{"id":67360,"date":"2019-12-21T09:38:38","date_gmt":"2019-12-21T07:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=67360"},"modified":"2023-07-16T10:50:31","modified_gmt":"2023-07-16T07:50:31","slug":"bringing-the-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/bringing-the-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Bringing The Light"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[629,458],"acf":{"old_id":"67360","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":67068,"related_cahpter":"376","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"But what does that mean?\u00a0","content":"

The book of Isaiah\u2019s description of the Jewish people as a light unto the nations has become one of the most powerful and enduring metaphors used to depict the greater purpose of Jewish life. At its heart is the assertion that the covenant with God is not only for the sake of the Jewish people. Rather, God chose the Jewish people to be his vehicle for perfecting the world at large. <\/span>This phenomenon is what Biblical scholar Jon Levenson calls \u201cThe Universal Horizon of Biblical Particularism.\u201d God is not only the God of the Jewish people but also the God of all humanity. Though the Jewish people may be God\u2019s chosen nation, their election is for the benefit of all.<\/span> God makes a covenant with Abraham and his descendants but also declares that (Genesis 12:3) \u201call the families of the earth will be blessed through you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

All that being said, what exactly does it mean to be a light to the nations? <\/span>According to the medieval Jewish philosopher Joseph Albo, light is a metaphor for the divine. Just as light appears to have no physical substance, yet still exists, so too the same is true for God. Furthermore, light is essential to all life and brings joy to the one who gazes upon it. In a similar fashion, all life finds its source in God, and we experience God\u2019s closeness as true happiness. <\/span>In the book of Isaiah, light is a recurring symbol <\/span>intended to convey faith and knowledge of God. To be a light to the nations means that the Jewish people are responsible for bringing the light of God to the world.<\/span><\/p>\n

It means <\/span>(42:7): \u2018Opening the eyes of the blind, Rescuing prisoners from confinement, From the dungeon those who sit in darkness.\u2019 Until the remainder of humanity comes to know God, it is as if they cannot see. There is light just beyond their reach, but they cannot apprehend it and live only in a world defined by its darkness. When the Jewish people shine with God\u2019s light, those who dwell in darkness cannot help but be drawn to it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Isaiah is careful to point out that this light will not shine because of religious ritual or sacrificial worship but by<\/span> (42:1) \u2018bringing forth justice.\u2019\u2019 This in itself should not be surprising, for <\/span>Abraham is initially chosen by God for a simple reason. <\/span>He (18:19) \u201cwill educate his children to keep the way of God to do justice and righteousness.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n","image":{"ID":67361,"id":67361,"title":"is42-sunrise","filename":"is42-sunrise.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/is42-sunrise.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/bringing-the-light\/is42-sunrise\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"is42-sunrise","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":67360,"date":"2019-12-21 07:38:23","modified":"2019-12-21 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