It appears that from Genesis 12 upward, all other ethnic groups of the world seem to disappear. The spotlight is now on Abram and his family (the Jews).
This is because the Jews are given a special assignment by God. God choses Abram and his family as the means by which all other nations of the world would be blessed.
Genesis 12:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH shall be BLESSED.”
This promise is repeated four times!
Genesis 18:18 (NKJV)
18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and ALL THE NATIONS of the earth SHALL BE BLESSED in him?
Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)
18 In your seed ALL THE NATIONS OF THE EARTH shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Genesis 26:4 (NKJV)
4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed ALL THE NATIONS of the earth shall be BLESSED;
Genesis 28:14 (NKJV)
14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in YOUR SEED all the FAMILIES of the EARTH SHALL BE BLESSED.
The phrase “all the families of the Earth” in Gen 12:3 translates from the Hebrew “kōl miš·pə·ḥōṯ hā·’ă·ḏā·māh.” “Miš·pə·ḥōṯ,” means more than just family in the Jewish thought. It also refers to tribes or clans. “Clans” or “tribes” immediately draws the mind to Genesis 10 (groupings of people larger than a family).
This phrase “kōl miš·pə·ḥōṯ hā·’ă·ḏā·māh” is translated in the Septuagint (LXX) as “pasai hai phulai” meaning “all the tribes.” So this shows that God’s blessing is for ALL the ethnicities of the world. The Jews are then chosen to reveal Him to those ethnic groups.
This is explained better in the other three times the promise is repeated. Let’s see them again
Gen 18:18 (NKJV)
18 since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and ALL THE NATIONS of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)
18 In your seed ALL THE NATIONS of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Genesis 26:4 (NKJV)
4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed ALL THE NATIONS of the earth shall be blessed;
Here, “all the families of the earth” changes to “all the nations of the earth” (“kol goyey ha-a-res”). In the Septuagint (LXX), it is translated as “panta ta ethne” (“all the nations”), which is the SAME phrase Jesus used in Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS (panta ta ethne), baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
So these words (miš·pə·ḥōṯ, goyey and ethne) all speak of tribes or clans, ethnic groups. God wants ALL OF THEM blessed in His plan of salvation. God says to Abraham in Gen 12:2, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; Bless! (An imperative, command).”
This is why he and his family are chosen, as God’s means of blessing the nations. Abram and his family were elected to serve as Yahweh’s tool to influence the pagan nations all around them with His knowledge.
In Exodus 19:3-6, Israel is reminded of this God-given task:
Exodus 19:3-6 (NKJV)
3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be A SPECIAL TREASURE to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me A KINGDOM OF PRIESTS and A HOLY NATION .’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
He is reiterating His plan to Abraham’s family (the Jews). Observe the statements Yahweh makes here:
First, He wants to make them “a special treasure to Me above all people.” This is WITHIN a context. The phrase “a special treasure” translates the Hebrew word “segullah” which means a prized possession. It was used in the Jewish thought for a king who owns the whole land but has some things he personally cherishes. This is why immediately after this statement, God says “for all the earth is Mine” (vs. 5).
He choosing Israel was not to the exclusion of all other nations of the Earth. All the nations of the Earth are His, but He chooses Israel as a special treasure for a SPECIFIC TASK. This is why they are called His “special treasure.” They were chosen OUT OF THE NATIONS for the nations.
What is Israel supposed to do to the nations? Vs. 6 gives a clue: “…a kingdom of priests (or “kingly priests”).” The priest (“kohen” in Hebrew) reconciles sinful men back to God. This was supposed to be Israel’s task, to draw the idolatrous nations to God! Then He says “…and a holy nation.” “Holy” means “set apart for a particular task.” What task was Israel set apart for? A mediatory role as God’s priests to the Gentile nations. Thus, Israel would be Yahweh’s representatives to all ethnic groups, in word and in deed.
They were to be good role models to the nations:
Deuteronomy 4:5-8 (NKJV)
5 “Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess. 6 Therefore be careful to OBSERVE THEM; for this is your WISDOM and your understanding IN THE SIGHT OF THE PEOPLES who will HEAR all these statutes, and SAY, ‘Surely this great nation is a WISE and UNDERSTANDING people.’
7 “For what great nation is there that has GOD SO NEAR TO IT, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? 8 And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?
It was God’s intent that through Israel, all tribes, clans and nations would come to know Him! He wanted the other nations to draw near to Him when they saw how Israel lived. When they saw how close God was with Israel (vs. 7), they too would desire such a relationship. God “woos” the nations through Abraham’s family (the Jews).
Israel’s role in God’s plan is therefore clear. They are His “goodness parade” BEFORE THE tribes, clans and ethnicities of the Earth. God is not being racist by choosing Israel, He is being merciful. Israel were to draw the sinful nations back to Him.
Nowhere is Israel told to exclude other ethnic groups. She is told to avoid their sinful LIFESTYLE, not them!
Leviticus 18:1-4 (NKJV)
1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the Lord your God. 3 According to the DOINGS of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall NOT DO; and according TO THE DOINGS of the land of CANAAN, where I am bringing you, you shall NOT DO; nor shall you WALK (conduct yourselves) in THEIR ORDINANCES. 4 You shall OBSERVE My judgments and keep My ordinances, to WALK in them: I am the Lord your God.
So the issue was with their sinful conduct, not them. Therefore God never intended Israel as His favourites over other nations. They are only “special” within a context—the role of mediation.
Since God chose the Jewish people to carry out His plan of salvation, His Word (the Bible) logically speaks a lot about their lives. The Bible is the story of God carrying out His missionary work on the Earth through the family of His friend, Abraham.
(For a thorough treatment of this subject, you may consult the sermon-series “God Wants The World! PART 2” by Pastor Josh Banks which deal with the concepts of RACE, SKIN COLOUR and ETHNICITY from the Bible)
© Josh Banks Ministries. 2021.
