And all the nations shall flow to it. – Isaiah 2:2b

Scripture reading: Isaiah 2:1-5

Even as Israel received judgment for rebellion against God, the Lord was clear that He would not abandon the promise to Abraham that through him all families of the earth would be blessed. Through the prophets, God promises to fulfill Israel’s mission for the sake of the world. A beautiful example is Isaiah 2:2-3:

“Many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

God promised a day when the nations would stream to Mt. Zion! In Luke 24, Jesus said that all the Scriptures spoke not only of Him, but of the mission of the church. Likewise, Isaiah 49:6:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

In Zechariah 8:13, He promises to restore Israel precisely as a blessing:

“And as you have been a byword of cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so will I save you, and you shall be a blessing…”, promises that waited for fulfillment at the coming of Christ, promises for all nations!

Suggestions for prayer

That we would trust in God’s faithfulness to His promises and that we would love Jesus more as the One in whom they are fulfilled.

This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Nick Smith is pastor of the United Reformed Church of Nampa, Idaho.