Very early in human history, God chose a man to be His representative to the rest of humanity. That man was Abram who latter became Abraham. God told Abraham that he would be the father of a nation – Israel. God promised to bless Abraham and his offspring and establish them as His special representatives to the rest of the world. They were to be God’s special envoys, ambassadors, or witnesses to lead others to know God and worship Him. He talks about this purpose for Israel in Isaiah 43. Read it slowly and thoughtfully.
"I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' And to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring My sons from afar and My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, and whom I have created for My glory, whom I have formed, even whom I have made. 8"Bring out the people who are blind, even though they have eyes, and the deaf, even though they have ears [the unbelieving nations]. All the nations have gathered together in order that the peoples may be assembled. Who among them can declare this and proclaim to us the former things? Let them present their witnesses that they may be justified, or let them hear and say, "It is true." "You [Israel] are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me. "I, even I, am the Lord; and there is no savior besides Me. "It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, And there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And I am God". (Isaiah 43:6-12)
God is declaring here that He created and established the nation of Israel from one man, Abraham for His glory. God chose a man and God made a nation from that man, nurturing and maturing them physically and spiritually to be His representatives. He created this nation to use the people as witnesses of His greatness and glory and of how He had worked in history and orchestrated the events of history for the fulfillment of His purpose and plan. They were to give this witness so that the nations would see that God alone is God, that they would see God’s glory, and that they would worship Him.
This is the story of all of history up to the time of Jesus. All through the history of the ancient world, God worked in and through the nation of Israel for the spread of His glory and fame. The story of His glory continues. God is intent on having a people who will recognize and worship His glory. He will fulfill His plan and accomplish His purpose for creation.
Bring My sons from afar And My daughters from the ends of the earth, Everyone who is called by My name, And whom I have created for My glory, Whom I have formed, even whom I have made." . . . So you are My witnesses," declares the Lord, "And I am God".
Soli Deo Gloria
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