Called to the Nations

The Lord said to Abram in Genesis 12, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” He told Abram that in doing so He would make him into a great nation that would bless every other nation. Did Abram hear God’s voice out loud? Was it a voice in his head that only he could hear? Did he get a feeling, or a sense of knowing deep inside? The Bible doesn’t say.

It is said that Abram was about 75 years old when God called him to go, and that he was almost 60 years old when Noah died. It was during Noah’s lifetime that God created the concept nations. In listing the descendants of Noah’s three sons in Genesis 10, the Bible uses the word nations for the very first time. Then in Genesis 11, God created a multitude of diverse people groups, or nations by confusing their language at the Tower of Babel. This was God’s desire from the beginning when He first spoke to Adam and Eve saying, “multiply and fill the earth”. I wonder if Abram knew the significance of what God was asking him to do? Did he fully understand the concept of nations at that time. I wonder if Noah recounted the Tower of Babel story to Abram, or the Adam and Eve’s story and their time in the Garden with God? The idea of nations was a new concept during Abram’s lifetime. What an incredible step of faith it must have been to think that God would make him and his descendants into a great nation, and that this nation would bless every other nation on earth. Now imagine how he heard that calling. Was it a voice, a feeling, a sense of knowing? Imagine the incredible mystery that was about to unfold before his eyes.

Fast forward almost 4000 years to today and we still see God calling individuals and families to, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” The incredible mysterious adventure continues today. For God’s plan has never changed. He made Adam and Eve in His image, and His glory was reflected in their lives. He instructed them to multiply and fill the earth because His desire was to see His glory over all of His creation. However, in the Garden sin entered the world when Adam and Eve broke God’s one command. But God in His tremendous mercy and wisdom scatters mankind over all the earth by confusing the language, thus creating the nations, or people groups. He then raised up one man, Abram to create one nation that would bless all the other nations, the nation of Israel. 2000 years later, God sent His Son Jesus, the Savior for all nations, to the nation of Israel to restore His glory to those who would trust in Him. From Jerusalem the Kingdom would come to all the nations.

The word nations is used over 300 times in the Bible. Why is the word nations so significant in the Bible? It helps us to remember God’s one plan from the beginning, to fill the earth with His glory. When we see God focused on the nations it emphasizes the global scope of God’s redemptive plan. It allows us to keep our eyes on God’s perspective which is often much bigger than ours. God’s grace, judgment, and ultimately salvation is meant for all nations. So what does it mean to be called to the nations? Could it be that timeless calling that Abram heard, sensed, or felt? Yes, God in His love for us invites us to participate in His wonderful purpose that spans all eternity. He puts it this way in the last words that Jesus shared with His disciples before going to prepare a place for His children. “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1) The call to the nations is supernatural, but to followers of Jesus it feels somewhat natural, and often times extremely compelling. It is a powerful connection to the Creators plan for all of mankind that resonates in the hearts of believers. It’s a divine longing to worship the Almighty through surrendered lives to His will, that also satisfies our yearning for purpose.

Here in the United States and many other places, the nations are scattered all around us. The call to the nations according to Acts 1 begins in our neighborhoods and extends to the ends of the earth. We know that we’ve been called and empowered, and we understand the “why” behind Jesus’ command to “go and make disciples of all nations." Now we must consider answering the very important questions of when, where, and how we will participate in the call to make disciples of all nations.