proclaiming the gospel to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Shalom and welcome to the Everlasting Nation, a radio ministry of the International Board of Jewish Missions. I'm your host, Aaron Broughton. I wanna thank you for joining me today. Today, we'd like to share with you a special article that was actually written several years ago by the late Dr. Orman Norwood, who is the president here and president emeritus at IBJM for many, many years. And he is now in glory, but he left a dramatic impact for the cause of Jewish missions around the country and even around the world. He wrote this article in the Everlasting Nation magazine called A Light to the Gentiles. By the way, if you do not receive the Everlasting Nation magazine, which has been in publication since 1951, we invite you to contact us here at IBJM to get a sample copy or even to sign up for a subscription yourself. You can do that by calling 423-876-8150 or go online to ibjm.org. Now then, let me share with you A Light to the Gentiles. Beloved in the Lord, there is a scripture which captured my attention recently, and it read, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. And then he said, I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth. That's from Isaiah 49 verses 3 and 6. The Holy One of Israel is speaking, the Redeemer of Israel, and he calls himself, in Isaiah 49 verse 7, in all of his dealings with mankind, God chooses to identify himself with Israel. We need to learn this lesson and to observe the context in which such statements are made. The God of the universe desires to be known as the God of Israel. Let's talk about then the Holy One of Israel. So the question is, what is the main attribute of the Creator which overshadows all others? It is His holiness. And this He demonstrated in His dealings with His people Israel. They could not approach God who dwelt in the midst of the holy cherubim without blood, the innocent blood of a lamb. No man could look upon Him and live. Even Moses had to cover his face in His presence. God could have referred to Himself simply as the Holy One, but instead He calls Himself the Holy One of Israel. Can you not see what this reveals? It shows the close personal relationship which the God of creation has with them. He is their God and they are his people. He wants this known. He has chosen the Jewish people above all the other peoples of the earth as he reminds us in Deuteronomy chapter 7 verse 6. But God is not content to be their God. He longs to be their Redeemer as well. As He redeemed Israel from Egypt by power from bondage and by blood from death, He longs to redeem every Jewish person who will come to Him by faith in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. This is why Jesus came. He said, I am not come but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Israel became His first witness in the world, where it says, Ye are my witnesses, God declared. The earliest disciples and apostles were Jews. Every spiritual blessing we enjoy today comes to us through the Jewish people, our Bible, our Savior, and our salvation, for salvation is of the Jews, according to John 4.22. Jehovah is their kinsman and Redeemer. Related to Israel by choice, the Lord of Glory used these chosen people to give the word to the rest of the world. The Gentile world was heathen, bowing down to gods of sticks and stones, until Israel's prophet gave them the light, where it says in Isaiah 49 verse 6, I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles. In witnessing to his existence and his power, and showing his grace, Israel told the world about Jehovah. This was their mission in the world. Finally, the light of the world came to redeem men by dying for them. And it was an army of dedicated Jewish missionaries and flaming Jewish evangelists who preached the truth of salvation to a lost Gentile world. God said they were my witnesses taking my salvation unto the end of the earth. The people that walked in darkness truly had seen a great light. Like a powerful beaming lighthouse, Israel sent out the light. Our vessels were in danger of being destroyed on the rocks, but Israel spread the light, beginning at Jerusalem and shining from the Middle East to the four corners of the earth with the saving message which will enlighten all who receive it. Truly, we owe a debt to the Jewish people. It is time we sought to pay that debt. Thank you for helping IBJM send that light. Again, this has been A Light to the Gentiles, that was written by the late Dr. Orman Norwood. If you'd like to hear this program again, or hear any of our other archive programs, simply visit us at ibjm.org. And as we think about this, let's remember the words of Psalm 122, verse six, which says in Hebrew, sha'alu shalom Yerushalayim. Let us pray for the peace of Jerusalem. You've been listening to The Everlasting Nation, a ministry of International Board of Jewish Missions. For more information, you can contact us at 423-876-8150 or go online to ibjm.org. Until next time, may God bless and Shalom!