Jesus or Muhammad the Messenger? - Isaiah 42
Isaiah 42:1 (KJV) Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.Isaiah 42:11 (KJV) Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Islam claims Isaiah 42 refers to Muhammad. They argue that verse 1 and 11 connects that awaited one with the descendants of Kedar. Who is Kedar? According to Genesis 25:13, Kedar was the second son of Ishmael, the ancestor of the Muhammad.
Scripture Compared to Bukhari
This claim is further based on the titles that are given to Muhammad - Isaiah 42 compared to Bukhari 3:335:
Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.Bukhari 3:335 You are My servant and My messenger. I have named you 'al Mutawakkil' (meaning 'the one who depends on Allah').
Isaiah 42:2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
Bukhari 3:335 You are neither discourteous, harsh Nor a noise-maker in the markets..
Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
Bukhari 3:335 And you do not do evil to those Who do evil to you, but you deal With them with forgiveness and kindness.
Isaiah 42:4 He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
Bukhari 3:335 I have named you 'Al-Mutawakkil' (meaning 'Allah's dependent')....Allah will not let him die till he makes upright the crooked people by making them say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.'
Isaiah 42:5-6 Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein: I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.
Bukhari 3:335 I have named you 'Al-Mutawakkil' (meaning 'Allah's dependent')....Allah will not let him die till he makes upright the crooked people by making them say: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.'
Isaiah 42:7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Bukhari 3:335 With which will be opened blind eyes And deaf ears and enveloped hearts.
Isaiah 42:10-11 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Islam Concludes
Islam concludes from the verses above that they focus on Kedar speaking of the supremacy of Islam.
From these likenesses (titles) they conclude: (1) the slave servant of God (Isa. 42:1) is Muhammad; (2) God's elected messenger (Isa. 42:1) is Muhammad; (3) Muhammad shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth (Isa. 42:4) - It is claimed that as Jesus did not set up a worldwide government; (4) the LORD will keep Muhammad (Isa. 42:6); (5) that God will give Muhammad for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles (Isa. 42:6); (6) Islam claims "a new song" (Isa. 42:10) because it is in a different language (Arabic); (7) Islam asserts the islands of Isaiah 42:12 are in the South China Sea and in the Caribbean where Islam has spread; and (8) Muhammad shall prevail against his enemies (Isa. 42:13); as Jesus failed too.
Islam thus argues these passages refer to Muhammad and not to Jesus.
Importance of Scriptural Context
First, these titles were given to Muhammad AFTER Isaiah 42 was written. Therefore, Muhammad fulfilled nothing! In addition, it appears above that Islam is attempting to fit their ideas INTO the Bible (isogesis with an "i" for Islam) instead of allowing the Bible to speak for itself (exegesis).
Second, the Bible must be looked at in context. Basically, Isaiah 42 divides up into three parts: (1) the announcement of salvation (vss. 1-9); (2) an intervening song of praise (vss. 10-11); and (3) the completion of the announcement of salvation (vss. 14-17).
Christianity Concludes
(1) Servant (vs. 1): The servant imagery is fulfilled in Jesus (Matt. 12:15-21) and is also applicable to Israel (41:8) before his coming, and to the church later (1 Pet. 2:21-25). Israel as "Servant" includes only the faithful, not unfaithful Israel (Isa. 42:18-22).
This chapter is part of the Servant Songs of Isaiah: [(1) Salvation for Elect Israel through God's Servant (Isa. 42:1-4); (2) Royal Oracle about the Servant of the Lord (Isa. 49:1-7); (3) Israel's Sin and the Servant's Obedience (Isa. 50:1-9); and (4) the Suffering and the Glory of the Servant (Isa. 52:13-53:12)] that explicitly connect the great Servant with the royal house of Judah. Any interpretation must fit the whole Servant Song motif. Isaiah 53 (as do the other songs), describes many points that fit no one but Christ: (1) rejected (vs. 3); (2) sins of the elect laid upon him (vs. 5-6); (3) murdered (vs. 8); (4) died with the wicked and was buried with the rich (vs. 9); (5) did no violence (vs. 9); and (6) raised from the dead (vs. 11). Clearly, this is not Muhammad.
