Isaiah 56-57: An All Inclusive God?

And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD
   to serve him,
to love the name of the LORD,
   and to worship him,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
   and who hold fast to my covenant—
these I will bring to my holy mountain
   and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
   will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
   a house of prayer for all nations.”  - Is. 56:6-7 NIV

God has always been a more inclusive God than we would have him to be.  Even though Israel was his chosen people, they were often alienated from God by their disobedience..  God still saw.  He saw the hearts of those who were supposed to be his people and he saw the hearts of those who chose him even though they were not the chosen.  Foreigners, those who loved God, who worshipped him, even though they had no claim by birth, were accepted by God as if they were part of the tribe.

Thank God for that, for his love that stretches to all nations, for his all inclusive love to those who hold fast to the covenant.  Throughout the Old Testament, there were always those who were not chosen, but were used and accepted because of their reverence for the God of the Israelites.  Then God opened the floodgates and made a way for all of the Gentiles to come to him.  Come, all ye who are weary.  Those words still apply day.  Just come.

2010 Post - Isaiah 56-57:  All Are Welcome