From the start of human history, people have formed nations. Most often, these nations were created according to families, clans and tribes. God began his work in the world by choosing one person, Abraham, to become a nation that would be set apart for his glory and bless all nations on earth (Genesis 12:3).
Who or What Are Nations?
In the Old Testament the word used for nation is the Hebrew gôy and usually refers to an organised society and is linked by land, language or family (Genesis 10:5). In the New Testament, the word used for nation is the Greek ethnos and refers to a group of people united by the bonds of kinship, culture, tradition and language. Jews called non-Jews “Gentiles” or “unbelievers” (ethnos) because they did not worship the true God (Matthew 10:18; Acts 11:1).
The two terms gôy and ethnos refer to at least three different groups of people in the Bible:
- An ethnic group: The Jews are first of all an ethnic group, a family or a clan (Genesis 12:1-9, 17; 18:18) with a sense of ethnicity, identity, and loyalty (Deuteronomy 7:6; Judges 20:1-2).
- A nation state: Most nation states are made up of several ethnic groups, clans and families. Nation states are contained in a particular area of land.
- A religious group: Non-Jews are denoted by the terms gôy in the OT, and ethnos in the NT, based upon their belief in gods other than the LORD (Yahweh), the God of Israel (Isaiah 37:12). When Israel abandoned Yahweh or the Messiah, it was treated like a pagan nation (Acts 4:25-27).
Why Do They Exist?
In one sense, God was the creator of nations at the tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). Even though God’s gift of languages to separate people into nations was in response to people’s rebellion against God, God has worked in and through nations ever since. God builds and blesses or destroys and judges nations. He uses them for his purpose to fulfil his plan for history (Psalm 33:10; Isaiah 10:7; Jeremiah 1:10; 18:8-9). All humans of all ethnic groups and of all nations of the world are God’s creatures and are included in God’s blessing of Abraham’s line in Jesus (Genesis 1; 12; 17; Romans 4:16).
God uses them for his purpose to fulfil his plan for history.
All of biblical history talks of the nations with respect to Israel. It is God’s plan to restore the Kingdom of God (his holy nation), which will include all the nations on earth. Israel is called to be “a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). That is God’s promise he made to Abraham.
Through Jesus and the gospel the barriers between Jews and other nations have been broken down (Ephesians 2:11-18). The command to make all nations disciples of Jesus (Matthew 28:18-20) speaks mainly of ethnic groups and then extends to nations. The many nations represented at Pentecost show the fulfilment of Abraham’s blessing. On the day of Pentecost Peter told Jews, Africans and Europeans that the promise of God is for, “you [Jews], and to your children, and even to the Gentiles—all who have been called by the Lord our God” (Acts 2:39).
Countries in Present-Day Africa
Today in Africa some people question whether Jesus is for African nations. They think Jesus was white and he is for the people of Europe and America. The truth is that Jesus was not European, not American, not white, and not African. Jesus was from the land between Africa and Europe. He never went to Europe, but he spent some time in Africa (Matthew 2:13-15; Hosea 11:1).
Colonial powers ripped apart tribes and ethnic groups by creating artificial boundaries.
“After Jesus rose from the dead, he told his followers to take his message of repentance to “all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent'” (Luke 24:47). His disciples obeyed that command. The message of Jesus went to part of Africa (Acts 8:26-38) and later to Macedonia in northern Greece, which is part of Europe (Acts 16:9-10).
The culmination of all history will be the gathering of all people and nations before God’s throne. Revelation 7:9 shows that the people of God are to be “from every nation and tribe and people and language.”
The modern history of nation building in Africa has been difficult. Colonial powers ripped apart tribes and ethnic groups by creating artificial boundaries. Wars and violence have erupted among nations and within them, both because of long-held hostilities and because of the legacy of colonial powers. Yet, we are assured in the Bible that all nations are under God’s authority and power, and he is at work in the world’s political systems to bring about his purposes.
A Glimpse of the Future
Through Jesus, God has redeemed the idea of a nation. On the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit seemed to reverse the confusion at Babel as everyone heard the gospel “in our own native languages” (Acts 2:5-13).
One day, people from every ethnic group in Africa will worship God in the new Jerusalem.
The church today should respect cultural differences (Romans 14) and yet transcend them (1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11). One day, people from every ethnic group and nation in Africa will join the saints gathered to worship God in the new Jerusalem (Revelation 7:9-10). Christians of all nations, tribes and colors will sing together in a great choir, praising Jesus: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).
God dispersed and separated the nations at Babel, but he will bring them all together under his reign as one people united in worship of the living God at the culmination of all history.