogue, if you please.

Here they speak, as recorded in our King James Version. “And he said, 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.”

Wow!

The Father says to Jesus, I paraphrase … “I am giving You an assignment. It is both voluntary and necessary!” (That’s possible with God, I’d say) “The assignment is in two phases, Jesus.” (Something about the Jews then something about the Gentiles!) “One aspect of this world-wide aspiration might be considered easier (‘lighter’) that the other. But when blended, it’s an awesome (‘heavy’) job!”

Please don’t be offended at my wording above. I am just trying to convey the verse in more understandable terms. Here’s the sweet King James Version again: “And he said, 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.”

Wow again!

A single Verse explanation of all world history! I mean past, present and future!

Yes, Jesus is God’s Servant!

He successfully fulfilled that Position, while Israel failed in that Role. (Isaiah 49 begins by talking about Israel the Nation being God’s Servant. But it evolves into talking about Jesus God’s Son being that Servant!) Remember Isaiah’s four great “Servant Passages,” each talking about Messiah Jesus? (Sections of Isaiah 42 and 49 and 50, and then all of chapter 53!)

“Light” here means “slight” only in this sense, not as “heavy!” It nearly means “trifling!”

As in: “Jesus, my dear Son, if merely saving Israel is not a ‘heavy enough’ job, ministry … let’s add saving the Gentiles as well!”

Glory to God!

Amazing, thrilling!

Then look at the quartet of verbal acts used here: “to raise up, to restore,” and then “to be light” followed by “to be salvation!”

All these depict old sinners being miraculously “born-again,” to use New Testament parlance.

And when will this happen? When will Servant Jesus be such a ‘Light” to the whole world?

During the MILLENNIUM, of course!

Simeon quoted part of today’s Verse when he first saw Baby Jesus in the Temple long ago: “For mine eyes have seen thy SALVATION, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a LIGHT to LIGHTEN the GENTILES, and the GLORY (something not lightweight, but rather heavy) of thy people ISRAEL.” Luke 2:30-32

Sounds like “God gave Jesus … to be Salvation” to this old sin-cursed world! In fact, Isaiah 49:6 talks a lot like John 3:16 … “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

One last time today, Isaiah 49:6 … “And he said, 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.”

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Isaiah 45:14 today, that single verse.

“Thus saith the LORD, The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee (Israel), and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.”

This happens during the Millennium.

Three belligerent groups are mentioned, the Egyptians and the Ethiopians and the Sabeans, all virulently anti-Jewish at times … will submit themselves to Israel!

That’s certainly not an event of history … not so far!

But in the future … world opinion and international favor will turn from being against the Jewish people … and will begin to admire God’s little chosen Nation!

Yes granted, the verse is clearly couched in economic terms. The “labor force” of Egypt … now that’s a “twist” isn’t it? The Jews once were Egypt’s labor force! Or should I say “forced labor?” Slaves to the Pharaohs for decades upon decades! But things are different now!

And the “merchandise” of the Ethiopians (thought to be living in the “upper Nile” region of Africa … too! (Talk about “foreign aid!”) Brought and laid at Israel’s feet, reminding me of three Gentile Magi in the past!

Jesus earlier taught us … Where your “treasure” is, there will your “heart” be also! Cash flow! These today mostly Muslim Countries in alliance, in submission to Israel! Can you imagine Jews running OPEC? (I am smiling at God’s Sense of Irony!)

But not only business related is this great “turn.” There is “conversion” in another sense too.

Religiously speaking, spiritually oriented … “They shall make supplication unto thee, saying, Surely God is in thee; and there is none else, there is no God.” The last Line of our Text above, Isaiah 45:14.

No other God?

Just Jehoivah Jesus!

Yes, looks like Jesus is still attracting sinners!

Coming world-wide Revival, I call it.

When?

During the future Kingdom Rule of our Lord Jesus Christ here on earth.

Where else can one situate this miracle?

Praise be unto the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

And this is one verse among dozens and dozens indicating the Glory of those coming days!

No wonder Jesus taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come!”

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For a period of time yet in the future the City of Jerusalem will be a “cup of trembling” and a “burdensome stone” to all people, to the nations of the world! She is nearly that now, an object of hatred too, in the year 2020 at least. The two terms in “quotation marks” are direct quotes from Zechariah 12:2-3, by the way.

