Isaiah 65-66 - Indepthbible.org

10(...continued)Ringgren in Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, 12, p. 123, states that “Toindicate a gesture of prayer, fr;P' is often used with [‘hands’] as its object. Petitioners spread thepalms of their hands upward as if to receive God’s gifts or to express their desire for union. Assoon as Moses stretches out his hands in prayer to Yahweh, the [Divinely sent plague-] stormceases (Exodus 9:29, 33). Ezra spreads out his hands to Yahweh and confesses the people’ssins (Ezra 9:5). Zophar admonishes Job to stretch out his hands toward God that God may [remove]his guilt (Job 11:13). Solomon spreads out his hands toward heaven (1 Kings 8:22, 54; 2Chronicles 6:12-13) and asks God to grant the prayers made with hands outstretched toward thetemple (1 Kings 8:38; 2 Chronicles 6:29).”He goes on to state that Isaiah 65:2 means “God can stretch out His hands as an invitationto His people.” But we would change this to say, “God stretches out His hands in prayer as aninvitation to those who are not identified as His people.” What do you think?We think the clear implication is that YHWH is adopting the attitude or gesture of prayer inappealing to the nation not being called by His name, to a stubborn people walking in the wrongway. Just as He cries out “Here am I, here am I!”, adapting the attitude of a Servant, waiting forinstructions, or reporting for duty (see footnote 7), so He adapts this common gesture of prayer,as He reaches out to human beings, seeking to bless them, even though they rebel against Him.YHWH is praying to us humans! Indeed, YHWH is “thinking outside the box”!Do you agree?We agree with Motyer, who states, “What a reversal, then, of the rightful relationship! TheLord with His hands spread out! Such is His longing to move His people to the desired response.”(P. 524) And, we add, when we say “His people,” it means those nation(s) that are not called byHis name or do not call on His name!stWho would these people be in this 21 century in America? Would not this include thepeoples who are flocking to America from other countries, with their national religions such asHindus, Buddhists, Muslims, and many others? Is not YHWH / Jesus Christ anxious to reachthem? How can new church plants achieve such a goal? Are there examples of churches / orpara-church organizations that have successfully accomplished this? What can they teach us?See footnote 47.11For this phrase, ~Ayàh;-lK', “all the day,” or “all day long,” see the following passages inthe Hebrew Bible:Genesis 6:5, it obviously means “all the time,” “continually,” not just one 24-hour day;Exodus 10:13, the combined phrase, hl'y>L"+h;-lk'w> aWhßh; ~Ayðh;-lK'; “all that day and all thenight,” obviously meant literally, for one 24-hour period; Numbers 11:32, almost identical;24(continued...)