Isaiah Shares a Mystery

     On the sit-com Everyone Loves Raymond, his brother Robert met his lover. He said several times, "It is meant to be!" Christians have met their "lover" and it is meant to be! Jesus is the groom and the Church is the bride. He beacons us, and when we respond, it is meant to be! 

     Paul spoke of the "mystery of Christ":

Ephes 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel.

     Of what mystery was Paul referring? "In other ages" mankind ("sons of men") did not understand the mystery but sons of God did! The "sons of God" were the righteous patriarchs on whom the foundation of the Church was laid (Ephes 2:20). Isaiah knew the "mystery of Christ" because he was one of the earliest founders of Christianity. Look at what he knew:

Isa 17:4 And in that day it shall come to pass, that the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean... 7 At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel....10 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the rock of thy strength, therefore shalt thou plant pleasant plants, and shalt set it with strange slips.

     Isaiah knew that in the future Jacob's (Israel's) flesh (the Jews) would diminish in faith. They did so by rejecting the Cornerstone (Mat 21:42). When that day came, "a man"- any man - "shall look to his Maker". What men are there other than Jews? Gentiles! When Jacob got lean, the Gentiles would get fat, and become fellow heirs with the Jews. Hence, Christ died for everyone, which was the "mystery of Christ". Isaiah knew the mystery and wrote about it! The Jews planted the pleasant plants, but the "strange slips" were us peculiar people - Gentile Christians (1 Pet 2:9). Now it's not even the Jews who are the planters as Gentiles become royal priests!
     The Jews, because they were chosen people, thought they were the only ones privy to the Kingdom of God. God, not being a respecter of persons, had another plan. It was a mystery to the Hebrews but God revealed His plan to Isaiah; it included even the Gentiles. Isaiah knew that I was a fellow heir, and that you could be as well. I was in God's mysterious plan from the beginning and so was you. Western Christians, long before Isaiah knew of us, where destined to be included as children of God! Isaiah, thank you for sharing the mystery long before Paul did!