The Word for Writers

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CHARACTERS. In stories, characters are present to demonstrate the process of learning and growing. Bible characters teach us about change and progress. God's word encourages us to grow in the grace and knowledge of God(6) by desiring the milk of the word(7), and by receiving the truth in love(8).

Many diverse characters have participated in God's story. Some grow and some do not. Since Adam, God has been weaving a tapestry of individual souls, nations, kingdoms, tribes and cultures. All press toward the fulfillment of His plan. We have learned much about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, the prophets, and the apostles. But what about the nations? What role do they play in God's plan?

From Genesis chapter eleven forward, God's attention is focused on the nation of Israel. But a closer look reveals over 350 biblical references to nation or nations. In God's dramatic historical production, countless nations enter and leave the stage. And God, the Playwright/Producer/Director, is involved with every one.

What purpose does God have for the nations? Why did He create them at all? God established boundaries between the nations and determined their times and lifespans in history so that men would seek Him, reach out for Him and find Him(9). J.W. McGarvey, in "A Commentary on Acts of Apostles," says that God allows the nations without divine revelation to remain to test them so that they might seek after the Lord(10). God blesses the nations that learn and casts off the nations who do not(11).

What a marvelous variety of nation-characters God has created! God birthed(12) the many nations and divided them into a melange of languages(13). He created some nations to be stronger than others(14). He placed nations into companies and alliances(15). He allowed some nations to have noble laws while others frolicked in foolishness(16). Sometimes He draws a new nation out of an old one(17). He moves some kings and governors to respond to Him(18) while he hardens the hearts of others(19). He still uses one nation to punish another(20). Sometimes He destroys a nation, wiping it out completely(21).

As characters in God's drama, nations, in many ways, are like men(22). Nations can receive counsel(23). They can rejoice(24). They can be afraid(25). They can craft and worship and serve their own gods(26). They can do God's will(27) and they can rebel(28). Nations can learn(29). Nations can seek God(30). They have memories and(31) they can grieve and mourn(32). One nation can influence other nations - for good or evil(33).

Nations also have eyes(34) and ears(35). They can hear God's counsel(36) as well as ungodly counsel(37). They have relationships with one another(38) and speak to one another(39). Like individual souls, they share ideas and philosophies. One nation can ensnare another nation(40). They plan and strategize and make decisions and determine their courses. As autonomous units they govern themselves. Most do so out of self-will. On rare occasions, nations willingly submit to God's authority.

As director of His story, God knows every nation. Like individuals, nations have their own distinctive features. In God's own words, some are foolish(41), some obstinate(42), some bitter(43), some hasty(44), some wicked(45), some righteous(46). Yet each one has a unique role to play in history. From Genesis to Revelation, we see God directing the course of every nation--for they were all created by His hand.

Although most stories have many characters, they are generally built around a primary character called the protagonist. Protagonists have positive goals. In God's story the protagonist is the community of His chosen people in the earth. In Old Testament times, Israel filled this role. Today, the Church is the protagonist in God's story.

Though nations and individuals are characters in God's story, the story is really about Him. Ultimately, God created the nations for His own pleasure and enjoyment. All that exists, exists for Him."... for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created." (Rev 4:11 KJV). Can we safely presuppose that in God's story, He takes special delight when nations, just like His individual sons and daughters, learn and grow and mature?
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(6) I Peter 3:18
(7) I Peter 2:2
(8) Ephesians 4:15
(9) Acts 17:27
(10) "‘that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him.’ He here has reference to those nations who were without revelation; and means, I think, that one purpose of leaving them in that condition was to make a trial of their ability, without the aid of revelation, to seek and feel after the Lord so as to find him." J. W. McGarvey A Commentary on Acts of Apostles , Seventh Edition (Lexington, KY: Transylvania Printing and Publishing Company, 1872)
(11) 2 Kings 23:27, Jeremiah 31:37
(12) Isaiah 66:8
(13) Genesis 10: 5, 20, 31, 32
(14) Genesis 25:32, Numbers 14:12
(15) Genesis 35:11
(16) Deuteronomy 4:8
(17) Deuteronomy 4:34
(18) Daniel 4:34-37
(19) Exodus 7:3
(20) Deuteronomy 9:1, 28:49, Isaiah 45:1, Jeremiah 50:9
(21) Deuteronomy 19: 1, 31:3
(22) Numbers 14:15, Psalms 9:20
(23) Deuteronomy 32:28, Psalm 2:2
(24) Deuteronomy 32:23
(25) Deuteronomy 2:25, Isaiah 64:2
(26) Deuteronomy 29:18, II Kings 17:29, 33, 41, 18:33, 19:12, Isaiah 36:18, Jeremiah 22:11
(27) Jeremiah 7: 28, 25:15, 27:11
(28) Ezekiel 2:3
(29) Micah 4:3
(30) Zechariah 8:22
(31) Ezekiel 25:10
(32) Ezekiel 6:13, 14
(33) Jeremiah 25:32
(34) Isaiah 52:10
(35) Micah 7:16
(36) Jeremiah 31:10
(37) Psalms 2:2
(38) Genesis 35:11
(39) Isaiah 14:32, Jeremiah 31:10, 50:2
(40) Joshua 23:13, Jeremiah 25:32
(41) Deuteronomy 32:21
(42) Isaiah 18:2 & 7
(43) Habakkuk 1:6
(44) Habakkuk 1:6
(45) Leviticus 18:24, Deuteronomy 9:4
(46) Genesis 20:4, Exodus 19:6

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