Gentiles in the kingdom
Even before Abraham, Genesis contains hints that God's kingdom and blessing would extend to all nations, including the Gentiles. Here are some key passages that suggest this:
1. The Creation Mandate – God's Blessing for All Humanity
Genesis 1:28 – "And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.’"
- This blessing was given to all of humanity, not just Israel. It establishes God's intention for humans (both Jew and Gentile) to share in His rule and blessing over the earth.
- The idea of dominion anticipates the kingdom of God, where people rule under Him.
2. The Seed of the Woman Will Crush the Serpent
Genesis 3:15 – "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."
- This is the first prophecy of redemption, promising that the "seed of the woman" (Messiah) would defeat evil.
- This promise is made before any nation exists, meaning it applies to all humanity.
- It foreshadows Christ, who brings salvation to both Jews and Gentiles (Galatians 3:16, Romans 16:20).
3. Cain and Abel – A Righteous Offering Beyond Israel
Genesis 4:3-4 – "In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering."
- Worship of God existed before Abraham, indicating that non-Israelites could have righteousness by faith (like Abel).
- Hebrews 11:4 confirms Abel’s offering was accepted by faith, just as Gentiles later enter the kingdom through faith in Christ.
4. The Line of Seth – Calling Upon the Name of the Lord
Genesis 4:26 – "At that time people began to call upon the name of the LORD."
- This suggests Gentiles were already seeking God before Abraham.
- Romans 10:13 says, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” linking this to salvation available to all.
5. Noah and the Nations – God's Covenant with All Flesh
Genesis 9:9-11 – "Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you... never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth."
- God makes a universal covenant with Noah and his descendants (which includes all nations).
- Noah is called a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5), showing that God's righteousness was not limited to Israel.
- This covenant anticipates a new creation where all nations participate in God's kingdom (Isaiah 11:9, Revelation 21:1).
6. The Table of Nations – The Gentiles in God's Plan
Genesis 10:32 – "These are the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, in their nations, and from these the nations spread abroad on the earth after the flood."
- Genesis 10 lists all the nations that come from Noah’s sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
- This shows that God had a purpose for all peoples, not just Israel.
- Acts 17:26 confirms this: "And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth."
7. The Tower of Babel – Preparing for the Nations to Be Redeemed
Genesis 11:9 – "Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth."
- God scattered the nations at Babel, but this sets up His later plan to bring them back together in His kingdom (Pentecost in Acts 2 reverses Babel).
- This foreshadows Gentiles being brought into the kingdom through Christ.
Conclusion
Even before Abraham, Genesis shows that God's kingdom was meant for all humanity. The blessings given to Adam, Noah, and all nations point to a future restoration through Christ, where Gentiles would be included.
There are several verses in Genesis that suggest the inclusion of Gentiles in God's kingdom. These passages foreshadow that the blessing of God's covenant would extend beyond Israel to all nations. Here are a few key examples:
1. The Promise to Abraham – All Nations Will Be Blessed
- Genesis 12:3 – "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
- This is the foundational covenant with Abraham, indicating that through his offspring (ultimately Christ), all nations (Gentiles included) would receive God's blessing.
- Genesis 18:18 – "Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him."
- Reinforces that Abraham's role is not just about Israel, but about a blessing for all peoples.
- Genesis 22:18 – "And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice."
- This connects directly to Christ (Galatians 3:16), showing that the Gentiles would receive the kingdom through faith in Him.
2. The Blessing of Melchizedek – A Priest for All Nations
- Genesis 14:18-20 – "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth...'"
- Melchizedek, a Gentile priest-king, represents a priesthood outside of Israel. Psalm 110 and Hebrews 7 connect him to Christ, who is the eternal priest for all nations.
3. Jacob’s Blessing on the Nations
- Genesis 49:10 – "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples."
- The Messiah from Judah will receive the obedience of the peoples (nations/Gentiles), showing the kingdom extends beyond Israel.
4. Joseph as a Foreshadowing of Christ’s Rule Over the Gentiles
- Genesis 41:57 – "Moreover, all the earth came to Egypt to Joseph to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth."
- Joseph, a type of Christ, provides for all nations, prefiguring the inclusion of Gentiles in God’s kingdom.
5. Ephraim’s Blessing – A Multitude of Nations
- Genesis 48:19 – "But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.'"
- Ephraim, often symbolizing the Northern tribes and later Gentile inclusion, is blessed to become "a multitude of nations" (מְלוֹא הַגּוֹיִם), a phrase suggesting Gentile participation in God’s people.
Conclusion
Genesis lays the foundation for the inclusion of the Gentiles in God's kingdom. The promises to Abraham, the blessing of Melchizedek, Jacob’s prophecy, Joseph’s rule, and Ephraim’s blessing all point to God’s plan to include the nations. These themes find their fulfillment in Christ, who extends the kingdom to all who believe (Galatians 3:8, Revelation 5:9-10).
