Did God's promise to make Abraham a great nation mean a large population and military power?
No. God's promise to make Abraham a great nation was not measured by population size or military strength. Israel never exceeded about 15 million people and was often smaller than some world cities. Its greatness lay in being the center of God's dealing with the human race and the source of spiritual blessing.
Les explains that when God said, "I will make of thee a great nation," the first thing people think of is a nation like America with 300 million people, but that is not what God calls great. Historically Israel never went over about 15 million people, fewer than some of the cities of the world. So God was not speaking in terms of numbers and military power. Israel has been great in other ways: it is the very center of all of God's dealing with the human race. Les points to the assassination of Israel's Prime Minister and how a little nation of less than 5 million within its borders could command all the big wheels of the superpowers to come to the leader's funeral—nobody but Israel. Through this one man would come God's flow of all spiritual blessing, and in him all families of the earth would be blessed.
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
More Questions
What did God mean when He promised to make Abraham a great nation?
When God promised to make Abraham a great nation, 'great' did not mean large numbers or military power; Israel was never over 15 million people, but has been and will be great in other ways.
What did God tell Abraham He would do with the nations?
God told Abraham He would make of him a separate race of people, letting the vast majority of nations just go on their way while He worked through the little nation that would come through Abraham and his wife.