The Story of the Bible
God's Work Among the Nations: The Story of the Bible
Have you ever started strong in a 1-year Bible reading plan only to find yourself skipping sections when you get to a genealogy list like the one found in Genesis chapter 10?
Why is it so difficult to keep our attention focused while reading genealogy lists? Perhaps the names sound unfamiliar, they are hard to pronounce, or we don’t see why the list of names is relevant to us today. I think that the main reason is because we are naturally interested in the story of the Bible and not in the lists. We can get so caught up in the narrative that we overlook important details; details that the author knows are extremely important.
The story of the Bible is captivating. We see glorious kingdoms, deceit, rebellion, intrigue, suffering, victory, redemption, restoration. We know that the Bible is about the Messiah, so we rightly want to focus on Him. And in the Old Testament we see the story of God’s people leading up to the coming of the Messiah. As we are reading the Old Testament, we can develop blinders where we focus only on the nation of Israel and consider any deviation from their story to be a side-track from the main story of the Bible.
But the Bible frequently steps away from the story of Israel to focus on the other nations of the world. And these are not deviations from the main story; these are main points in the main story. That is because the main story of the Old Testament is not the nation of Israel, but it is about God and how He is preparing the whole world for the coming of His Son, the Messiah through the nation of Israel. And that’s not a minor difference, it’s a major distinction to make.
Have you ever noticed that there are major portions of the Old Testament that aren’t about Israel at all but are speaking about (and to) the other nations of the earth? Isaiah chapters 10-34 are written to the other nations, not to the nation of Israel. That’s a sizable chunk of one of the largest books in the Old Testament. Likewise, Ezekiel 25-32, eight whole chapters of that book are written to the other nations. When you read the major and minor prophets you will notice that significant portions (and some of the most well-known memory verses) are written to the nations of the earth, not to Israel alone.
Here are some examples:
In Daniel 4:1 & 35 King Nebuchadnezzar address all the nations of the earth:
To those of every people, nation, and language, who live in all the earth… Then I praised the Most High and honored and glorified Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does what He wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can hold back His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?”
Joel 3:12-13
Let the nations be roused and come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the surrounding nations. Swing the sickle because the harvest is ripe. Come and trample the grapes because the winepress is full; the wine vats overflow because the wickedness of the nations is great.
Amos 9:11-12 (which is quoted by Peter in Acts 15)
In that day I will restore the fallen booth of David: I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that are called by My name — this is the LORD’S declaration — He will do this.
Zechariah 2:10-11
Daughter Zion, shout for joy and be glad, for I am coming to dwell among you” — this is the LORD’S declaration. “Many nations will join themselves to the LORD on that day and become My people. I will dwell among you, and you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me to you.
Zech. 8:22-23
Many peoples and strong nations will come to seek the LORD of Hosts in Jerusalem and to plead for the LORD’S favor.” The LORD of Hosts says this: “In those days, 10 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.”
Isa. 2:1-3
The vision that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 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 us 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.
Isa. 49:5-6
And now, says the LORD, who formed me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him so that Israel might be gathered to Him; for I am honored in the sight of the LORD, and my God is my strength-- 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."
Lk. 2:29-32 (When Simeon sees Jesus in the Temple)
Now, Master, You can dismiss Your slave in peace, as You promised. For my eyes have seen Your salvation. You have prepared it in the presence of all peoples-- a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to Your people Israel.
Ps. 86:9
All the nations You have made will come and bow down before You, Lord, and will honor Your name.
This story about God’s work among the nations is not an add-on component to the story of Israel, it actually starts before the beginnings of Israel back in Genesis chapter 10. This genealogical list starting with Noah is an introduction to one of the major themes of scripture that will run from Genesis to Revelation. God’s work among the nations of the earth will be on display to demonstrate His glory through their rebellion, judgment, and ultimately their redemption and restoration - all accomplished through Jesus the Messiah.
Genealogies can be difficult for us to read through as we are often more interested in the narrative portions of scripture, but they are vital to understanding what God has communicated to us in His word. The list of Noah’s descendants in Genesis 10 gives us the background to the story of redemption that transforms the whole earth.
Thought for prayer and meditation: Lord, thank you for sending your Son to redeem people from every nation. We pray that the message of your salvation would go out to the ends of the earth.
