2 Chronicles 6

“Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm, when they come and pray in this temple; then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name.” 2 Chronicles 6:32-33 (NKJV)

There is an idea popular among Christians today that puts forth that because of Jesus’ resurrection, Gentiles (non-Jews) can now have a personal relationship with God, whereas it was impossible before.  That idea is simply wrong, and today’s passage is yet another Old Testament example of how God has always allowed Gentiles to enter into a personal relationship with Him.  So, for a fun review of Gentiles who turned to the Lord, let’s begin with a little Moabite girl named Ruth.  

“But Ruth said: Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.” Ruth 1:16 (NKJV)

Isaiah spoke about God’s acceptance of anyone (regardless of ethnicity) who would turn from foreign idols and choose to follow Him.  He even promised that God would not exclude the repentant foreigner from being counted among His people, even stressing that the redemption of ALL MANKIND was the mission of the Messiah.

“Also the sons of the foreigner who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants - everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, and holds fast My covenant - even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:6-7 (NKJV - see also: Matthew 21:13)

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6 (NKJV)

The apostle Paul, preaching at Athens’ Mars Hill, underscored how God is Lord-of-all and that all of earth’s inhabitants are both 1) subject to Him and 2) can be saved through receiving Messiah Jesus, by grace through faith.

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.  He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30-31 (NKJV)