who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,
and my God has become my strength—
he says:
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the preserved of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." (Isaiah 49:5-6)
Here is the universalizing statement for God's plan of salvation. The servant of the Lord is formed for the purpose of bringing the chosen people back to God, "...to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel...," but more than that, the servant is also destined to extend God's salvation to all, "...that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth." God's love is not limited to the Jewish people. No! God loves all people and, if any are willing, restores them to God's self.
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