(2) Elect messenger (vs.1): Jesus is the messenger in the text (Isa. 11:2; 43:10; Matt. 3:16-17; Luke 9:35; John 3:34; 1 Pet. 2:4-6).
(3) Government (vs.4): The Servant would be greater than Moses (Deut. 18:15-18; Acts 3:21-36) because he would mediate a new covenant that would eventually ensure that all believers would keep his law perfectly (Isa. 42:6; Jer. 31:31; 2 Cor. 3:3; Heb. 8:7-13). Jesus set up a "now but not Kingdom." Though Christ's Kingdom has been inaugurated through his life, death, and resurrection and continues through his invisible Church, the consummation of the Kingdom will occur when Christ returns to complete the new heavens and new earth (Rev. 21:1-5).
(4) Keep (vs.6): Calling and keeping are expressions parallel to Isaiah 42:1 and 41:10. God promises, to be with us. The Lord is Immanuel (8:8, 10; 43:2, 5; cf. Acts 18:9, 10). He says, I am your God; the basic promise for the covenant (Isa. 42:13-14; 43:1, 5; 44:2, 8; 51:12; Gen. 17:7; 21:17; 26:24; Lev. 26:12; Deut. 20:1; 31:6, 8; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27; 2 Cor. 6:16). He promises to strengthen and uphold us. The Lord is present in graciously delivering, exalting, and vindicating his children (Isa. 42:13; 42:1; 44:2; 49:8; 50:7). And he establishes order on earth by his power, as he did at the Exodus (Isa. 63:12; Ex. 15:6).
(5) Covenant (vs.6): Jesus Christ, as God's Servant, brought the new covenant to his people (Isa. 53:4-6; Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:6-13; 9:15). The covenant is also called the "covenant of peace" (Isa. 54:10), the "everlasting covenant" (Isa. 55:3; 61:8), and the "new covenant" (Jer. 31:31).
(6) Sing a New Song (vs.10): The redeemed will sing a new song as Moses and Miriam did when they had witnessed God's acts of salvation (Ex. 15:1, 21; cf. 12:1-6; Ps. 149:1; Rev. 5:9; 14:3).
(7) Praise in the Islands (vs.12): This refers to the fact that the glory of God will be everywhere - even in remote places such as islands.
John Calvin explains: The nature of that shouting will be, that is, to celebrate the praises of God; for his goodness and mercy shall be everywhere seen; and therefore he enjoins them to celebrate this redemption with a cheerful voice, because the blessed consequences of it shall be shared by all the nations.... He mentions Kedar, because the Scenite Arabians, as is well known, dwelt in tents. But he employs the word towns, while he is speaking of a desert; and therefore it ought to be remarked, that desert denotes not only the vast wilderness which lay between Judea and Arabia, but the more distant countries which were commonly designated from that part which was adjoining to them, as some people give the name of "mountainous" to those plains which lie beyond the mountains; for the common people have their attention so much directed to what they see close at hand, that they suppose them to resemble other places that are more distant. Yet the Prophet here exalts and magnifies the greatness of the grace of God, in reaching even rude and barbarous nations, whose savage cruelty was well known.
(8) Prevail (vs.13): Assurance comes from knowing that when the Lord's zeal is stirred, he will accomplish his plan (Isa. 9:7). The man of war in Isaiah describes the Lord as a Divine Warrior in whom hope lies (Isa. 1:9; 5:26).
Isaiah 42 speaks of only One - Jesus!
Please see:
Christianity and Islam Contrasted
References:
Baagil H. M., Muslim-Christian Dialogue, (Islamic Propagation Centre International (U.K.), Birmingham, U.K., 1984).
Calvin, J. (1998). Calvin's Commentaries: Isaiah (electronic ed.). Logos Library System; Calvin's Commentaries (Is 42:12). Albany, OR: Ages Software.
Richard Pratt, General Editor. Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI, 2003.
Theological Editor of Third Millennium Ministries, (IIIM)
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