1. A Kingdom of Priests—The Mosaic Covenant. God promised the Israelites that if they obeyed him, he would make them a nation of priests. In other words, they would serve as mediators between God and other nations. As written in the Mosaic Covenant, the whole earth all nations belongs to God, but the Jews had an opportunity to serve as missionaries to other nations.
5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites. (Exodus 19:5,6 NIV).
The Israelites failed to keep the Mosaic Covenant, so they lost the opportunity to represent God before the nations.
2. Jonah The Prophet Jonah was commanded to go and warn the evil city of Ninevah of the impending judgment of God. God is glorified because he sent Jonah to bring the Ninevites to repentance. In his mercy, God spared the Ninevites from judgment at that time (see Jonah 1:1,2; 4:11). But Jonah was reluctant to serve as a missionary. He first ran from God’s commission. Even after he repented and went to Ninevah, he was not happy that the Ninevites turned to God and were spared from God’s judgment. The Ninevites were Jonah’s enemies. As missionaries today, we are called to witness even to our enemies.
