{"id":44672,"date":"2020-11-05T11:38:22","date_gmt":"2020-11-05T08:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=44672"},"modified":"2025-05-07T16:53:02","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T13:53:02","slug":"what-are-the-nations-in-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/11\/05\/what-are-the-nations-in-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Nations in the Bible?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In <\/span>biblical <\/span>terms, “<\/span>nations” <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>the <\/span>people <\/span>groups <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>world <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>part <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>nation <\/span>of <\/span>Israel. <\/span>In <\/span>other <\/span>words, <\/span>the <\/span>nations <\/span>are <\/span>the <\/span>peoples <\/span>outside <\/span>of <\/span>Israel, <\/span>often <\/span>referred <\/span>to <\/span>as “<\/span>Gentiles” <\/span>or “<\/span>the <\/span>Gentile <\/span>world.”<\/span><\/p>\n

When <\/span>God <\/span>began <\/span>His <\/span>plan <\/span>to <\/span>restore <\/span>the <\/span>relationship <\/span>with <\/span>mankind, <\/span>which <\/span>was <\/span>lost <\/span>since <\/span>the <\/span>fall <\/span>of <\/span>Adam <\/span>and <\/span>Eve <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>Garden <\/span>of <\/span>Eden, <\/span>He <\/span>started <\/span>with <\/span>just <\/span>one <\/span>nation, <\/span>Israel. <\/span>This <\/span>nation <\/span>began <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>man <\/span>named <\/span>Abraham, <\/span>who <\/span>was <\/span>the <\/span>father <\/span>of <\/span>Isaac, <\/span>Isaac <\/span>fathered <\/span>Jacob, <\/span>and <\/span>Jacob (<\/span>also <\/span>called <\/span>Israel) <\/span>had <\/span>twelve <\/span>sons. <\/span>These <\/span>sons <\/span>became <\/span>the <\/span>twelve <\/span>tribes <\/span>of <\/span>Israel, <\/span>and <\/span>through <\/span>them, <\/span>Israel <\/span>grew <\/span>into <\/span>a <\/span>large <\/span>nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>people <\/span>outside <\/span>of <\/span>Israel, <\/span>those <\/span>who <\/span>were <\/span>not <\/span>descendants <\/span>of <\/span>Abraham, <\/span>are <\/span>referred <\/span>to <\/span>as <\/span>the “<\/span>nations” (<\/span>Gentiles). <\/span>The <\/span>Bible <\/span>mentions <\/span>various <\/span>people <\/span>groups <\/span>like <\/span>the <\/span>Egyptians (<\/span>now <\/span>modern-<\/span>day <\/span>Egypt), <\/span>the <\/span>Assyrians (<\/span>modern-<\/span>day <\/span>Syria), <\/span>the <\/span>Cushites (<\/span>located <\/span>in <\/span>Africa), <\/span>the <\/span>Chaldeans (<\/span>modern-<\/span>day <\/span>Iraq), <\/span>the <\/span>people <\/span>of <\/span>India, <\/span>the <\/span>Persians <\/span>and <\/span>Medes (<\/span>now <\/span>in <\/span>parts <\/span>of <\/span>Kuwait, <\/span>Qatar, <\/span>UAE, <\/span>and <\/span>Saudi <\/span>Arabia), <\/span>the <\/span>Romans (<\/span>modern <\/span>Italy), <\/span>the <\/span>Greeks (<\/span>modern <\/span>Greece), <\/span>and <\/span>many <\/span>others. <\/span>All <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>were <\/span>considered <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>nations <\/span>or <\/span>Gentiles.<\/span><\/p>\n

