Gentiles – 1

(Bible study)

The English word gentile comes from the Latin word for “people”. In the Bible, Gentiles are all the peoples who are not Jews. The descendants of Noah and his family spread out over the world and became divided into many different nations or peoples (Gen. 10). God divided these  nations by giving them different languages, because they had acted in evil ways (Gen 11). But then God chose Abraham and Sarah and told them that he would use them and their descendants to bring God’s blessing to “all the familes of the earth” (Gen 12:1-3).

Later, israel’s king Solomon urged the people to be kind and open toward those of other nations, so that they would come to honor the LORD God (1 Kings 8:41-43).

The prophets of Israel kept telling the people that God was eager to have other nations honor him (Jer 4:2) and that they wanted to know the God of Israel (Isa 42:1-4; 51:4-5). If the people of God were obedient, they would be a model and witness to all the nations of the world (Isa 61). The story of Jonah shows how God reached out with mercy to a nation that was Israelis enemy. God will one day be the single ruler over all nations, and they will join to honor God (Ps 47:8-9, 86:8-9). In the kingdom that God will establish, “people of every nation and race would serve him” (Dan 7:14).

The Book of Hosea

Steps to knowing God:

Hosea, perhaps more than any other prophet, reveals the loving heart of God. God desires to bless, not to chastise His people. The Lord puts a premium value on His relationship with us.

1 Corinthians 9:22

“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.”

Christ left heaven and came to earth to save us. Paul sacrificed everything to share the Gospel with both Jews and Gentiles. What have we done... what have we left... what have we given up... what have we become... to share Jesus with those we love, know, or influence?