UMC20250131 - Nation Building¶
I’ve been reading a lot of the Old Testament over the past few months, and one lens that has stood out to me is that of nation-building—how God shaped Israel into a people with a shared identity, purpose, and destiny.
I learnt in my studies that much of the Old Testament, in its current form, was written or edited during Israel’s exile in Babylon. This means that the stories and laws were not just historical records but also reflections on what went wrong—why Israel lost its land and how they might reclaim their identity.
- Exodus and Numbers tell the story of God liberating Israel from Egypt and leading them toward the Promised Land.
- Leviticus and Deuteronomy contain the laws and traditions Moses gave to shape Israel into a distinct nation, preparing them to live differently from the world around them.
- Joshua, Judges, and Kings show a pattern: when Israel followed God’s ways, they thrived; when they turned away, they fell into chaos. Sadly, they often chose the latter.
- Isaiah and Jeremiah are the voices of prophets warning Israel of the consequences of forsaking God, calling them to return before it was too late.
Reading the Bible with this wide-angle lens has made books that once felt dry come alive with meaning. It has also made me reflect on the world today.
Most modern nations have distanced themselves from a religious identity. Governments have largely removed God from their structures, replacing divine guidance with science, pluralism, and secular values. This isn’t necessarily bad—history is full of troubling examples of religion intertwined with state power. The Crusades, the Roman Empire’s version of Christianity, and even some modern theocracies show how nationalized religion can be oppressive. But I also think of Israel under King Solomon, a time when wisdom and justice flourished.
This lead me to a more personal reflection: if I am a “nation unto myself,” where is God in my life?
Ultimately, the true measure of a nation—or an individual—is whether they live according to the ways of heaven. When people align their lives with God’s kingdom, His presence grows on earth. When they turn away, they hinder that kingdom’s expansion. Whether in governments or in our own homes, the question remains: who is shaping our identity?