In the preceding segment, we analyzed the covenantal blessings granted through the patriarch Abraham, with particular emphasis on those extended to the nations and their fulfillment in Abraham’s One and true descendant, Jesus Christ. Prior to moving into the heart of the blessings of Abraham to the nations and how they relate to Christ and the end-times, we must take a moment to reflect upon the condition of the nations prior to Jesus’ first coming. Understanding the nations’ condition before His arrival is essential to grasp the impact of this Messianic shift. We will divide this into two segments mainly the State of the Nations in the Old Testament and the following post, the State of the Nations under the New Testament.
War Against God
When we consider the state of the nations in the Old Testament, we quickly realize there is little focus upon the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promises to the nations in that age. The nations, for the most part in the Old Testament, are at war with Israel and in return with God. Abraham’s physical descendants were constantly under the threat of these surrounding pagan nations. The nation of Egypt, who originally blessed the Hebrews, would eventually turn on them and keep them in the bondage of slavery for many years. God would redeem His people by defeating this great nation, freeing its slaves and plundering its goods. The nations in the land of Canaan were no different than Pharaoh in their hostility against the Hebrews.
Idolaters
When the Hebrews arrived at the promised land, they discovered quickly that the indigenous tribes had not received a revelation from Yahweh. These nations practiced things that were an abomination to God (Deuteronomy 9:4-5). They did not worship the One True God but worshipped false gods (Deuteronomy 12:2), gods who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, (Deuteronomy 18:10). Yahweh warned Israel not to defile themselves with the nations surrounding them:
‘Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled. (Leviticus 18:24)
The presence of those who arrived from Egypt after the exodus changed very little. If anything, Abraham’s descendants, rather than blessing the nations, took upon themselves the covenant curses by adopting their ungodly practices and being willing participants in the worship of their idols. By the time of King Solomon, after the monarch was warned not to associate with the nations, especially their women, because they’d turn his heart to their gods, the land of Israel was filled with further debaucheries including male cult prostitution, a favourite practice of these pagan nations (1 Kings 14:24). These nations, along with the Israelites, continued to put their sons and daughters through the fire (2 Kings 16:3) and burn incense to their false gods (2 Kings 17:11).
In Darkness
The nations under the old economy were not known by Yahweh (Amos 3:2). There was no familiarity or association with the God of Israel from a familial or national function. These nations, in contrast to the small number of Gentiles who were worshippers of Yahweh, were in darkness and by large happy worshippers of pagan gods. They succeeded in bringing divine judgment against the Israelites which was clearly manifested in their destruction and eventual exile.
A Light to Come
However, the prophets of that era received a revelation indicating that this period of darkness would not persist indefinitely. These prophets foresaw a day where those living in the dark lands would experience a light that would shine upon them in darkness.
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. (Isaiah 9:2)
That light that would come to them would signify a turning of fortunes for the nations. Not only would the Jews benefit from the coming of their Messiah, but the Gentiles would also see His brightness and recognize that the salvation of God had come to them.
“I, the Lord, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, (Isaiah 42:6)
Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” (Isaiah 49:6)
That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; For You will judge the peoples with uprightness And guide the nations on the earth. (Psalm 67:2-4)
“For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the Lord will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. “Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:2-3)
Gentile Worshippers
Before proceeding, it is important to note that some Gentiles worshipped Yahweh before the first coming of Christ. Clearly some such as Moses’ father-in-law Midian worshipped Him (Exodus 3:1), Naaman (2 Kings 5:18) and the entirety of the city of Nineveh including its king (Matthew 12:41). Even the priest Melchizedek, who would model Christ’s priesthood, was a non-Jew (Genesis 14:18). A priest-king that Abraham saw as his better.
What we are attempting to show is that there seems to be an indication that God was planning for the expansion of Gentile worshippers. What we notice about the worship of God in the Old Testament is that there was an expectation that one day the Gentiles would come to the temple to pray. This was disclosed in the very plans to build the temple structure (2 Chronicles 6:32-33). So, the expectation in the Old Testament wasn’t so much that no Gentile worshipped Yahweh prior to Christ but emphasizes that there would be a coming day that Yahweh adoration would be received by the nations on a much larger scale. The Gentile worship of Yahweh would see an expansion.
New Testament Fulfillment
The fulfillment of the above passages was achieved with the coming of the light, Jesus Christ, amongst the nations and His effect upon them. The New Testament states that nations once in darkness are now invited to the light.
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.” (Matthew 4:15-16)
The light was described as first appearing in the region known as Galilee of the Gentiles, which at that time had a diverse population that included both Jews and non-Jews living together in the same community. Both Jews and Gentiles would see this great light, but it would be the Gentiles who would embrace it more abundantly than their Jewish counterparts. It was the spark that would ignite the incoming of the nations and the world. That light was none other than Jesus Christ, the true descendant of Abraham through whom the nations would be awaken as this light dawned.
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
The promises of Isaiah are expanded to include the salvation of the nations. The salvation sworn under this prophet was being fulfilled during the days of the New Testament.
Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ” Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:46-48)
The apostle’s mission was to let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!” (Acts 28:28). How that light would shine, and salvation offered would be clearly shown in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” (Acts 26:23)
According to the text, the message of the gospel is described as the means by which light would reach various nations. It states that this light is associated with Christ’s death and resurrection, extending to both people of Jewish descent and others. The Messiah would bring blessings to them by shining the light of the gospel upon them to save their souls and that salvation would be extended to them regardless of their non-Jewish ethnicity.
Now that we’ve established the state of the nations according to the Old Testament era, we will move to what the New Testament reveals about their condition prior to the coming of the Messianic age. We will be introduced to why the nations are in this state and what God has done through Jesus Christ to remedy it.
The Moncton Herald 