Read Jeremiah 12:14-17
Way back in Genesis 1 and 2 God created the heavens and the earth by His powerful word. He gave mankind the job of ruling over creation and filling it (Gen 1:28). The implication here is that the entire world would be filled with
When Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, God sent a flood to destroy all creation. Only Noah and his family, with a menagerie of animals, were saved. Interestingly, when Noah came off the ark he was given the same command as Adam and Eve (Genesis 9:1-2) - to subdue the world and to fill it with people who walk in love and submission to the Lord God Almighty.
Even though things went belly up very quickly and mankind chose not to walk in love and submission to the Lord, God called Abram from the nations and promised to use him (Genesis 12:1-3) to bring blessing to all the nations of the earth.
Israel, the nation that came from Abram was given the task of being a priesthood to the nations. They were to take the blessings and love of God to the entire world. As we come to Jeremiah 12:14-17 we’ve seen many times that the nation of Israel chose to reject God’s plan and purpose for herself. She chose time and time again to walk in disobedience.
In Jeremiah 12:14-17 we see again the concern God has for all the nations. His plan from day 1 to bring all people’s under His sovereign love and lordship is again brought to the fore. God will Himself bring the people of the nations back to Himself and will establish them among His people. This, as we know from reading the rest of the Old Testament and the New Testament, comes not through the nation of Israel but through the True Israel - Jesus Christ.
Jesus, by His death and resurrection, has opened the doorway for all nations to worship God in Spirit and in truth. He has made it possible for all non Jewish people to be called the children of God as well. In fact, the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile has been broken down through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus.
Jesus, in the light of this grand master plan of God the Father, sends His disciples on a mission that Adam and Eve had. In Matthew 28:18-20 He commands them to make disciples of all nations.
The Apostle John gives us a glimpse into the heavenly realms and we read that ‘heaven’ consists of people from all nations.
9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”
Prayer Points:
Using today’s Bible passage and reading notes spend time in adoration, confession, thanks and supplication.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
· Pray that your congregation would have a concern for the salvation of the nations as God Himself has. Ask God to put it onto the hearts of the people in your congregation to be fulfilling this master plan by evangelising and reaching out to as many people as possible.
· Pray that your congregation would see many converts to Christ through the evangelism of the people sitting in the pews.
1. See if you can map out God’s plan for the nations from Genesis to Revelation.
2. What role did Israel have in this master plan in the Old Testament?
3. What role does the Church have in this master plan in the New Testament?
4. What role do you have as an individual in the church?
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