Are the Jews supposed to be “a light unto the nations”?
And how’s that going?
There’s a wikipedia page, and many more references dedicated to this lofty concept that originated in the words of Isaiah in today’s chapter. The basic assumption is that the gift of Jewish life and wisdom is be shared with the world, not hoarded.
It’s a wonderful, ambitious, complex and complicated concept.
The core of this idea is that the covenant that YHWH made with Israel, at different moments in history, recorded in the Bible, is not only for the sake of the Jewish people but as a vehicle to spread light and love, perfecting the world. In chapter 42 Isaiah talks about ‘the faithful servant’ of the divine which may mean himself, or the people Israel, or some other future prophet (for instance, Jesus, whose followers adopted this concept to represent his role and legacy in the world.) The faithful servant’s role is to help spread the light.
Biblical scholar Jon Levenson calls this idea “The Universal Horizon of Biblical Particularism” - or in other words - it’s never just about us but about the interconnected relations with all living beings. It’s a broader way to unpack and understand the complex notion of ‘Chosen People.’ Not chosen to be an elite but chosen to serve.
What may have Isaiah meant? Who was he talking to?
אֲנִ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה קְרָאתִ֥יךָֽ בְצֶ֖דֶק וְאַחְזֵ֣ק בְּיָדֶ֑ךָ וְאֶצׇּרְךָ֗ וְאֶתֶּנְךָ֛ לִבְרִ֥ית עָ֖ם לְא֥וֹר גּוֹיִֽם׃
לִפְקֹ֖חַ עֵינַ֣יִם עִוְר֑וֹת לְהוֹצִ֤יא מִמַּסְגֵּר֙ אַסִּ֔יר מִבֵּ֥ית כֶּ֖לֶא יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃
“I, YHWH, in My grace, have summoned you,
And I have grasped you by the hand.
I created you, and appointed you
A covenant people, a light of nations —
Opening eyes deprived of light,
Rescuing prisoners from confinement,
From the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
Isaiah 42:6-7
This prophet ,it seems, is talking to the Judean exiles in Babylon, a minority that has known suffering and loss, now on the brink of possible return to their home, to experience liberation. In the previous chapter he called these people ‘The Worm of Jacob’ - honoring humility and lowest status as a way to still raise high their heads and know that they too have a role to play within the greater eco-system. And now he continues this theme - with the image of the faithful servant - but also with the ideal role of an ancient nation built on spreading justice and love, even with battle scars and traumas, with the purpose of informing each individual and the nation as a whole on how to turn the wounds into wonder, hurts into healing.
For Isaiah, light is a recurring metaphor intended to convey faith and knowledge of God and to be “a light to the nations” means responsibility to bring this knowledge to the world - to ‘open up the eyes, as if to be free from confinement’. Again and again, Isaiah reminds us that the light is not about the ritual - but about walking the talk of justice and love.
For centuries this concept was a dream, at best. What light can a persecuted people offer behind the walls, fearful of the latest pogrom? What light can be shared with neighbors, who, in the so-called name of Jesus and Isaiah, become Crusaders, become an Inquisition?
The Medieval Jewish philosopher Joseph Albo, who lived in Christian Spain, wrote that 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”. Elsewhere he suggested that light is essential to all life and brings joy to those who gazes upon it. Likewise, all life finds its source in the divine life force however defined. This is the light to the nations that he wanted to share with the world, if only they let him.
Centuries later, wIth the Zionist agenda becoming a reality in the early 20th century as Jews started returning to their homeland in greater numbers, and with the founding of Israel in 1948 this vision once again began to breath anew. David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister, and a big fan of the Bible, referenced Isaiah often, citing ‘light unto the nations’ as Israel’s goal. Even the choice of Israel’s official symbol - the Menorah of the bygone temple was chosen with this intent.
So how it that going today? Well..
Ben-Gurion’s successor, Israel’s longest serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, also likes to reference Isaiah. in a speech to the UN in 2017 UN he quoted Isaiah again and claimed that the state of Israel is "a light unto the nations, bringing salvation to the ends of the earth".
The current consistent and impressive wave of protests against Netanyahu and his ultra right government may just be the light that inspires many worldwide to keep fighting for democracy, justice and hope - just as Isaiah had hoped for.
It’s probably not the light unto the nations that Netanyahu had or has in mind - but only time will tell.
Right now in Israel, grim jokes are once again heard about ‘the last one to leave please turn off the lights.’
If there’s a hope and a role for the current Jewish story in bringing more blessing to the world - perhaps only through this honest dealing with our wounds and shedding light on where our shadows lurk - we will be fulfilling the prophetic promise, equal partners in a world that constantly attempts to work together towards a shared vision of light, love and life - for all.
Wrapping Up Isaiah & the Jewish Year!
Please note: Our next monthly conversation will wrap up the Book of Isaiah, on August 17th 2023, the last day of the Hebrew month of Av, at 1pm ET.
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It would seem Isaiah also predicted climate destruction and our societal indifference to it: "Yet it is a people plundered and despoiled: All of them are trapped in holes, Imprisoned in dungeons. They are given over to plunder, with none to rescue them; To despoilment, with none to say “Give back!” (23) If only you would listen to this, Attend and give heed from now on! (24) Who was it gave Jacob over to despoilment And Israel to plunderers? Surely, the LORD against whom they sinned In whose ways they would not walk And whose Teaching they would not obey. (25) So He poured out wrath upon them, His anger and the fury of war. It blazed upon them all about, but they heeded not; It burned among them, but they gave it no thought.
Something in this reminds me of the Serpent's words to Eve about opening her eyes (Genesis 3:4).
I can't tease out what it is though.