What does God think about the nations of the world?
The most simple
answer is found in Isaiah 40:17, “All nations before him are as nothing; and
they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.” Therefore, the nations
are insignificant as far as God is concerned. That, however, does not mean that
God does not care about the nations. When it comes to salvation, the Bible
clearly declares that “...God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Bible also makes it clear that God wants all
men to be saved and come to know Him. The problem is that each nation thinks
too highly of itself. Some think they rule the world, but that is only wishful
thinking because ultimately the Creator of heaven and earth is in charge. In
the end, it is He, not the political system, who thrones and dethrones.
Generally, the
Bible's use of the term “the nations” means all those opposing Israel. That is
the only nation God identifies with. He refers to the people of Israel as His
people. He refers to Israel as His land, and He has called Jerusalem “the city of peace.” It is
significant that not one nation agrees that Israel has the legal and biblical
right to the land as defined by the God-ordained borders of the Euphrates River
and the River of Egypt. To make such a claim is laughable to the nations. Why?
Because it is virtually impossible to remove such nations as Lebanon, Syria and
Jordan and establish biblical borders. This is out of the question; no sensible
and serious-thinking politician would even entertain such a thought. Thus, we
see the world becoming perfectly united when it comes to Israel. In view of
that fact, God declares that the nations “...are counted to him less than
nothing, and vanity.”