God chose Israel to be his own people, and bring the good news of his salvation to the world. God's mission through Israel is fulfilled in the mission of his servant and continues through the mission of the church.
Israel as a channel of God's blessing
Blessings for all people through Abraham
Genesis 18:18 See also Genesis 12:2–3, Genesis 22:18, Genesis 26:4 God's promise repeated to Isaac; Genesis 28:13–14 God's promise repeated to Jacob; Acts 3:25; Galatians 3:8
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed.
Israel's call to be a nation of priests
Exodus 19:5–6 See also Isaiah 61:6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations — for the whole earth is Mine. And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
God's desire to display his glory
God's glory is to fill the earth
Habakkuk 2:14 See also Numbers 14:21; Psalm 72:18–19; Isaiah 6:3
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.
God's people display his glory
Isaiah 60:1–3 See also Isaiah 46:13, Isaiah 49:3, Isaiah 55:5
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
God's people declare his glory among the nations
Psalm 96:3 See also Psalm 57:9, Psalm 96:10, Psalm 105:1–2 parallel 1 Chronicles 16:8–9; Psalm 145:11–12
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
The nations will be drawn to God's people
In recognition of God's presence among his people
Zechariah 8:20–23 See also 1 Kings 10:1 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:1; Isaiah 45:14; Jeremiah 16:19; Ezekiel 37:27–28, Ezekiel 39:7
This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Peoples will yet come — the residents of many cities — and the residents of one city will go to another, saying: ‘Let us go at once to plead before the LORD and to seek the LORD of Hosts. I myself am going.’ And many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead before the LORD.” This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “In those days ten men from the nations of every tongue will tightly grasp the robe of a Jew, saying, ‘Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’”
To Jerusalem as the centre of universal worship
Isaiah 2:2–4 parallel Micah 4:1–3 See also Isaiah 11:9, Isaiah 25:6–8, Isaiah 27:13, Isaiah 56:6–8; Zechariah 14:16
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
God made known through his mighty acts
God's deliverance of Israel
Exodus 7:5 See also Psalm 98:1–3, Psalm 102:15–16; Isaiah 49:26; Ezekiel 38:23
And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them.”
God's action on behalf of Israel
Exodus 34:10 See also Exodus 8:19; Joshua 4:24; 1 Kings 8:41–43 parallel 2 Chronicles 6:32–33; Psalm 67:1–4, Psalm 126:2
And the LORD said, “Behold, I am making a covenant. Before all your people I will perform wonders that have never been done in any nation in all the world. All the people among whom you live will see the LORD’s work, for it is an awesome thing that I am doing with you.
God's renewal of Israel
Ezekiel 36:23 See also Ezekiel 20:40–41, Ezekiel 28:24–25, Ezekiel 38:16
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.
Israel as a witness to other nations
God's people sent to other nations
Isaiah 66:19 See also 1 Kings 17:9; Jonah 1:2, Jonah 3:2; Matthew 23:15
I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations — to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations.
Examples of God's people bearing witness to him
Genesis 41:16 Joseph; Exodus 7:16–17 Moses and Aaron; 2 Kings 5:3 Naaman's servant girl; Daniel 2:44–47 Daniel; Daniel 3:16–18 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
Israel's failure in mission
Isaiah 26:18 See also Ezekiel 36:20–21
We were with child; we writhed in pain; but we gave birth to wind. We have given no salvation to the earth, nor brought any life into the world.
The fulfilment of God's mission through Israel
The mission of God's Messiah
Isaiah 11:10 See also Romans 15:12; Psalm 72:17 God's promise to Abraham is fulfilled through the Messianic king; Galatians 3:16
On that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will seek Him, and His place of rest will be glorious.
The mission of God's servant
Isaiah 49:6 See also Isaiah 42:1–6, Isaiah 52:15
He says: “It is not enough for You to be My Servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the protected ones of Israel. I will also make You a light for the nations, to bring My salvation to the ends of the earth.”
The mission of the church
1 Peter 2:9 See also Romans 15:16
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.