The Israelites as Missionaries?

One of the early chapters of the Perspectives homework claimed that God did send Israelites to the whole nation with the Great Commission. The author (Walter C. Kaiser) used three texts: Gen 12:1-3, Ex 19:4-6 & Psalm 67. I agree that the Old Testament has the missionary vision all over it, but I'm not convinced that the Israelites of the OT were supposed to actually go to the nations to proclaim God's salvation.

The key people in the OT that he used in the intro to demonstrate his point were: Melchizedek (Gen 14), Jethro (Ex 18), Balaam (Num 23-24), and Jonah. Now, I agree that these people were Gentiles or went to the Gentiles. But were they special cases?

Here's my key question I can't get off my mind: Did God want all nations to have salvation in Him before He sent His son to live and die on earth?

See, the author was clear that the 3 texts I mentioned in Gen, Ex & Psalms are not the only texts in the OT and that there aren't many texts in the OT that are really explicit about missions. He claims that the OT has a general sense of missions throughout. And I totally agree. My problem is that I see it slightly differently. I see it as God wants His fame in every nation, but not necessary salvation for every nation...yet. The OT is filled with "...and then they will know that I am Yahweh God." He says it for Israel and for different nations. But the impression I get from the OT is that that's all God wants from non-Israelites right now - He just wants them to recognize Him and for Him to be completely famous across the earth...for His glory but not their salvation.

In Amos 1 & 2 God proclaims judgment on many nations and also Israel. Each judgment shows the same pattern and each one gives a reason. Here they are:

• "Because [Damascus] threshed Gilead with sledges having iron teeth..."
• "Because [Gaza] took captive whole communities and sold them to Edom..."
• "Because [Tyre] sold whole communities of captives to Edom, disregarding a treaty of brotherhood..."
• "Because [Ammon] ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders..."
• "Because [Moab] burned, as if to lime, the bones of Edom's king..."
• "Because [Israel has] rejected the law of Yahweh and have not kept His decrees, because they have been led astray by false gods, the gods their ancestors followed..."

Doesn't it seem like Israel is slightly different than the nations? The nations are ripping people to pieces and Israel isn't following their God. This is just one example of how I don't see God having a desire to be the God of the nations during the period of the OT. Especially when He says in Amos 3:2 "You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth." It seems pretty clear to me that Israel and Israel only is the chosen nation among nations to be God's people. Do we ever hear God saying to other nations, "And you shall be my people and I shall be your God"? Not that I know of.

The whole thing has me confused, so if you can shed any light, I'd appreciate it.

Starting off with a Big Picture

I'm beginning to take a step back from this world to look at the big picture of life via my reading in the Perspectives class. I find it quite interesting that God had the plan that He did. He created Satan and allowed him to set up a kingdom contrary to His own and He didn't cast him into the fiery pit right away. In fact, He allows this kingdom, ruled by Satan, to influence the human beings He created in His own image. He doesn't stop this evil from penetrating into their lives! Why not? Why doesn't He stop evil right away?

Because somehow it's not in His plan. I think He doesn't get glory unless He overcomes this evil in a big way. I think He doesn't get to show Himself - including all of His incredible characteristics - to His people unless sin & evil are amidst us. He would never need to come and live with us and die for us. His glory would never be displayed. I often wondered why in first grade they always told us that our stories needed to have a problem. I thought it restricted me and put me in some sort of a box because I didn't want problems in my story. But little did my first grade mind know that problems are what make stories good. God created the best epic story and it wouldn't be epic if Satan, sin & death were abolished right at the beginning.

How does this shape my view of missions? More on that to come in the future. But first, a fun note on OT/NT connections. So we see there are 2 problems: Satan creates evil & man follows. But God created a solution. He will 1) overcome Satan's kingdom and 2) He will redeem man.

• The latter is showed in Christ being of the seed of Abraham and Issac (Ab's son) is the representation of the coming Messiah because he's a living sacrifice. This sacrifice and redemption is displayed in the animal the lamb (i.e. the Day of Atonement...spotless lamb).
• Now, (1) is shown in Christ being the seed of David and his son, Solomon, is the representation of the coming Messiah because He was such a great king in great splendor. Such is Christ and the animal that displays this solution is the lion because the lion has such great "kingly authority."

At Christ's first coming, He has both overcome Satan's kingdom and He has redeemed man. But they're both still in progress and will be complete at His second coming. This seems quite normal to me, but at the time of the first coming, Jews were confused - even John the Baptist and His disciples.

Why Am I Doing This...Again?

This blog will act as a sort of personal missions journal. I have trouble journaling on paper because I get tired. I know, lame excuse, but it's true.

I feel the need to journal on missions for a number of reasons. I've explored missions and felt it was a calling. But lately I don't know if I'm really called. I think as I've grown since Urbana '03 I realized what a sacrifice it is to go to another country and how unprepared I am to go right now. Maybe in the future I'll be ready, but right now I've got a lot of growing in Christ to do.

Also, I'm taking the Perspectives course this spring semester. And since I decided to take it for credit I have to do all of the reading. That means, I'm learning A LOT and there will be much content that I want to digest. I can do that here on this blog.

Lastly, I want to be able to keep anyone who wants to be updated, updated on my possible future journey overseas. And I know I won't have time for tons of personal e-mails. So a blog is the way I'm solving that conundrum. Oh and I say "possible" because I haven't applied yet. I should be working on that right now as I have the day off, but I wanted to start this blog.


2.20.2008
See an update about how I feel about my calling for missions here.