Mission of Israel

Israel as a channel of God’s blessing

Blessings for all people through Abraham

Genesis 18:18 NKJV

since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

See also Ge 12:2–3; Ge 22:18; Ge 26:4 God’s promise repeated to Isaac; Ge 28:13–14 God’s promise repeated to Jacob; Ac 3:25; Ga 3:8

Israel’s call to be a nation of priests

Exodus 19:5–6 NKJV

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

See also Is 61:6

God’s desire to display his glory

God’s glory is to fill the earth

Habakkuk 2:14 NKJV

For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, As the waters cover the sea.

See also Nu 14:21; Ps 72:18–19; Is 6:3

God’s people display his glory

Isaiah 60:1–3 NKJV

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

See also Is 46:13; Is 49:3; Is 55:5

God’s people declare his glory among the nations

Psalm 96:3 NKJV

Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.

See also Ps 57:9; Ps 96:10; Ps 105:1–2; Ps 145:11–12

The nations will be drawn to God’s people

In recognition of God’s presence among his people

Zechariah 8:20–23 NKJV

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Peoples shall yet come, Inhabitants of many cities; The inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, “Let us continue to go and pray before the Lord, And seek the Lord of hosts. I myself will go also.” Yes, many peoples and strong nations Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, And to pray before the Lord.’ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”

See also 1 Ki 10:1; Is 45:14; Je 16:19; Eze 37:27–28; Eze 39:7

To Jerusalem as the centre of universal worship

Isaiah 2:2–4 NKJV

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.

See also Is 11:9; Is 25:6–8; Is 27:13; Is 56:6–8; Zec 14:16

God made known through his mighty acts

God’s deliverance of Israel

Exodus 7:5 NKJV

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

See also Ps 98:1–3; Ps 102:15–16; Is 49:26; Eze 38:23

God’s action on behalf of Israel

Exodus 34:10 NKJV

And He said: “Behold, I make a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation; and all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord. For it is an awesome thing that I will do with you.

See also Ex 8:19; Jos 4:24; 1 Ki 8:41–43; Ps 67:1–4; Ps 126:2

God’s renewal of Israel

Ezekiel 36:23 NKJV

And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.

See also Eze 20:40–41; Eze 28:24–25; Eze 38:16

Israel as a witness to other nations

God’s people sent to other nations

Isaiah 66:19 NKJV

I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.

See also 1 Ki 17:9; Jon 1:2; Jon 3:2; Mt 23:15

Examples of God’s people bearing witness to him

Ge 41:16 Joseph; Ex 7:16–17 Moses and Aaron; 2 Ki 5:3 Naaman’s servant girl; Da 2:44–47 Daniel; Da 3:16–18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego

Israel’s failure in mission

Isaiah 26:18 NKJV

We have been with child, we have been in pain; We have, as it were, brought forth wind; We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth, Nor have the inhabitants of the world fallen.

See also Eze 36:20–21

The fulfilment of God’s mission through Israel

The mission of God’s Messiah

Isaiah 11:10 NKJV

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious.”

See also Ro 15:12; Ps 72:17 God’s promise to Abraham is fulfilled through the Messianic king; Ga 3:16

The mission of God’s servant

Isaiah 49:6 NKJV

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.’ ”

See also Is 42:1–6; Is 52:15 “So shall He sprinkle many nations. Kings shall shut their mouths at Him; For what had not been told them they shall see, And what they had not heard they shall consider.”

The mission of the church

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

See also Ro 15:16