Yes, God's covenants with Israel were designed to prepare them to bring all nations to the knowledge of Israel's God.
God set Israel apart from the rest of humanity to be a unique, prepared nation. Their purpose was to eventually return to the broader stream of humanity and introduce the Gentile world to their God. This was not a rejection of the Gentiles but a strategic, sovereign plan for the benefit of all nations.
Genesis 12:2-3 — This is the foundational covenant where God promises to make Abraham a great nation and to bless all the earth through him.
The Bible records God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3, where God promises to make of him a great nation and to bless him, and in him all the families of the earth will be blessed. This covenant is foundational and reveals God's intention to use Israel as a channel of blessing to all nations. Exodus 19:5-6 further identifies Israel as a peculiar treasure, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation, indicating their unique role in serving God and representing Him to the world. The covenant, being initiated by God, is unconditional and unbreakable, as seen in the Biblical narrative of Israel's survival despite their disobedience.
Les Feldick teaches that God's covenants with Israel were not for Israel alone but for the ultimate benefit of the nations. After 2,000 years of humanity rejecting God's knowledge, God called out one man, Abraham, to start a nation that would be set apart (Clip 0). This nation was to be prepared through the covenants, the Law, and the temple worship, so that they could eventually bring the Gentiles to a knowledge of Israel's God (Clip 4, Clip 6). However, Israel failed in this mission because they became proud of their special status and rejected the Lord of glory, crucifying Him (Clip 3). Despite this, God has not abandoned His covenant purposes; the covenants will ultimately be fulfilled because they are from God to man and cannot be broken (Clip 7, Clip 1).
God separated Israel from other nations to prepare them for a unique role in His plan for the whole human race. This separation included strict prohibitions against intermarriage and social contact with pagans (Clip 2). However, God never instructed Israel to proselytize or evangelize the Gentiles. Instead, He set them apart to be made different, so that in due time, they could return to the nations as prepared, spiritual, obedient people and bring them to a knowledge of their God (Clip 2, Clip 3). This separation was not an indication that God had forgotten the Gentiles, but a strategic preparation (Clip 4, Clip 5).
The ultimate goal of Israel's covenant relationship was that through them, all the nations of the earth would be blessed. This is encapsulated in the Abrahamic covenant: 'in thee shall all the earth be blessed' (Clip 5). Israel was to become a kingdom of priests, a favored nation set apart for this purpose (Clip 4, Clip 6). They were to be the means by which the Gentile world would come to know the one true God (Clip 3, Clip 4). However, Israel did not accomplish this before they rejected their Messiah, crucifying the Lord of glory (Clip 3).
The covenants with Israel are part of God's plan to deal with the whole human race. After Adam, God dealt with all humanity for 2,000 years, but they ignored Him (Clip 0). So God set aside Israel as a separate nation to work with them, while the rest of humanity drifted in their godless state. This does not mean God forgot the Gentiles; rather, Israel's preparation was intended to eventually benefit all nations (Clip 5, Clip 4). The covenants are essential to understanding the difference between God's plan for Israel and His subsequent work with the Gentiles (Clip 7).
God Calling Abram
Les explains that after 2,000 years of humanity's failure, God called out one man, Abram, to start the nation of Israel, setting them apart from the rest of humanity who were left in their godless state.
The Master Covenant
Les teaches that all the covenants boil down to the one master covenant with Abraham, repeated to Isaac and Jacob, which promised Israel greatness, their own land, and God as their king, and they were to be obedient in preparing for its fulfillment.
Israel as a Separated People
Les stresses that God never instructed Israel to proselytize the Gentiles; instead, they were to remain a separated covenant people, set apart to be made different for God's purpose.
Israel's Failed Mission
Les explains that Israel was to become a prepared, spiritual, obedient people who would bring the Gentiles to the knowledge of their God, but they failed because they became too proud of their special status and rejected others.
Israel's Unique Role
Les teaches that God sovereignly set Israel apart as a covenant nation for the express purpose of bringing all other nations to a knowledge of Israel's God, and that God had not forgotten the Gentiles.
All Nations Blessed
Les emphasizes the all-encompassing part of the Abrahamic covenant: 'in thee shall all the earth be blessed,' clarifying that God did not forget the Gentiles when He set Israel apart.
Preparation Under the Law
Les explains that God put Israel under the Law, temple worship, and the priesthood as a preparation process to become a kingdom of priests, while the Gentiles were allowed to go their own way outside the covenant promises.
Understanding the Covenant
Les stresses that to avoid confusion in Christendom, one must differentiate between God's plan for Israel and His later work with the Gentiles, which is why understanding the Abrahamic covenant is crucial; the covenant is from God to man.
Genesis 12:2-3: 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: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
This is the foundational covenant where God promises to make Abraham a great nation and to bless all nations through him.
Exodus 19:5-6: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
God reiterates Israel's covenant purpose, calling them a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
No. Les Feldick teaches that God set Israel apart for a unique role, but the ultimate purpose was to bring all nations to a knowledge of Israel's God. The covenant includes the promise that 'in thee shall all the earth be blessed' (Genesis 12:3), showing that Gentiles were always in view.
According to Les Feldick, after 2,000 years of human failure, God called out one man, Abraham, to start a nation that would be prepared and set apart. This was a sovereign choice to prepare a nation that could eventually bring the Gentile world to God.
Les teaches that God's covenants are one-way commitments from God to man, so they cannot ultimately be broken or forgotten. Even though Israel failed to accomplish their mission initially, the covenants will eventually reach their fulfillment.
Watch the Teaching: The Abrahamic Covenant: Why God Chose Israel & What It Means For Us