‘I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;
    I was found by those who did not seek me.
To a nation that did not call on my name,
    I said, “Here am I, here am I.”

‘Prayer is a mighty instrument, not for getting man’s will done in heaven, but for getting God’s will done on earth.’ Robert Law

This is God’s first answer given to Isaiah’s prayer: a prayer full of passionate concern for the Jewish people. He says, in effect, I’m going to bring the Gentiles into my Kingdom! Yes, He does far more than all we can ask or imagine.

‘And why should it seem absurd that the prophet here should speak of that to which all the prophets bore witness? 1 Pet 1 10, 11. The rejection of the Jews, and the calling in of the Gentiles, are often mentioned in the New Testament as that which was foreseen and foretold by the prophets, Acts 10 43; 13 40; Rom 16 26.’ Matthew Henry.

‘In the very beginning, the Lord seeks us and finds us. Once we are found, we must then seek Him – and keep on seeking Him, seeking His fellowship, seeking His guidance – so that our relationship with Him will grow stronger. We seek Him because He first sought us. We love (Him) because he first loves us (1 John 4:19).’ Tom Hale: ‘Applied Old Testament Commentary’, p.1070.