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5 Bible Verses about the Nations
When we read about the nations in the Bible, are they the bad guys or the victims? Are we supposed to recoil in horror at their rejection of God and His people, or yearn with broken hearts for their restoration to relationship with God? Here are five verses which help us understand more of God’s heart for the nations.
Genesis 22:18 – Blessing to all the nations
Through the Old Testament, God promises to bring blessing to all the nations. A vital piece of information is found in this verse – that this promise would be fulfilled through Abraham’s ‘seed’. Galatians 3:16 tells us more, emphasising that this seed is singular not plural, and identifies Jesus Christ as the One through whom the nations are blessed. May every nation come to know of this promise!
Matthew 28:19 – Make disciples of all peoples
The Great Commission contains a call to make disciples of all nations, however we make a mistake if we consider ‘nations’ to refer to the lines on our modern maps. The Greek word ethnē, is the root of the word ‘ethnicity’, and this reveals the true meaning of the word ‘nations’. The task before us is to reach the thousands of diverse people groups in our world, so that God may be known by each and every one.
Matthew 24:14 – Every nation will hear
Jesus’ words here promise that the gospel will be preached to every nation before the end. But a few verses earlier, he highlights that many believers will suffer in their efforts to fulfil this task, and that some will lose their lives.
History has proven this to be true, as we consider the hardships and persecution facing many Christians even today. But we continue to work towards that Great Commission in light of the promised success of God’s plan of salvation.
Revelation 5:9 – A great multitude from all nations
Revelation 5 gives us a glimpse into the endgame, where God’s purposes for the nations are fulfilled. The scene here is of a great multitude, more than can be numbered, from all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues. Their place in that great gathering has been secured by the blood of the Lamb.
As we share the gospel of Jesus Christ among the unreached, we have the confident assurance that we will one day join with people from all nations before the throne!
Psalm 67:3 – Let all the peoples praise
This great missionary Psalm helps us pray and praise in line with God’s heart for the nations. The Psalmist notes three things that God desires: that His ways are known, that His saving power is displayed and that the peoples of the earth are glad. The culmination of God’s plans and purposes for people of all cultures, right across our world, is that the peoples will praise Him and the nations will be glad.
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