For <\/span>over <\/span>1,500 <\/span>years, <\/span>God <\/span>interacted <\/span>primarily <\/span>with <\/span>Israel <\/span>alone. <\/span>He <\/span>did <\/span>not <\/span>engage <\/span>directly <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>other <\/span>nations, <\/span>regardless <\/span>of <\/span>their <\/span>advancements <\/span>or <\/span>moral <\/span>standing. <\/span>The <\/span>Ten <\/span>Commandments <\/span>were <\/span>given <\/span>to <\/span>Israel, <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>nations. <\/span>The <\/span>entire <\/span>Old <\/span>Testament <\/span>primarily <\/span>focuses <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>history <\/span>and <\/span>conduct <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>people <\/span>of <\/span>Israel, <\/span>their <\/span>covenant <\/span>with <\/span>God, <\/span>and <\/span>their <\/span>relationship <\/span>with <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>not <\/span>that <\/span>God <\/span>had <\/span>no <\/span>plan <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>nations; <\/span>rather, <\/span>His <\/span>plan <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>nations <\/span>was <\/span>always <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>future. <\/span>Just <\/span>like <\/span>a <\/span>mother <\/span>who <\/span>must <\/span>give <\/span>birth <\/span>to <\/span>her <\/span>firstborn <\/span>child <\/span>before <\/span>she <\/span>can <\/span>have <\/span>others, <\/span>Israel <\/span>was <\/span>considered <\/span>God\u2019s “<\/span>firstborn” <\/span>nation. <\/span>In <\/span>this <\/span>way, <\/span>God <\/span>first <\/span>focused <\/span>on <\/span>Israel, <\/span>but <\/span>He <\/span>always <\/span>intended <\/span>to <\/span>bring <\/span>salvation <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles <\/span>as <\/span>well, <\/span>just <\/span>not <\/span>until <\/span>the <\/span>right <\/span>time.<\/span><\/p>\n

In <\/span>Exodus <\/span>4:<\/span>22, <\/span>God <\/span>refers <\/span>to <\/span>Israel <\/span>as <\/span>His “<\/span>firstborn” <\/span>son:<\/span>
\u201c<\/span>Then <\/span>say <\/span>to <\/span>Pharaoh, \u2018<\/span>This <\/span>is <\/span>what <\/span>the <\/span>LORD <\/span>says: <\/span>Israel <\/span>is <\/span>my <\/span>firstborn <\/span>son.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>came <\/span>for <\/span>the “<\/span>secondborn” (<\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles) <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>born <\/span>into <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>kingdom, <\/span>God <\/span>began <\/span>His <\/span>plan <\/span>for <\/span>their <\/span>salvation <\/span>through <\/span>His <\/span>Son, <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>came <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>Savior <\/span>not <\/span>just <\/span>for <\/span>Israel, <\/span>but <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>entire <\/span>world. <\/span>The <\/span>shift <\/span>from <\/span>Israel <\/span>as <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>chosen <\/span>people <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>inclusion <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles <\/span>marked <\/span>a <\/span>pivotal <\/span>moment <\/span>in <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>redemptive <\/span>plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul <\/span>writes <\/span>in <\/span>Romans <\/span>11:<\/span>25, <\/span>explaining <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>hardening <\/span>of <\/span>Israel <\/span>would <\/span>continue <\/span>until <\/span>the <\/span>full <\/span>number <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles <\/span>had <\/span>come <\/span>to <\/span>salvation:<\/span>
\u201c<\/span>I <\/span>do <\/span>not <\/span>want <\/span>you <\/span>to <\/span>be <\/span>ignorant <\/span>of <\/span>this <\/span>mystery, <\/span>brothers <\/span>and <\/span>sisters, <\/span>so <\/span>that <\/span>you <\/span>may <\/span>not <\/span>be <\/span>conceited: <\/span>Israel <\/span>has <\/span>experienced <\/span>a <\/span>hardening <\/span>in <\/span>part <\/span>until <\/span>the <\/span>full <\/span>number <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles <\/span>has <\/span>come <\/span>in.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

From <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>death <\/span>and <\/span>resurrection <\/span>to <\/span>today, <\/span>the <\/span>door <\/span>of <\/span>salvation <\/span>has <\/span>been <\/span>open <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>nations. <\/span>Anyone, <\/span>Jew <\/span>or <\/span>Gentile, <\/span>can <\/span>come <\/span>to <\/span>God <\/span>through <\/span>faith <\/span>in <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ <\/span>and <\/span>be <\/span>part <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>spiritual <\/span>blessings <\/span>once <\/span>reserved <\/span>for <\/span>Israel.<\/span><\/p>\n

