The big news this week has been the NATO summit in the Netherlands. President Trump attended amidst the controversy over the United States’ attack on Iran’s nuclear program over the weekend.
There have been conflicting reports over the extent of damage to Iran’s nuclear program and the whereabouts of the enriched uranium. Again the president disputes anything that doesn’t align with his own agenda or personal beliefs.
President Trump is obsessed with the ideas of earthly Power and might. Of course, he would be at the NATO summit, NATO’s purpose is a twofold approach to power:
- Military defense
- Political unity
The NATO alliance comprises 32 members who pledge to protect freedom and security through political and military might. It is an alliance of earthly kingdoms focusing on temporary peace and earthly greatness.
This week, President Trump’s agenda was to increase military spending by having each country contribute more to the alliance’s defense fund. Present Trump and NATO are in lockstep for the safety of all member nations through politics and military might.
However, God’s people are called to be a nation set apart from the world and devoted to God, not a political party, country and certainly not a power-hungry antichrist who will destroy a nation to get whatever he wants (Deuteronomy 14:2, Psalm 4:3, 1 Peter 7:9).
What Is a Nation
We often think of nations as a body of land or independent countries, but a nation is much more than just land or groups of people. A nation is defined as, “A community of people composed of one or more nationalities and possessing a more or less defined territory and government; a tribe or federation of tribes.”
Nations serve a common good or purpose. They are a diverse group of people in a specific location. Contrary to what many believe, a nation isn’t just one ethnicity or religion. Growing up I was taught and heard that America is one nation under God.
That has proven to be a lie in recent years and not just by liberals; conservatives have sworn their allegiance to a political party that also contradicts the basic teachings of Jesus. It is easy to see the importance of understanding and being a nation.
That is why the Bible has a lot to say about nations and who God’s people serve and belong to Isaiah 43:10, John 15:16, Hebrews 11:9-12). Ever since the fall this world has been corrupted by sin and Satan himself. God’s people are commanded to be different from the fallen world, we are the salt and light of the earth as God’s holy people (Leviticus 20:26, Matthew 5:13-16).
While we obey our authorities and rulers because they are elected and placed by God Himself, our allegiance is to God alone, who they and we will answer to one day (Joshua 24:15 1 Samuel 15:24, Acts 5:1-42, Hebrews 13:17, Revelation 22:12).
God’s people and their leaders are to be different to change the world, we are a nation that serves God (Romans 8:14-15, Galatians 3:8, 1 Peter 2:17). The apostles remembered their Jewish education about being a nation dedicated to God.
Gôy
In ancient times, nations arose to unite people for protection and strength. Nations arose and fell in pursuit of earthly greatness and power. These nations were corrupt and violent as they sought their own selfish purposes.
God decided to call and nation unto Himself out of the corrupt world to be His people and to do His will (Genesis 12:2; 35:11, Exodus 1:7, Deuteronomy 28:1-68). The Hebrew word in the Old Testament for nation is gôy and it can also mean “Heathen, people, or Gentiles,” depending on the context it is used in.
God’s people were to rely on him for everything and He promised to bless and protect them from other nations that would rise against them (Genesis 12:3, Numbers 24:9, Deuteronomy 28:7). And God faithfully protected His people from the nations that rose against them:
- Philistines
- Canaanites
- Amorites
- Moabites
- Edomites
- Amalekites
- Hivites
- Perizzites
- Egypt
- Assyrians
- Babylonians
- Persians
The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would come and make Israel into a great nation to fulfill God’s promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3). The New Testament begins with the genealogy of Jesus as a fulfillment of that messianic promise to Abraham (Matthew 1:1-17).
Israel expected the Messiah to come as a conquering King with earthly might to overthrow this world. Jesus came as a humble King and contradicted their teaching about the kingdom of God.
Jesus taught His followers that His Kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36). He reminded His followers to be different as the salt and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16; 48, Mark 9:50.)
He taught His followers that greatness in God’s kingdom isn’t like greatness in this world (Matthew 23:11-12, Mark 9:35).
The Middle East
In other big news, the temporary cease-fire in the Middle East between Iran and Israel has already been broken once in their thirst for power and control. Both countries are obsessed with earthly power and greatness.
the Middle East has always been a hotbed for conflict and social injustice. Ironically and historically the Middle East is the birthplace of the earliest known nations on earth: Mesopotamians and Sumerians in the region known today as Iraq.
The Bible also prophesies that the last great war Armageddon will take place in the Middle East (Revelation 16:16). Most of the nations of the world will gather there to fight for power and earthly greatness. Because their sinful nature focuses on this temporary kingdom:
- Power-Hungry
- Greedy
- Violent
- Uncompassionate
It’s almost as if God has cursed the Middle East with wars and unrest. Yet, there is a light and salt in the Middle East, I nation of God’s people who are called to be different from the nations in the region. God set Israel apart to bring justice and peace to the region and to glorify Himself (Ezekiel 38:1-23, Daniel 9:26, Joel 3:1-2).
Israel is a nation set apart for God, not to be like this world. One day God will use Israel to unite the nations of this world and every tribe and nation will bow to God in heaven (Isaiah 2:2-4, Zachariah 14:9, Revelation 21:24-26). Even in this fallen world, God’s people are destined to be God’s gôy!
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In