The foreigner and the Eunuch

The Foreigner and the Eunuch -Isaiah 56
1/30/06
The Lord speaks about justice at the beginning of this chapter, and focuses on the foreigner and the eunuch. How do these 2 types of people relate to us?
1. Foreigner – not one of our own; someone we have no history with.
2. Eunuch – barren of physical fruit

These types of people are in the midst of our ministries, and at times we even find ourselves to be the newcomer, the one without a history tied to the people and place in which we bind ourselves to the Lord. These people love and obey the Lord, but sometimes fret about rejection and spiritual barrenness. However, God covenants to give them eternal gifts.
1. a memorial – they will make history by bearing everlasting fruit
2. They will be remembered by the name the Lord gives them (as opposed to the name we make for ourselves)
3. They will stand in God’s presence
4. Their prayers will be joyful, and their prayers, worship, and works will be acceptable to God

God does not relax His standard to benevolently accept these social or religious outcasts. This is not a chapter on grace, but on justice.

We find that a contrast to verses 1-8 (acceptable servant) follows in verses 9-12 (unacceptable servant). These ministers of God have lost sight of what is important to God, and they aren’t worried about it! They are;
1. Spiritually bankrupt and unable to perform their function/bear fruit
a. No knowledge, blind, can’t speak
b. Instead of loving to be with God and stand in His presence, they love to day-dream and sleep
c. They have appetites which are unsatisfied, not content in the Lord so they seek their own way, to their own gain
2. Do not make History, but see each day as the same
a. Though their tomorrows may be better, they don’t know how to make them so because they are drunk on the world

What marks a servant of the Lord? All his works are eternal, a part of the continuum called history. Small or large, their works are part of God’s plan. This servant does not concern himself with building in futility, but builds with wisdom. Because he stands in God’s presence, he hears the Word of the Lord. Because He obeys what he learns, what is pleasing and acceptable to God, he learns what God values. A dog does not learn value, though it obeys and is trainable.

One who knows what God values discerns the works of his life, whether they are his own and for his own gain, or are the Lord’s. This man who values God’s heart and mind will find the works appointed for him to do from the foundation of the earth. He will make history with God, and never be forgotten.

We can stay in one place and have history with a people, or we can risk to go where God takes us and make history with Him. The questions are; will we choose to please man so that we can be acceptable to him? Will we follow a way which pleases ourselves so that we can be satisfied with our lives? Or will we stand in God’s presence and be satisfied with His acceptance?