Israel the Center for Global Witness

[ITS]

In light of Israel's cultural and early experiences, how do we know that her primary purpose was to be the center for global witness?

[jwdwwjd]

In light of Israel's cultural and early experiences, how do we know that her primary purpose was to be the center for global witness?
I will anwser as much time as I have, and will return to the forum later.

This is a tough question, there were many things that happened early in the history of Isreal which were amazing. In calling it a center for Global Witness, is a measure of faith. God delivered his people, he took care of them coming out of Epypt, and the took care of them in the desert. He prepared Moses for this. It is of one's faith to believe this and spread the good news. This was preparing the way for Chirst.

[Vern]

Genesis begins with the history of Israel in Abraham. God promised him that he would become a great nation, that he would be blessed and that he would be a blessing.
Another key point lies in the promise that in Abraham all nations would be blessed. This means that through his descendents all the world would be blessed. This promise fulfilled in Jesus became the focal point of global witness.
The "land" was of great concern early in the Abrahamic covenant, which is presently the hotbed of activity.

[Vern]

Faith plays a major role in witnessing. In ancient Israel's case, obedience,which is tied to faith, seemed to be the key. Whenever Israel obeyed the Law, the nation was blessed as well as the nations surrounding them. This can be seen in the reigns of David and Solomon, although Solomon began turning from this deep faith of his father. During their reigns, the nation was prosperous and at peace. However, both before and after their times, the entire nation no longer were testimonies to the true God because they did not obey.
Throughout the Pentateuch, God was at work in spite of the people's disobedience. His covenant with them was kept because He is sovereign. Sometimes God works even if our faith wavers because He has a plan.

[Khoi]

First and foremost, we know that Israel?s primary purpose to be the center for global witness is rooted in the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12:2-3). The three things that God promised were: 1) land, 2) seed, and 3) blessings. By His covenant with Abraham and the Israelites and the fulfillment of the promises, all other nations would see the power and sovereignty of God. God?s blessings (and curses) on the Israelites would show the rest of the world that God was a personal deity and intimately involved with man?s affairs. Consequently then, the nation of Israel provides a recorded history of God?s absolute sovereignty as revealed and testified in the Old Testament literature.

[Khoi]

In light of Israel's cultural and early experiences, how do we know that her primary purpose was to be the center for global witness?
It is of one's faith to believe this and spread the good news. This was preparing the way for Chirst.

________________________________________________

God?s primary activities with mankind were designated through Abraham and his seed. Faith, demonstrated by Abraham, established the importance of faith and righteousness (Genesis 15:6) by which salvation would be given by Jesus Christ (c.f. Galatians 3:6-18, 29). Faith also establishes that by no other means can salvation come and invalidates all other means and religions (Ephesians 2:8-9). Faith is the central and essential mark of the believer?s life.

[leahc3]

In light of Israel's cultural and early experiences, how do we know that her primary purpose was to be the center for global witness?

God has made known His plan of redemption for all people since the beginning of time. This is made apparent in His relationship with Abraham in which, by faith, "all the nations of the earth will be blessed" by his descendants (Gen 26:4). This is not limited to Israel. He would set them "high above all the nations of the earth" if they obeyed Him as a sign of God's blessing on His people (Deut 28:1). Their conquests, instructed by God, were designed in such a way as to witness to the nations that their strength was not in man, but by the work of God in His people's lives.

[leahc3]

In light of Israel's cultural and early experiences, how do we know that her primary purpose was to be the center for global witness?
I will anwser as much time as I have, and will return to the forum later.

This is a tough question, there were many things that happened early in the history of Isreal which were amazing. In calling it a center for Global Witness, is a measure of faith. God delivered his people, he took care of them coming out of Epypt, and the took care of them in the desert. He prepared Moses for this. It is of one's faith to believe this and spread the good news. This was preparing the way for Chirst.

True, it is of one's faith that Gentiles may have a place in the seed of Abraham where they too can be included in the "all nations" who are blessed. It is also apparent by sight that God has always desired His people to be a display, or "witness", of His power. The very route that he led them through to Canaan was one encountering many nations. He always allowed His power to be shown when His people were obedient to Him. If it was His name that would receive the victory, He would allow Israel the winning to show the nations that Israel's God was above all other gods.

[Jamba81]

In light of Israel's cultural and early experiences, how do we know that her primary purpose was to be the center for global witness?
It is obvious that Israel was to be different from the nations around her, but from what we have in the OT, it's difficult to say for sure that the nation of Israel as a whole saw itself as a "center for global witness." That was part of their role in being God's people, but we can assume from the strong sense nationalism of Israel in Jesus' time that it was quite easy for Israel to not view itself as a beacon of God's light to the world, but a community of people trying above all else not to lose their distinctiveness as a people.

