Mission of Israel

Israel as a channel of God’s blessing

Blessings for all people through Abraham

Genesis 18:18 CSB

Abraham is to become a great and powerful nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through 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 CSB

Now if you will carefully listen to me and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession out of all the peoples, although the whole earth is mine, and you will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites.”

See also Is 61:6

God’s desire to display his glory

God’s glory is to fill the earth

Habakkuk 2:14 CSB

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord’s glory, as the water covers the sea.

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

God’s people display his glory

Isaiah 60:1–3 CSB

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord shines over you. For look, darkness will cover the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the Lord will shine over you, and his glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to your shining brightness.

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

God’s people declare his glory among the nations

Psalm 96:3 CSB

Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works 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 CSB

The Lord of Armies says this: “Peoples will yet come, the residents of many cities; the residents of one city will go to another, saying: Let’s go at once to plead for the Lord’s favor and to seek the Lord of Armies. I am also going. Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the Lord of Armies in Jerusalem and to plead for the Lord’s favor.” The Lord of Armies says this: “In those days, ten men from nations of every language will grab the robe of a Jewish man tightly, urging: 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 CSB

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. All nations will stream to it, and many peoples will come and say, “Come, let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about his ways so that we may walk in his paths.” For instruction will go out of Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not take up the sword against nation, and they will never again train for war.

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 CSB

The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the Israelites 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 CSB

And the Lord responded, “Look, I am making a covenant. In the presence of all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done in the whole earth or in any nation. All the people you live among will see the Lord’s work, for what I am doing with you is awe-inspiring.

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 CSB

I will honor the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord—this is the declaration of the Lord God—when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.

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 CSB

I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, Lud (who are archers), Tubal, Javan, and the coasts and islands far away—who have not heard about me or seen my glory. And they will proclaim my glory among the nations.

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 CSB

We became pregnant, we writhed in pain; we gave birth to wind. We have won no victories on earth, and the earth’s inhabitants have not fallen.

See also Eze 36:20–21

The fulfilment of God’s mission through Israel

The mission of God’s Messiah

Isaiah 11:10 CSB

On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will look to him for guidance, and his resting place will 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 CSB

he says, “It is not enough for you to be my servant raising up the tribes of Jacob and restoring the protected ones of Israel. I will also make you a light for the nations, to be my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

See also Is 42:1–6; Is 52:15

The mission of the church

1 Peter 2:9 CSB

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

See also Ro 15:16