Fall 1999
A Call To Faith-fulness
(Edited)
Jerry Hyde

“Listen, O isles, unto Me; and harken, ye people,
from far, The LORD hath called Me from the womb;
From the bowels of My mother hath He made mention
of My name. And He hath made My mouth like a sharp
sword; in the shadow of His hand hath He hid Me,
and made Me a polished shaft. In His quiver hath He
hid Me.”

“And said unto Me, Thou art My servant, O Israel,
in whom I will be glorified.” Isa 49:1-3 KJV.

This portion of Scripture provides a glimpse of the prayer life of our Lord Jesus Christ, as He expresses His inner feelings to His Father. He acknowledges His Father’s call and the necessary processings, which will prepare Him for the time when He would fulfill that call in public ministry.

But in verses four and five, He expresses feelings of failure and fruitlessness, yet He maintains trust in His Father who called Him.

“Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent My
strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely My judgment
is with the LORD, and My work with My God.

“And now, saith the LORD who formed Me from the womb
to be His servant, to bring Jacob again to Him,
Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious
in the eyes of the LORD, and My God shall be My
strength.” Isaiah 49:4-5 KJV.

The Son is saying, “Father, you sent Me to the lost sheep of the house of Israel to gather them to You. I have labored in vain, and am at the end of My ministry and they have not been restored. This grief in the heart of Jesus is revealed in Matthew 23:37, as He weeps and laments over Jerusalem because the people would not respond to Him.

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets,
and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often
would I have gathered thy children together, even as
a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not!” Matt 23:37 KJV.

The Father responds to this cry in the heart of His Son with words of encouragement and comfort.

“And He said, It is a light thing that Thou shouldest be
My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to
restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give Thee
for a light to the Gentiles, that Thou mayest be My
salvation unto the end of the earth.”

“Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and His
Holy One, to Him whom man despiseth, to Him whom the
nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall
see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of
the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel,
and He shall choose You.” Isa 49:6-7 KJV.

These words to the Son from the Father are saying, “It is alright, Son, there is “a calling within the calling.” The people did not respond, yet You did My will and You were faithful to the end. I will yet be glorified through You. I will renew Your strength for the greater call in which I will send your ministry to the ends of the earth.”

There is much encouragement to be found in this prophetic chapter. Many of us are filled with frustration. We may feel that we are a failure because we are not being more fruitful for the Lord. If we read this chapter carefully, we will come to know that the Lord is looking for our faithfulness, not our success.

It is those who have experienced great disappointment who will be used to bring comfort and restoration to those who are open and sincere before the Lord.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all
comfort.”

“Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we
may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble,
By the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted
of God.” II Cor 1:3-4 KJV.

The Lord promises that He will hear the prayers of the destitute. Jesus expressed failure concerning Israel, and the Father heard and responded to His prayer. He is seeking for those who will trust Him and remain faithful. Only then will He be able to say,

“Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful
over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.
Enter into the joy of your Lord” Matt 25:23” KJV.

The enemy will lie, and tell us that we are a failure. Do not give up as your labors are not in vain. Jesus lost an entire congregation, but the Father had reserved another people and a greater call for Him.

He will also do this for us, if we will abide faithful. For it is out of devastated lives that the greatest beauty and evidence of the Lord will shine.