You asked

how do other prophets or new testament authors describe god's plan for all peoples?

Adds the setting and its conversation across both testaments.

Isaiah 49:6

“indeed he says, 'It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give you as a light to the nations, that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth.'”

The prophet Isaiah, writing to the people of Judah during a period of exile or threat of exile, shares God's message. Here, God speaks to a chosen 'servant' (often interpreted as Israel, or an ideal Israel, or even a specific individual) about their purpose, broadening it beyond just the nation of Israel.

What does it mean for us, individually or communally, to be a 'light to the nations' in our own context?

Then — the setting

Isaiah's prophecies span the 8th to 6th centuries BCE, a turbulent period for Israel and Judah, marked by Assyrian and Babylonian empires. This passage (often attributed to 'Second Isaiah,' chapters 40-55) addresses the people in or facing exile, offering hope and redefining their role. The initial focus of God's covenant was with Israel, and their restoration was a primary concern. However, this verse explicitly expands that purpose, indicating that Israel's suffering and restoration are not just for their own sake but also for the benefit of all humanity. This was a radical idea for a people often focused on their distinctiveness and relationship with God.

Across the Testaments

This passage is in the Old Testament, articulating a universal vision for God's redemptive work. In the New Testament, this vision finds its ultimate expression in Jesus, whom the apostles identify as the 'light to the Gentiles' (Acts 13:47, quoting this very verse). Paul, in particular, emphasizes that through Christ, the promises made to Israel extend to all people, breaking down divisions between Jew and Gentile (Romans 10:12, Ephesians 2:11-22). The New Testament authors build upon the prophetic anticipation that God's plan was always broader than just one nation, culminating in a worldwide invitation to salvation.

Keep thinking

Read alongside it

Genesis 12:3
God's initial promise to Abraham includes blessing all families of the earth through him.
Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus commands his followers to make disciples of 'all nations,' extending the mission universally.
Revelation 7:9-10
A vision of a multitude from 'every nation, tribe, people, and language' worshipping God, showing the culmination of this plan.

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