Through whom did God plan to deal with the Gentiles in the Old Testament?
God planned to deal with the Gentiles through Israel, His covenant people, who were to carry salvation to them. Scripture also identifies the servant, the Christ or Messiah, as the light to the Gentiles, bringing God's salvation to the ends of the earth.
Les explains that throughout the Old Testament God was only planning to deal with the Gentiles through this covenant people, Israel. They were going to be the ones who would take salvation to the Gentiles. He then points to Isaiah 42, where God's servant, singular, is the Christ, the Messiah, who would bring forth judgment or rule to the Gentiles. In Isaiah 49:6-7, God says He will also give His servant as a light to the Gentiles, so that His salvation may reach to the end of the earth. Thus God's plan centered on Israel as the covenant channel and on the Messiah as the light and salvation to the Gentiles.