When God promised Abraham that a great nation would emerge from him in Genesis 12:2, it did. His great grandson became an Egyptian prince (Genesis 41:41-43), and the Israelite nation that began with Joseph in Egypt grew in such numbers that the mighty power of Egypt even considered Israel a threat. Israel then became a powerful nation in its own right and in its own land with its own kings.
So God certainly stuck to his promise to Israel in Exodus 19:5-6, that “you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples…and you shall be to to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Because people would say of Israel in Deuteronomy 4:6, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” And as Moses declared in verse 7, “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near to them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him?”
So God being near to them meant Israel would have a major impact on other nations too, which it did in Solomon’s day (2 Chronicles 9:22-24). And imagine Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon, “falling prostrate before Daniel,” and telling him, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings,” and then making Daniel “ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placing him in charge of all its wise men,” Daniel 2:46-48. So even in exile the descendants of Abraham were held in high esteem.
But where is that “great nation” God promised to Abraham on earth today?
Peter answers that for us 1 Peter 2:9, because he describes God’s “chosen people” in the New Testament as a “royal priesthood, a holy nation” – the very same titles used of Israel back in Exodus 19:6. And the purpose of that holy nation on earth today is the same as that of Israel of old too. In Peter’s words it’s being “God’s own precious possession” for the purpose of demonstrating the greatness and goodness of God – exactly what God meant for Israel of old to do too.
The great nation God created from Abraham’s descendants, therefore, continues today. And like Israel of old it’s set apart from and different to all the other nations in the world, taking up an entirely unique place in our world too. And with God just as near it means God’s holy nation today will have an impact on others too, just as it had a huge impact on Nebuchadnezzar.
To the next promise, then: “Like the stars in the sky”
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