Israel's God-given role was to be a kingdom of priests and a light to the Gentiles, so that all nations would come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord.
In the Old Testament, God prepared Israel as His covenant people to bring the knowledge of Him to the Gentile world. Zechariah 8 pictures people from many cities and strong nations coming to Jerusalem to pray before the Lord. In those days ten men from every language will take hold of a Jew and ask to go with him, because they have heard that God is with Israel.
Exodus 19:6 — Declares that Israel was to be a kingdom of priests, which is the foundational expression of their role as mediators of God to the nations.
Zechariah 8:20-23 — Shows the prophetic outworking of Israel's role, with Gentile nations coming to Jerusalem and ten men wanting to accompany a Jew because God is with him.
Isaiah 49:6 — Names Israel as God's light to the Gentiles and His salvation to the ends of the earth.
Exodus 19:6 records God's word to Israel: "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation." This called the whole nation to a priestly role, set apart to mediate the knowledge of God to the peoples around them. Isaiah 49:6 extends that calling to the whole earth: "I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth." Israel was not an end in itself; she was to be the channel through which God's salvation reached the Gentile world. Zechariah 8:20-23 depicts the fulfillment: "It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities... many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD." And "ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations... of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you."
Les Feldick emphasizes that as soon as God brought Israel out of Egypt, He made them His covenanted people and told them that if they were obedient they would be a kingdom of priests. Les defines a priest as a go-between, so every Jew was intended to become a go-between who would bring pagan Gentiles to a knowledge of God. He shows from Zechariah that this is still Israel's future: Gentile nations will come to Jerusalem, and ten men from every language will take hold of a Jew's garment and say, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Les stresses that God never forgot the Gentiles. In the Old Testament His plan was to reach the Gentiles through this prepared covenant people, Israel. Israel was to be the light of the Gentiles and God's salvation to the end of the earth. Because Israel rejected Christ, Les explains that this program temporarily "fell through the cracks"; in the meantime God has been dealing with Gentiles directly. But Les insists Israel will still have her day in the sun when God resumes His prophetic program with the nation.
In Exodus 19:6, God told Israel they would be "a kingdom of priests." Les Feldick explains that a priest is a go-between, so every Jew was intended to stand between God and the pagan nations. This is the role God was preparing the nation to fulfill—bringing Gentiles to the knowledge of the true God.
Zechariah 8 describes a future time when inhabitants of many cities will go to one another saying, "Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts." Many people and strong nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord. Then ten men out of all languages will take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew and say, "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you."
Les Feldick teaches that Israel rejected Christ, and the kingdom offer fell through the cracks—temporarily. Israel is still going to have her day in the sun, but in the meantime God is dealing with Gentiles directly. The nations still stumble over Israel until Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Gentile Nations Coming to Jerusalem
Les reads Zechariah 8:20-22 to show that Gentile inhabitants from many cities and strong nations will come to Jerusalem to pray before the Lord.
Ten Men Taking Hold of the Jew's Skirt
Les explains that in the future, ten men from every language will take hold of a Jew and ask to go with him because they have heard that God is with him.
Israel as Light to the Gentiles in Isaiah
Les says the Old Testament consistently gave Israel the prospect of being a nation of priests and bringing salvation and the knowledge of God to the Gentile world.
Every Jew Intended to Be a Priest
Les explains that a priest is a go-between, so every Jew was intended to become a priest to bring pagan Gentiles to a knowledge of God.
Israel's Rejection and the Temporary Turn to the Gentiles
Les says Israel rejected this role, so it fell through the cracks; Israel will still have her day in the sun, but God is now dealing with Gentiles.
Nations Stumble over Israel Until Christ Comes
Les explains that the Gentile world stumbles over Israel and Jerusalem until Christ returns as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Israel as God's Salvation to the Ends of the Earth
Les points to Isaiah 49:6, where God says He will give Israel for a light to the Gentiles and make them His salvation unto the end of the earth.
A Redeemed Israel as Priest to the Nations
Les repeats that in the future a believing, redeemed, repentant Israel will fulfill the Exodus 19 call that every Jew become a priest—a go-between—to the Gentiles.
Exodus 19:6: 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.
This verse establishes Israel's intended role as a priestly nation, mediating God to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 49:6: And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
God explicitly names Israel as the light to the Gentiles and His salvation to the ends of the earth.
Zechariah 8:20-22: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD.
This prophecy pictures Gentile nations coming to Jerusalem to seek the Lord and pray, fulfilling Israel's priestly role.
Zechariah 8:23: Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.
This verse shows Gentiles from every language wanting to join a Jew because they know God is with Israel.
Isaiah 42:1: Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
Les relates this to God's plan to bring judgment or rule to the Gentiles through His servant and prepared covenant people.
No. According to Les Feldick, Israel's role was to be a kingdom of priests—go-betweens—to bring pagan Gentiles to a knowledge of the true God. The Gentile nations would come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord, not to become part of Israel.
Les shows that this was Israel's prospect and future. Israel rejected Christ, so the program temporarily fell through the cracks. But the Old Testament prophecies are still waiting for Israel's future day.
Yes. Les points to Zechariah 8, where ten men from all languages will take hold of a Jew's garment and say, "We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you." That prophecy is still ahead for Israel.
Watch the Teaching: Why Every Jew Was Meant to Be a Priest — Exodus 19