Not a Mistake
"And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites" Is. 66:21.

Roosters crowing in the Indonesian village roused Bob from sleep. Sensing a
desire to speak with the Lord, he dressed, grabbed his Bible and walked to
the bamboo and thatch church building.

Inside, the faint light of dawn revealed someone kneeling up in front. Not
wanting to disturb whomever it was, Bob turned to leave, but a voice called,
"Brother Bob, do not leave. God has sent you in answer to my prayer."

It was Peng, who had recently been chosen pastor of the church.

"What were you praying about?" Bob asked as he walked up and knelt near Peng.

"I have been pouring out my heart to God. Who am I to be a pastor? It must
be a mistake. I am just a common man, just a sinner. I'm not equal to the
task."

"Brother Peng, that is half the reason why the people chose you. They respect
your humility. The other half is how diligently you have received, applied
and shared Biblical teaching."

"Thank you. But still I wonder how God could call a simple farmer like me to
lead His people." Peng sighed. "If only I had a clear word from God that He
had selected me."

"Well, the call of God's people is a clear message, but since you insist,
let me show you a verse that has often comforted me regarding my call to be
a missionary."

"What verse is it?"

Bob turned to the page he wanted. "We have not yet gotten to Is. 66:19-21
in our Bible translation project, but let me describe the setting. In Is.
66:19, God foretold that He would send missionaries to the Mediterranean
world and then to distant islands and nations."

"Like Sumatra?"

"Exactly. Then the next verse describes the new believers from among the
nations like a harvest offering brought to the Lord in Jerusalem. Now we come
to the verse I want you to hear. Concerning the new converts, the Bible then
says: '"And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites," says
the LORD'" (Is. 66:20).

"How does that apply to me?" Peng asked. "I'm not Jewish."

"Good question," Bob agreed. "This verse describes a New Testament concept
in the Old Testament language. In order for God's mission to continue from people
group to people group, the Lord promises to raise up spiritual leaders from among
each ethnic group. As He called priests and Levites to serve in Old Testament
times to point the way to the coming Messiah, so now He calls persons like you and
me to be pastors and missionaries today. Saint Paul affirms this when he says,
'[Christ] gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and
some to be pastors and teachers,…'" (Eph. 4:11).

"So, my being a pastor is not a mistake!" Peng declared with joyous
laughter. "When God gave the promise in Is. 66:20 many centuries ago,
He could already see me and the call His people have extended to me."

1. What must missionaries like Bob do to turn over leadership to people like Peng?
2. Compare Is. 66:21 to Acts 16:1-5, 1 Tim. 4:12-14, and 2 Tim. 2:2.
3. Plan a memorable way to share Is. 66:21 with your pastor or another church worker.