Israel is a Blessing to All Nations

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"I will make of you a great nation…And you shall be a blessing…And all the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you" (Gen. 12:2-3). Israel is a blessing to the other nations. As long as Israel succeeds in informing other peoples and proving that Yahweh is God, it will be understood to be a blessing to these nations. The very examples often employed to dispel the idea of Israel's being a blessing serve as evidence to support it. The plagues in Genesis actually prove that Yahweh is God to the Israelites and the Egyptians. In the infamous conquest of Canaan, Rahab and her family are spared because she acknowledges that Yahweh is God. Joseph gathers food to feed the Egyptians during the 7 years of famine. Throughout the Hebrew Bible, the Israelites relationship with other nations ultimately leads its peoples to benefit by the realization that Yahweh is God.

At first, Israel's relationship with the Egyptians does not seem to be a blessing; however, The Plagues result in the Egyptians ultimately perceiving Yahweh as God. God, so that the "Egyptians shall know that I am Lord" (Exodus 7:3,5), puts the Egyptians through a gauntlet, comprised of some of the worst conceivable ills that can befall man. When God states that He will bring down a hail storm, Pharaoh's courtiers, "…who feared the Lord's word brought their slaves and livestock indoors to safety" (9:20). This quotation signals a change in faith: previously, Pharoah's courtiers did not pay attention to Moses' premonitions. Gradually though, the courtiers begin to take notice of Yahweh's power. Similarly, God vows to unleash locusts all over the land. Pharaoh's courtiers become increasingly involved with Pharoah's decisions and favor allowing the Israelites to leave: ...

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...distinction of whom He rules. After Israel captures Edom, "… all the Edomites became vassals of David" (II Sam. 8:14). Initially, this is capture is not seen as a blessing. However, after examining what nations typically did after capturing another nation, Israel is truly a blessing, because not only did Israel refrain from destroying, robbing, and murdering the citizens and the city, but instead appointed them to official positions. Israel's conquests prove to be a blessing to other nations, as they allow the peoples to live by accepting Yahweh as God.

Though Israel's actions may not initially allow it to be apparent, Israel is a blessing to other nations. It is true that many people suffer, some innocently and others because they chose not to accept Yahweh as God. However, the Tanakh says it is much better to die with the truth, than it is to live in ignorance.

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