In the Old Testament days, the feet were considered the dirtiest part of the body. There were no shoes. People either wore open sandals or walked barefoot. Interestingly, Isaiah, who lived in this age, described a herald’s feet as beautiful.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)
Although there are several opinions about this text, the popular belief is that Isaiah was describing the certain return of the Jewish people to Jerusalem. But regardless, the context of the prophecy is clearly referring to the redemption of Israel. It is much more obvius in the ninth verse, where Isaiah exclaimed, “For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem.”
Apart from Isaiah, Nahum made a similar prediction (Nahum 1:15). Years later, Paul, a phenomenal expositor of the Messianic prophecies, quoted the same prophecy in his letter to Rome (Romans 10:15). Yet again, it was in the context of heralding the Gospel. Definitely, the word “feet” points to something significant in terms of evangelism. Starting from the first mention in Isaiah to the New Testament books, let’s review what it means to us as ministers of the Gospel.
How Do Feet Relate to Evangelism?
1.Believers Should “Go”
The feet have several functions. However, the first that we see listed in Isaiah 52:7 is mobility. Isaiah exclaimed, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news.” The herald in this text went from place to place declaring good news. That speaks volumes about how we should share the Gospel.
Do you remember what Yeshua told His disciples when He gave them the Great Commission? He said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
At times, we stay in our comfort zones, hoping that people will someday accept Yeshua as the Messiah of Israel. This mindset is against God’s will for Israel and the world. Why? Because believers are instrumental in the spread of the Gospel.
When Yeshua called Simon and Andrew to be His disciples, His words were, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). This statement implies they will hunt for men and not wait for them to simply show up. For Israel to accept Yeshua as the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah, believers must take the Gospel to them. As Paul said in his second letter to Corinth, we are ambassadors for Christ (II Corinthians 5:20).
I am thankful to God that technology allows us to evangelize faster and farther today than our feet can take us. And that has helped our ministry and other international media ministries like ours. So, regardless of the medium, we must be on the move seeking out the lost.
2.Christians Need to Take a Stand Against False Teachings
Wrong interpretations of the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah and other scriptures are becoming more popular today. Anyone who has shared the Gospel often with the Jewish people is used to hearing them quote one Rabbi or another’s misinterpretations of Scripture. That was also a problem at Corinth when Paul wrote his second letter.
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand. (I Corinthians 15:1)
Christians must be adequately schooled in the prophetic scriptures to spot and correct false teachings. The theme message of the prophetic scriptures is always salvation through faith (II Timothy 3:15). In the fullness of time, Yeshua fulfilled all the prophets said about the Messiah (Act 13:32-33).
3.Believers Are Heralds of a Beautiful Message
Finally, the beauty of the herald’s feet in Isaiah 52:7 can be attached to his message. Isaiah said, “Who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'” The reconciliation of man back to God is too beautiful a news to keep quiet. One of the Messianic prophecies in Isaiah says,
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound.” (Isaiah 61:1)
Heralds of the Gospel have beautiful feet because they announce a beautiful message – the victory of Yeshua over sin.
Final Thoughts
The word “feet” reminds us of our God-given mandate to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. We should be mission-minded. As you share the Gospel, there is also a need to take your stand on the truth. Regardless of people’s opinions, preach the beautiful story of how Yeshua paid for the world’s sins.