dyl (02/09/83)
Is the book of Isaiah included in the Jewish Bible? What does the Jewish Bible consist of? It is clear that Isaiah was talking about the future if one reads a little ahead: Isaiah 9:1 ... In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the *future* he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan - ... leading to God's titles of Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace that was mentioned in a previous article. If Isaiah was referring to the past, who would that person be? These titles are perfect proofs for the ONENESS of God. In order for God to forgive his people's sins, He had to pay a price, suffer the loss himself and could not have sent somebody else to do the dirty work. That is why salvation is freely given and cannot be earned by works of man. A small example, if I forgive somebody for not being able to pay me back a debt, I am short of that sum of money. Further more, God declared: Psalm 130:8 He himself will redeem Israel. Daniel prophesied the exact day that the Anointed One would enter Jerusalem (see Daniel 9). That could not be about the past also. God told Abraham in Genesis 17 that Abraham will be the father of many nations. Clearly God was not talking about physical genealogy but rather spiritual nations that become Abraham's descendents because they believe God as Abraham did.