[Jamba81]

. This was preparing the way for Chirst.

That is true since we know that God promised to bless the world through Abraham in Genesis 12, and the ensuing expansions upon this idea in other messianic passages in the OT. I wonder about how much they really understood what that future promise would look like. How much of God's promise to them did they understand with regard to these future blessings?

[Jamba81]

Genesis begins with the history of Israel in Abraham. God promised him that he would become a great nation, that he would be blessed and that he would be a blessing.
Another key point lies in the promise that in Abraham all nations would be blessed. This means that through his descendents all the world would be blessed. This promise fulfilled in Jesus became the focal point of global witness.
The "land" was of great concern early in the Abrahamic covenant, which is presently the hotbed of activity.

In terms of viewing Israel as the center of global witness, it seems their concern had been in receiving this land that God had promised to them over and above their concern that their neighbors come to know YHWH. Of course that should have been a concern for them, and there were those from outside of Israel who did come to a place of worship, but I agree that the land is key in the Abrahamic covenant and consumed more of the focus for Israel that "evangelizing" the nations around them.

[Jamba81]

By His covenant with Abraham and the Israelites and the fulfillment of the promises, all other nations would see the power and sovereignty of God. God?s blessings (and curses) on the Israelites would show the rest of the world that God was a personal deity and intimately involved with man?s affairs.

This is another good point in viewing Israel as the center of global witness in the world. As different people came into contact with Israel, there are examples of YHWH's glory and name being made known. One example is Elijah's challenge to the Baal worshippers on Mount Carmel. Surely the accounts of that happening worked their way around the ancient near east. This is just one example of the pagan nations surrounding Israel coming into contact with knowledge about the one true God.

[Jamba81]

God has made known His plan of redemption for all people since the beginning of time. This is made apparent in His relationship with Abraham in which, by faith, "all the nations of the earth will be blessed" by his descendants (Gen 26:4). This is not limited to Israel. He would set them "high above all the nations of the earth" if they obeyed Him as a sign of God's blessing on His people (Deut 28:1). Their conquests, instructed by God, were designed in such a way as to witness to the nations that their strength was not in man, but by the work of God in His people's lives.

Also not just that God was at work in people's lives, but that the God of Israel would be seen as superior to all the other false gods of their world. Isn't it amazing that God decides to stake so much of his reputation and name on fallen people? There are so many lessons that we as the church need to remember from the life of the nation of Israel, both positives and negatives.

[breannaw]

In light of Israel's cultural and early experiences, how do we know that her primary purpose was to be the center for global witness?

Israel was called from the beginning to be set apart and to be a holy example to all the nations. This began with the call and promise that Abraham received. God provided for His people despite their constant lack of faith in Him; He was always faithful and always cared. Through Abraham all the nations would be blessed, and this promise was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus. He served as witness to the world of the blessing and the promise that was given to Abraham for him to be the global witness of God’s grace, love and mercy through which the nations would be blessed.

[breannaw]

Another key point lies in the promise that in Abraham all nations would be blessed. This means that through his descendents all the world would be blessed. This promise fulfilled in Jesus became the focal point of global witness.

I agree that God was at work in the lives of the Israelites despite their lack of obedience. God continually provides for them, beginning with the calling of a deliverer when they cried out in their bondage. He provided ways for them to be immune to the ten plagues that were brought upon Egypt and He provided a way for them to flee from the Egyptian hand. Despite their groaning and wickedness during their time in the wilderness, God still provided many physical needs for them and reminded them of the promise of land if they remained faithful to Him.

[Haehle]

I agree that God was at work in the lives of the Israelites despite their lack of obedience. God continually provides for them, beginning with the calling of a deliverer when they cried out in their bondage. He provided ways for them to be immune to the ten plagues that were brought upon Egypt and He provided a way for them to flee from the Egyptian hand. Despite their groaning and wickedness during their time in the wilderness, God still provided many physical needs for them and reminded them of the promise of land if they remained faithful to Him.

I agree. I believe Israel's strongest "claim" to global witness is her salvation from slavery in Egypt and (eventual) deliverance to the promised land. In this event, God shows His sovereign power, His love, His providence, and His plan for His people. No one can look into the exodus and miss God at work. He saves Israel despite their longing for their old life and their repeated disobedience. If Israel can be saved through all of that, who can't?