This <\/span>concept <\/span>of <\/span>Gentiles <\/span>being <\/span>included <\/span>in <\/span>God’s <\/span>promises <\/span>was <\/span>a <\/span>mystery <\/span>revealed <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>New <\/span>Testament. <\/span>Paul <\/span>explains <\/span>this <\/span>mystery <\/span>in <\/span>Ephesians <\/span>3:<\/span>4-<\/span>6:<\/span>
\u201c<\/span>In <\/span>reading <\/span>this, <\/span>then, <\/span>you <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>able <\/span>to <\/span>understand <\/span>my <\/span>insight <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>mystery <\/span>of <\/span>Christ, <\/span>which <\/span>was <\/span>not <\/span>made <\/span>known <\/span>to <\/span>people <\/span>in <\/span>other <\/span>generations <\/span>as <\/span>it <\/span>has <\/span>now <\/span>been <\/span>revealed <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>Spirit <\/span>to <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>holy <\/span>apostles <\/span>and <\/span>prophets. <\/span>This <\/span>mystery <\/span>is <\/span>that <\/span>through <\/span>the <\/span>gospel <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles <\/span>are <\/span>heirs <\/span>together <\/span>with <\/span>Israel, <\/span>members <\/span>together <\/span>of <\/span>one <\/span>body, <\/span>and <\/span>sharers <\/span>together <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>promise <\/span>in <\/span>Christ <\/span>Jesus.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

Through <\/span>Jesus, <\/span>God <\/span>has <\/span>opened <\/span>the <\/span>door <\/span>of <\/span>grace <\/span>to <\/span>all <\/span>nations. <\/span>The <\/span>Gentiles, <\/span>once <\/span>considered <\/span>outsiders, <\/span>are <\/span>now <\/span>fellow <\/span>heirs <\/span>of <\/span>God’s <\/span>promises, <\/span>having <\/span>been <\/span>grafted <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>family <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>through <\/span>faith <\/span>in <\/span>Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, <\/span>this <\/span>period <\/span>of <\/span>grace <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles <\/span>will <\/span>not <\/span>last <\/span>forever. <\/span>Paul <\/span>also <\/span>warns <\/span>that <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>is <\/span>coming <\/span>when <\/span>the <\/span>Gentile <\/span>era <\/span>will <\/span>end <\/span>with <\/span>the <\/span>rapture, <\/span>and <\/span>God <\/span>will <\/span>once <\/span>again <\/span>turn <\/span>His <\/span>attention <\/span>to <\/span>Israel, <\/span>fulfilling <\/span>His <\/span>promises <\/span>to <\/span>them. <\/span>The “<\/span>fullness <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles” <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>reached, <\/span>and <\/span>Israel <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>restored <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>last <\/span>days.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jesus’ <\/span>second <\/span>coming <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>followed <\/span>by <\/span>a <\/span>period <\/span>of <\/span>judgment <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>nations, <\/span>and <\/span>then <\/span>the <\/span>establishment <\/span>of <\/span>His <\/span>millennial <\/span>kingdom. <\/span>This <\/span>time <\/span>of <\/span>peace <\/span>and <\/span>righteousness <\/span>will <\/span>last <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>thousand <\/span>years, <\/span>where <\/span>Jesus <\/span>will <\/span>reign <\/span>over <\/span>the <\/span>earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>urgency <\/span>of <\/span>this <\/span>truth <\/span>is <\/span>clear. <\/span>If <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>not <\/span>received <\/span>Christ <\/span>yet, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>to <\/span>do <\/span>so, <\/span>because <\/span>the <\/span>period <\/span>of <\/span>grace <\/span>is <\/span>quickly <\/span>coming <\/span>to <\/span>an <\/span>end. <\/span>If <\/span>you <\/span>are <\/span>still <\/span>outside <\/span>of <\/span>God’s <\/span>grace, <\/span>you <\/span>are <\/span>among <\/span>the <\/span>Gentiles, <\/span>but <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>be <\/span>brought <\/span>into <\/span>the <\/span>family <\/span>of <\/span>God <\/span>through <\/span>Jesus <\/span>Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

As <\/span>it <\/span>says <\/span>in <\/span>2 <\/span>Corinthians <\/span>6:<\/span>2:<\/span>
\u201c<\/span>For <\/span>he <\/span>says, \u2018<\/span>In <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>of <\/span>my <\/span>favor <\/span>I <\/span>heard <\/span>you, <\/span>and <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>salvation <\/span>I <\/span>helped <\/span>you.\u2019 <\/span>I <\/span>tell <\/span>you, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>time <\/span>of <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>favor, <\/span>now <\/span>is <\/span>the <\/span>day <\/span>of <\/span>salvation.\u201d<\/span><\/em> (<\/span>NIV)<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, <\/span>all <\/span>people <\/span>who <\/span>are <\/span>not <\/span>in <\/span>Christ <\/span>are <\/span>still <\/span>considered <\/span>as “<\/span>the <\/span>nations” <\/span>in <\/span>this <\/span>present <\/span>age <\/span>of <\/span>grace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maranatha!<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span>Come, <\/span>Lord Jesus)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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