Entering Into God’s Presence

Knowing God Through His Roles & Titles

God of the Nations 

To Study and Ponder

• Throughout scripture God reveals himself to us as the God of all the nations of the earth. From the time of Abraham on, God declares that he is the God of the nations and wants all the nations of the earth to be blessed because of His people. His desire is that we, His body, make His great name and amazing deeds known in all the nations of this world. In Ezekiel 36 God says this about His people: “And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord” v.23b. As we come to know Him in richer, deeper and fuller ways and as we become more like Him, we are more able to make Him known to all the nations of the earth.

• God created man for leadership in the whole world. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” Genesis 1:26 (also v.28)

• God said Abraham & his descendants would be a blessing to the NATIONS.

• For Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. Genesis 18:18 (also Gen.12:1-3; 17:1-7; 26:2-5; 28:14)

• His name was changed from Abram to Abraham, meaning “father of multitudes”! (Ge.17:5)

• God loved the ‘aliens’ (foreigners, temporary inhabitants) and He told Israel to love them too. So we please Him when we love ALL nations: He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners, for you yourselves were once foreigners in the land of Egypt. Deuteronomy 10:18b-19

• The Psalmists and Prophets declared God to be the great God and King of all peoples, righteous and just in his dealing with all the nations of the earth, and told the nations to praise him:

• The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him. For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths. Psalm 24:1-2

• For God is the King over all the earth. Praise him with a psalm. God reigns above the nations, sitting on his holy throne. Psalm 47:7-8. (Also Psalm 57:9; Isaiah 42:10-12; Jeremiah 1:4-5)

• Tell all the nations, “The Lord reigns!” The world stands firm and cannot be shaken. He will judge all peoples fairly… He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with his truth. Psalm 96:10,13 –read whole psalm! (Also Psalm 9:8; 67:2-7)

• ..my justice will become a light to the nations. My mercy and justice are coming soon. My salvation is on the way. My strong arm will bring justice to the nations.. Isaiah 51: 4-5 (2:1, 42:1-4)

• Isaiah’s prophesy spoken over Jesus:- “Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations….. And his name will be the hope of all the world.” Matthew 12:18,21 (from Isaiah 42:1)

• My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:11

• Job 36:26-32 describes the greatness of God who governs the nations (v.31) and is “beyond our understanding!” v.26

• Jesus spoke of God’s intention that the temple be “a house of prayer for all nations.” Mark 11:17 (from Isaiah 56:7). The promised Messiah was to be a light to guide the nations. Isaiah 42:6b

• God sent Jonah to the foreign Assyrian capital, Nineveh, wanting to give the people a chance to repent and escape destruction, evidence of His love for the nations–I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Jonah 4:2

• The Psalmists sang to the nations about God’s love: Psalm 108: 3-5; 115:1; 117.

• The New Testament declares God's heart for the nations, Jesus the sacrifice that atones for the sins of all the world. 1John 2:2, the disciples to go to ALL nations!:-

• For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son… John 3:16 (1Jo 4:9)

• And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. Matthew 24:14

• Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.. Matthew 28:19 (Mar 16:15-16; Lu 24:46)

• Paul said From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. (Acts 17:26) and that Jesus was revealed ...so that all nations might believe and obey him. (Romans 16:26)

• Peter concludes “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right… Acts 10:34-35

• The book of Revelation makes clear that the nations are a part of God’s eternal plan:

• we see people “from every nation, tribe, people and language” worshiping (Revelation 7:9; 15:4)

• the blood of Jesus “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (Rev.5:9b)

• the heavenly city is for the nations - nations walk by its light & the glory & honor of the nations will be brought into it (21:24,26), the leaves on the tree of life are for the healing of the nations. (Rev.22:2)

• There is evidence of God’s heart for the nations in the redemptive pictures built into the history of other cultures. (Don Richardson’s books - “Peace Child”, “Lords of the Earth”, Eternity in Their Hearts”)

Meditation/Memory:

Lower Grades: For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17 (NLT)

Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! He is to be feared above all gods.  Psalm 96:3-4  (NLT)

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him.

For he laid the earth’s foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths.    Psalm 24:1-2  (NLT)

Middle Grades:  No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.  Psalm 86: 8-10 (NLT)

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20  (NLT)

After this I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands. And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”   Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT)

Upper Grades: May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world.  Psalm 67:2-4

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20  (NLT)

For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords. He is the great God, the mighty and awesome God, who shows no partiality and cannot be bribed. He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing. So you, too, must show love to foreigners .… Deuteronomy 10:17-19a (NLT)