Jeremiah 12: 15-16 But afterwards I will return and have compassion on all of them. I will bring them home to their own lands again, each nation to its own inheritance. And if these nations quickly learn the ways of my people, … then they will be given a place among my people. I never knew that God would eventually forgive and restore all the nations, even those that He used to bring destruction on Israel! He promises that after destroying the nations around Israel (and Israel, too) he will eventually restore them to their own lands. And, if they acknowledge God they will be part of His people. It’s a good thing to remember. We may not be part of the original Israel, and we may have been broken and crushed, but God promises to restore all the nations and give us a place with His people. When we become part of God’s family, through trusting Jesus with our lives, that promise is fulfilled. It’s pretty cool that God didn’t decide to crush the nations and leave them that way. Despite all they had done, he promised to have compassion on them and eventually restore them, too. Our God is forgiving, compassionate, and eternally loving.
Isaiah 56: 6I will also bless the Gentiles who commit themselves to the Lord and serve him and love his name, who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest, and who have accepted his covenant. I’ve often wondered how we know that the promises of the Bible apply to all believers and not just to the Israeli people. And here in Isaiah God talks about how He will bless the Gentiles, too. I am not a child of Abraham – not by nationality or bloodline. But, by adoption, because God has chosen to bless Gentiles too, I am part of God’s special, chosen people. Therefore, the promises of God apply to me as well. That’s really nice to know!