But yet further into the future … for at least a thousand years of Utopia, Biblically called the Millennium … Jerusalem will become the Capital of the whole world! The center of geography! The “City of the great King!” So says Isaiah 48:2, verbatim … “Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING.”

Listen in our Text today, pay attention to Almighty God as He “testifies” to Israel. Wooing her back to Himself! Isaiah 44:24 … “Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself.” Touching words, not a scintilla of judgment in them either!

God immediately continues, verse 25, describing Himself … “That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish.” Down go all Israel’s “stupid” adversaries! Here is God scattering His (and Israel’s) enemies!

One more consecutive verse must be considered … “That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof.” Isaiah 44:26, God establishing/proving/fulfilling the words (the prophecies) of His servants and His messengers (the Prophets of old, including Isaiah), especially their predictions and promises concerning Jerusalem!

Men who have said to Jerusalem … “Thou shalt be inhabited.” Prosperity as never seen before, in an environment of Peace! But there is more, listen intently … “And to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof.”

Wow, real urban renewal!

Yes, Jerusalem will be the “center” of the universe during the Millennium! A City mentioned 811 times in the Bible! No other place comes close, even “Heaven” to be frank!

Salvation miraculously available … “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.” Zechariah 13:1, as in “There is a Fountain filled with Blood!”

“And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.” Now quoting Zechariah 14:11.

Even the Psalmist agrees … “The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.” Psalm 128:5

And urges, if not commands … “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.” Psalm 122:6

Yes, God has already filed His coming “change of address” card … “Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.” Psalm 135:21

But I must stop!

Just one more … “The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.” Psalm 147:2, sounds promising!

The Old Testament is often called (in academia anyway) “the Jewish Scriptures” or even “the Jewish Bible” … and while I do not use that term personally … I can see why they do!

No wonder Jesus (during His first earthly Ministry) so loved that City! “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Lord willing, more tomorrow …

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If Jeremiah is called (aptly so) “the weeping Prophet,” Isaiah could just as appropriately be called “the Millennium Prophet!”

His writings are “loaded” with information and inspiration concerning that coming thousand-year Kingdom Rule of Jesus here on earth.

I mean Isianic chapter after chapter, not just verses either … often whole paragraphs!

And I for one am not willing to “transfer” all these Promises made to a future, saved Israel … and impose them on the Church! (If one makes this hermeneutical “blunder,” he or she will probably end up being “amillennial.” And that would be a sure sign of Bible ignorance!)

Plus … the concept of “rightly dividing the Word” will just not allow me to do so, to invert Jews and Gentiles. Rightly dividing the Word like this: “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” Thank you, Paul, for 1 Corinthians 10:33. Readers/students, keep those three entities straight in your Bible study mind, heart.

For example, today’s Text … ISAIAH 44:22-23 … “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.”

Technically, though a pretty set of word pictures, this Pericope is NOT discussing us New Testament believers. The Church (which was officially birthed on the Day of Pentecost) is not Israel. Look at the word “Jacob,” please! And its parallel, “Israel!” What’s not to understand here?

There’s not a drop of Jewish blood flowing in my gentile body! I am an old ex-sinner, saved by Grace!

But to the JEW, admittedly in a small minority by the time it happens (at the end of the Battle of Armageddon) IS going to see the retuning Lord Jesus and repent from sin and gloriously believe on the Saviour!

Her “sins” all gone! Blotted out, hidden behind the thickest cloud you’ve ever seen!

Israel … redeemed! (In Hebrew “gaal,” the “Kinsman-Redeemer” root word, once translated “to purchase!”)

And all nature, a poor word choice, all creation rejoicing in Israel’s salvation! (So there is still rejoicing when a sinner comes home to Jesus … Luke 15:10.)

Tell us again, Isaiah: “Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein.”

“Joy to the world!”

Because of sinners coming to Jesus!

Seems the heavens here really will declare the Glory of God! The bowels of the earth as well! The mountains and forests then add to the symphony!

No more “groaning” (Romans 8:22) … just delightful praise and worship!

Maybe trees are alive, more so than we’ve ever realized!

One sure is, the Cross of Calvary!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” Paul’s Romans 10:1 prayer will be answered! That’s praying in God’s Will, if I’ve ever heard it.

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