Did God tell someone in the OT that He was at work in other nations, too?

[newcrasher]

I seem to remember an Old Testament passage where God basically tells someone from the nation of Israel that He is at work in other nations as well.

But I can’t find the scripture. Am I misremembering?

[Johnny_L.A]

The Daily Show played on this.

Samanthe Bee: God gave Israel to the Jews.
Rob Cordry: Now, wait a minute. The Muslims say God gave it to them!
Another Cast Member: But the Christians say that the Holy Land will be theirs!
All: What? God! You bastard!

Sorry, I don’t have a factual answer.

[DirkGntly]

Apparently, from the scripture references, God had no problem dealing with people in other countries. Numbers, chapter 22, describes how God communicated with Balaam, a prophet in the country of Moab - a Gentile country. Not only that, but Balaam was a “general purpose” seer and communed with others besides “God.” The reason we know about Balaam is that it pertained directly to Israel, with which the Old Testament is primarily concerned.
Additionally, Jonah was sent to Nineveh to persuade them to turn from their ways, and Nineveh was also a Gentile city/state.
I’m sorry I cannot find the specific cite to which you refer (I believe I have read it, too), but at least there is evidence God had no problem with messing with the affairs of other nations.

[Polycarp]

Well, the general point to the book of Jonah is God working among the Assyrians (who were the equivalent of Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia to the Jews of the time). In Isaiah 45 and the Book of Esther, God works in and through Persian Emperors (Cyrus is the one person besides Saul, the Davidic Kings, and Jesus himself who is referred to as mashiakh, Messiah or Anointed One). Isaiah 40-55 pretty much speaks of a God whose rule and mercy is over all nations, calling Israel to be His Chosen People as example and atonement for the others.

[Walloon]

2 Chronicles 20:6

Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the LORD in the front of the new courtyard and said: “O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.”

Job 12:23

He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.

Psalm 46:9-10

He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields with fire.

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 47:7-8

For God is the King of all the earth;
sing to him a psalm of praise.

God reigns over the nations;
God is seated on his holy throne.

Psalm 67:4

May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.

[Can_Handle_the_Truth]

According to Isaiah 19:19-25, Egypt and Assyria are destined to be blessed nations along with Israel:

In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the LORD. And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt: for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a saviour, and a great one, and he shall deliver them. And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day, and shall do sacrifice and oblation; yea, they shall vow a vow unto the LORD, and perform it. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. In that day shall there be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve with the Assyrians. In that day shall Israel be the third with Egypt and with Assyria, even a blessing in the midst of the land: Whom the LORD of hosts shall bless, saying, Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel mine inheritance.

Note: Assyria is Iraq :eek:

[chorpler]

Well, it’s not the Old Testament, but Jesus said, in John 10:16 (KJV):

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd.”

Mormons are taught that he was referring to the Nephites in the Americas when he said this, and that’s what your question brought to mind, even though you specified Old Testament.