We don’t think of Isaiah as an evangelistic book. We perceive evangelism as a New Testament concept rather than an Old Testament one.
Yet we find many admonitions in the OT for Israel to be a testimony not just to its own people, but to the nations.
Our ladies’ Bible study is going through Isaiah using Tim Chester’s book, Isaiah for You, as a springboard. Chester says this about evangelistic encouragement in Isaiah:
They [Israel] were to live under God’s rule expressed in the law in such a way that the nations would see that it is good to know God (Deuteronomy 4: 5-8). Isaiah himself uses this kind of language in Isaiah 2: 2-5: “Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Why? So that “many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord’”. The people of Israel were to attract the nations to God.
The ladies discussed how we can do that in our day, when many people don’t seem to want to hear it. There was a time in the USA when people were more open to Christianity. But now, we feel like we’ll get a negative reaction if we try to share Christ with others.
A verse that came to mind during that discussion was Psalm 119:130: “The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple” (NKJV).
Even if someone says they don’t believe God’s Word, it can shine God’s light into their hearts.
That light is not always a blinding Damascus Road experience like Paul had. Sometimes people understand fully when they are first presented with the gospel. But I would guess that doesn’t happen often.
When I spent the night with my best friend in high school, her mother would often wake us up in the morning by coming in with a cheery voice while throwing open the curtains.
Going from darkness and sleep to bright light was not welcome. It was a shock to the system, though perhaps in some cases it’s necessary.
When I wake up these days, I look toward the bathroom, where the nightlight is on, to get my eyes adjusted to a bit of light. Then I turn on my phone to guide me to the bathroom. Then I turn on the bathroom light, usually squinting in the process. Gradually my eyes get adjusted so I can take in the full light of day.
I think sharing God’s light often works the same way. We receive a little, get our spiritual eyes adjusted, and then we’re able to receive a little more.
When I was in college, a new family came to my church who I became very close to. I called them my adopted spiritual family. The father told us once that when he was younger and not a Christian, he took an acquaintance home from a school function. As she tried to talk to him about the Lord, he answered her gruffly.
When he dropped her off, she probably felt her efforts had failed. But he thought to himself, “What was she talking about, anyway?” That conversation was a catalyst to his finding out more and eventually coming to know the Lord.
Peter writes in 2 Peter 1:19, “We have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”
As we share God’s Word, we can trust that He will use it to open understanding. We may not see any response at first, or we may see a negative one. Not everyone will receive His light. But for those who do, perhaps the light will gradually dawn like a slow sunrise until they see clearly.
(I often link up with some of these bloggers.)
Stray Thoughts 
I LOVE the book of Isaiah and have always found many of the scriptures in it to be VERY evangelistic!! In fact, one portion really spoke to me when I was going through some Christian counseling and theophostic prayer: the portion in Isaiah 61 and I’ve always clung to Isaiah 26:3 among other verses. I LOVED doing a study of Isaiah a few years ago. SO much meat there. I’m glad you wrote a post on this. How fun to be in a small group that is studying this important prophet.
Yes! I know I struggle with talking about God, as I get my feelings involved wondering “what will they think?” Yet, we’re called to shine God’s light, through our words, our actions…overall how we live life. And then it’s God who changes hearts, not me–not about me! Thanks for Isaiah lesson. I hadn’t seen those verses in that context in Isaiah before.
We have the opportunity to shine His light in all our words and actions. Thank you for the reminder that we can shine His light at any time. Have a blessed week! 🙂
I was noticing just yesterday that my Bible has a tendency to flop open to the book of Isaiah, because it’s really my go to book when I’m looking for encouragement. I love your metaphor of “gradual dawning.” God is just too gracious to turn on the flood light. He “knows our frame and remembers that we are dust.” I’ve been thankful for this many times in the way he gently reveals my sinful tendencies to me. If I got the whole load at once, I’d be so discouraged I might be tempted to give up!
I enjoyed this insight from Isaiah! I think many (maybe most?) things in life tend to happen gradually. I love the idea that as we follow God’s leading in obedience, we can relax and leave the results up to him. That’s such a freeing thought!
Great insights ma’am. Sounds like you are enjoying your study. That’s great!
Barbara, thank you so much for this insightful post on Isaiah, as well as the personal illustrations that you shared. Reading this brought to mind Isaiah 55:11…
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what pleases Me,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
I’m trying (again) to improve my sleep habits by working more with light: keeping my bedroom as dark as possible when I’m supposed to be sleeping and opening the curtains as soon as possible when I want to be fully awake. I’m thankful that when the light of Truth rises in a person’s life, it wakes them up as well, even if they may or may not realize its source.
I’m trying (again) to improve my sleep habits by working more with light: keeping my bedroom as dark as possible when I’m supposed to be sleeping and opening the curtains as soon as possible when I want to be fully awake. I’m thankful that when the light of Truth rises in a person’s life, it wakes them up as well, even if they may or may not realize its source.
I’m trying (again) to improve my sleep habits by working more with light: keeping my bedroom as dark as possible when I’m supposed to be sleeping and opening the curtains as soon as possible when I want to be fully awake. I’m thankful that when the light of Truth rises in a person’s life, it wakes them up as well, even if they may or may not realize its source.
Thank you so much for sharing these words and thoughts with us at Talking About It Tuesdays!
Each time I read Isaiah, God shows me something I never realized in His word before. I loved the example you shared about how the father in your “spiritual family” came to the Lord after talking with the acquaintance who talked to Him about the Lord. We never know how our words and actions will impact others.
This was very encouraging. “As we share God’s Word, we can trust that He will use it to open understanding.” May we just keep sharing as we are given opportunity.
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