Ascetic X
Well-Known Member
Some people mistakenly think that Abraham’s blessing to all tribes of the earth, and the purpose of Israel’s existence, was only to bring the promised Messiah and Redeemer of humanity. While that was the most blessed outcome, there was a lot more to it.
There is an abundance of evidence throughout the Old Testament that a huge purpose of Israel was to be a lesson to the entire world. There is no way anyone could miss this.
The Old Testament is loaded with the missiological work of Israel, including when they were in Egyptian and Babylonian captivity. The story of Jonah is a shining example.
God’s promises of blessing through Abraham and his seed—both the plural “succession of representatives” and Christ who is “both part of that succession and the final consummation” of it —reveal God’s missionary intent. Similarly, God’s self-revelation at the time of the exodus ensured that the Egyptians would “know” him and that his name would “be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exod 9:14, 16).
The “mixed multitude” (Exod 12:38) that joined the exodus indicates that many Egyptians came to know Yahweh as he overthrew their gods.
By establishing his covenant with Israel and setting them apart as his treasured possession, a universal ethical standard, a kingdom of prophets and priests, and a holy nation (Exod 19: 4–6), God intended that they actively represent him to the nations.
The patriarchs beginning with Abraham were careful about how their actions were perceived by the surrounding heathen peoples, and when they were bad examples, causing the pagans to mock the one true God, there were serious repercussions.
Ezekiel 36
19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered throughout the lands. I judged them according to their ways and deeds.
20 And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’
21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.
22 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.
23 I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.
Read Isaiah again and notice how many times the LORD declared about gentile nations, “then they will know that I am the LORD God.”
The fact that the Magi from Persia came to worship the young Jesus is an example of how Israel was an effective God ordained light to the gentile world.
There is an abundance of evidence throughout the Old Testament that a huge purpose of Israel was to be a lesson to the entire world. There is no way anyone could miss this.
The Old Testament is loaded with the missiological work of Israel, including when they were in Egyptian and Babylonian captivity. The story of Jonah is a shining example.
God’s promises of blessing through Abraham and his seed—both the plural “succession of representatives” and Christ who is “both part of that succession and the final consummation” of it —reveal God’s missionary intent. Similarly, God’s self-revelation at the time of the exodus ensured that the Egyptians would “know” him and that his name would “be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exod 9:14, 16).
The “mixed multitude” (Exod 12:38) that joined the exodus indicates that many Egyptians came to know Yahweh as he overthrew their gods.
By establishing his covenant with Israel and setting them apart as his treasured possession, a universal ethical standard, a kingdom of prophets and priests, and a holy nation (Exod 19: 4–6), God intended that they actively represent him to the nations.
The patriarchs beginning with Abraham were careful about how their actions were perceived by the surrounding heathen peoples, and when they were bad examples, causing the pagans to mock the one true God, there were serious repercussions.
Ezekiel 36
19 I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered throughout the lands. I judged them according to their ways and deeds.
20 And wherever they went among the nations, they profaned My holy name, because it was said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, yet they had to leave His land.’
21 But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they had gone.
22 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: It is not for your sake that I will act, O house of Israel, but for My holy name, which you profaned among the nations to which you went.
23 I will show the holiness of My great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when I show My holiness in you before their eyes.
Read Isaiah again and notice how many times the LORD declared about gentile nations, “then they will know that I am the LORD God.”
The fact that the Magi from Persia came to worship the young Jesus is an example of how Israel was an effective God ordained light to the gentile world.
