Israel - The New Garden of Eden

In chapter 49 Isaiah’s declares a message from God to the “isles” and “people from far,” in other words, to the rest of the world. He makes clear that although Israel had been chosen to a privileged purpose among the nations, God’s salvation was to extend to the Gentiles, to “the end of the earth.”

As the message continues, the prophet again declares God’s intention to gather all the people of Israel back to the land of Israel. When they return, they are going to multiply to the point that they will need more land (v19). He even declares that the Gentile nations will treat the Jewish people with great respect and facilitate their return to the land.

As we continue reading on to chapter 51, the Lord declares that He will cause Israel to blossom like the Garden of Eden. (I personally believe that this is where the original Garden of Eden was located.) He also declares that Israel will be a land of joy, gladness, thanksgiving and song. The Lord continues to declare that He will provide salvation for His people and that His salvation will be forever for all those in whose “heart is my law.” He reminds them that this prophecy is as sure as the fact that “He divided the sea” (v15 - in reference to the parting of the Red Sea when He delivered His people from Egypt). Yes, it is true that God has caused His people to experience the wrath of His judgment, but He will just as surely turn in judgment upon those who have persecuted them, most often without just cause.

Chapter 52 declares that the time is coming when no one will be allowed to enter Jerusalem who is “uncircumcised and unclean.” This is a phrase that references those who have rejected God as Lord and are unclean due to unbelief. I decided to look at a couple of Bible dictionaries and thought Eerdman’s comment was to the point.

“That which is clean or pure is in its proper place, whereas that which is unclean or impure is disgustingly out of place. The clean is limited by its opposite, the unclean, for dirt automatically pollutes or contaminates what is clean. In order to restore something or someone to a state of purity, the dirt must be removed.”

Scripture is clear in that the only way the “dirt” can be removed from our lives is to accept the gift of salvation in Jesus Christ that clothes us in the righteousness of God.

2Cor. 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.