Will the Wealth of the Gentiles flow into your pocket?

Will the Wealth of the Gentiles flow into your pocket?

"The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you." - Isaiah 60:5b
Many believers like to claim this verse for their situation. May it be hoping for a financial breakthrough, or simply believing God for a breakthrough in their careers and businesses. While it is true that believers are entitled to pray (Phil 4:6-7), we are also told to submit by abiding in his will (John 15:7).

So what is Isaiah 60 and 61 all about? Did Isaiah wrote those words so that Christians today can lay claim to it? Are the prosperity preacher right to simply claim on "all the wealth of the Gentiles" just because we are spiritual Israel (Gal 3:28)? Let's explore.

In Chapter 40 to 48, Isaiah foresees Israel in a state of confusion after the devastating blow of the Assyrian and Babylonian invasion (Chapter 1 to 39); they then realized that they lost their land because of their sin, and they thought that God had abandoned them because of that. These chapters are God's answer to the distressed Israelites who are serving as Slaves to their foreign masters; that He is greater than the foreign pagan gods that destroyed their nation (actually it was God who allowed them to do so), and that God will not abandon them.

Chapter 49-54 talks about the Servant, which climaxes at Chapter 53:5 with the "piercing for our transgressions". This whole section is about God sending his "right arm" (Isaiah 41:10) to deliver Israel from their oppressors. Israel could well mistaken this "Right Arm" as a military power to overthrow the foreign powers. But God essentially reveal his Right Arm to be a Spiritual Restoration brought about by Jesus' death on the Cross.

Chapter 55-59 is about the response. After God had sent his Servant (Isaiah 42:1-9) to restore Israel, will Israel remain the same just for God to once again judge them for their Sins? No. God will bring "His Righteousness" to Israel (Isaiah 46:13, 51:5), Israel is to forsake their wicked ways (Isaiah 55:7, 56, 58:6-14) with God helping them with his right hand (Isaiah 59:16-17).

Isaiah 60:1 - By understanding the context from Chapters 1 to 59, we can now understand why should Israel "Arise, shine; For your light has come!" It is important to understand that the significance of the word "Light". In Isaiah 58:7-8, God's Light will shine through Israel when they honour his commandments (Sabbaths) by helping the poor. In Isaiah 2:5, Light was used to describe the "Ideal Israel" before going back to condemn their current state at that time. Isaiah 42:6, the Servant will bring Light to the Gentiles. Isaiah 60 is the fulfillment of the promise.

Isaiah 60:2 - What does darkness mean? Does that mean the world will be full of poverty and sickness? If we compare and contrast between verses 1 and 2, we can see clearly that the Deep Darkness is just a comparison to the Light. Now the Light dwells in Israel, the world is Dark as compared to the everlasting Light.

Isaiah 60:2-18 - It is because of the Light, nations will gather to Israel just like how Chapter 42 describes. Their sons and daughters will come from afar, the multitudes of Camels (Merchants), Flocks of Kedar, Ships of Tarshish will bring silver and gold to pay tribute to the Light. The gates will not shut because of the continuous trade and activity (v11), no nations will be spared for not coming to the Light (v12), the descendents of Israel's enemies will now seek the Light as they give forth His Law (42:4).

Isaiah 60:19-22 - Did the nations come because Israel was great? Did the Light dwell in Israel because Israel is good? Neither. God chose Israel to be a servant, they are responsible to show forth the Light to the world. They are custodians of righteousness which God had planted, a work of his hands (60:21). Israel had to first acknowledge that they are Sinful and there is no way they are able to become Righteous (Isaiah 59:9-15), and God will deliver them from continuously living in sin (Isaiah 59:16-21).

Isaiah 61:1-3 - Jesus quoted this verse in Luke 4:18. He pointed himself (or that event of reading it), as the fulfillment of these verses. Evidently, Jesus is the one who will bring good tidings to the meek, poor and afflicted, to bring spiritual restoration to these hell-bound souls. All these are done so that Israel can become "Oaks of Righteousness" (v3), distinguished for uprightness and justice among the nations. He is the Light that this entire book is talking about. He is the Light that the Jews and Pharisees missed, and only those whose eyes are opened can see through this very same book that the Jews are still reading today.

Isaiah 61:4-5 - Again describes how Israel will lead Gentiles to the Light.

Isaiah 61:6-9 - This is the prove text for Israel's responsibility. It is not Israel who are special nor privileged. It is the God whom they serve that nations are coming for. They are called to be the priests that ministers to the world; not merely chosen to enjoy the tributes. Blessings are given to them because they are to use it for God's purposes. All will come to recognize the glory of God who dwells in Israel.

Isaiah 61:10-11 - This is Israel thanking God who made them to be ""Oaks of Righteousness" (v3). The garland and Jewels are personification with the robe of Righteousness which they will don. He will "will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations" (v11).

So if you think that now because you are a Christian, and "The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you.", by understanding the context of these Chapters, you have badly mistaken and have taken the very essence and message away from the text.