The Nations: Part 1 – Outline

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The Nations: Part 1

- OVERVIEW

This week’s lesson explores how God worked with different nations after the scattering at Babel. From Nimrod’s empire to Abraham’s calling, and Israel’s struggles with kingship, we see God's hand over rulers and people. God’s plan always included blessing the whole world, even through broken and rebellious nations.

- SATURDAY – Introduction

- Memory Text

Daniel 7:14

KJV 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

CEV 14 He was crowned king and given power and glory, so that all people of every nation and race would serve him. He will rule forever, and his kingdom is eternal, never to be destroyed.

A T W G H D
A G
A A K
T A P N A L
S S H
H D I A E D
W S N P A
A H K T W S N B D

- Lesson

Though many nations rose up after Babel, God always had one ultimate kingdom in mind—His own. The nations might have rebelled, but prophecy shows that God’s dominion will cover all people, and His kingdom will last forever. Human kingdoms rise and fall, but God's plan remains.

God uses nations for His purposes, even when they seem to act against Him. The Bible shows us that He is not only the God of Israel but the God who rules over all humanity, working patiently through history to fulfill His promises.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White reminds us that while leaders often think they are in charge, God is guiding the destiny of nations. He uses even rebellious rulers to fulfill His purposes. In the end, Christ’s kingdom will replace all earthly kingdoms with eternal righteousness.

- Conclusion

Though human governments fall, God’s rule is sure. All people and nations are invited to serve Him now and forever.

- Reflection

What comfort can we find knowing that God's kingdom will never be destroyed?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How does Daniel 7:14

KJV 14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

CEV 14 He was crowned king and given power and glory, so that all people of every nation and race would serve him. He will rule forever, and his kingdom is eternal, never to be destroyed.

inspire hope for the future?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- SUNDAY – Nimrod and Nineveh

- Lesson

Read the following:

Genesis 10:8-12

KJV 8 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah, 12 And Resen between Nineveh and Calah: the same is a great city.

CEV 6-20 Ham's descendants had their own languages, tribes, and land. They were Ethiopia, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Cush was the ancestor of Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah was the ancestor of Sheba and Dedan. Cush was also the ancestor of Nimrod, a mighty warrior whose strength came from the Lord. This is why people say: “You hunt like Nimrod with the strength of the Lord!” Nimrod first ruled in Babylon, Erech, and Accad, all of which were in Babylonia. From there Nimrod went to Assyria and built the great city of Nineveh. He also built Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, as well as Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah. Egypt was the ancestor of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, the ancestor of the Philistines. Canaan's sons were Sidon and Heth. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Later the Canaanites spread from the territory of Sidon and settled as far away as Gaza in the direction of Gerar. They also went as far as Lasha in the direction of Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim.

Jonah 1:1-2

KJV 1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

CEV 1 One day the Lord told Jonah, the son of Amittai, 2 to go to the great city of Nineveh and say to the people, “The Lord has seen your terrible sins. You are doomed!”

Nimrod was a mighty hunter and builder of cities like Babel and Nineveh. His kingdom represented human pride and rebellion against God’s plan. Later, Nineveh itself became a symbol of great wickedness, yet God still sent Jonah to warn the city, showing His mercy.

These stories show that human ambition, if separated from God, leads to confusion and violence. Yet God still seeks to reach rebellious cities and nations with His message of repentance and salvation.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White says that even though nations may fall into sin, God does not abandon them easily. He sends warnings and calls to repentance. Nineveh responded to Jonah’s message, showing that even the most rebellious can turn back to God.

- Conclusion

Though human pride leads to destruction, God is always willing to extend forgiveness when people repent.

- Reflection

What lesson can we learn from God's dealings with Nineveh?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What warning does Nimrod's story give us today?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- MONDAY – Abraham’s Call

- Lesson

Read the following:

Genesis 12:1-3

KJV 1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 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: 3 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.

CEV 1 The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.

Genesis 18:18

KJV 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

CEV 18 since his family will become a great and powerful nation that will be a blessing to all the other nations on earth.

After the confusion at Babel, God called Abraham to start a new kind of nation—a people blessed to bless others. Abraham’s descendants were meant to reveal God’s character to the world, inviting all to know the true God.

Abraham’s call shows that God’s plan was always to save all humanity, not just one group. Through Abraham’s faith and obedience, God would ultimately bless every family on earth, culminating in Jesus Christ.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White teaches that Abraham’s family was to be a light to the world. Through their lives, other nations would learn about God's mercy, justice, and goodness. Their witness was part of God's plan to reach all peoples.

- Conclusion

Abraham’s obedience allowed God’s blessings to flow through him to every nation. Faithfulness today can have the same powerful influence.

- Reflection

What was God's purpose in calling Abraham?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can we today continue Abraham’s mission?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- TUESDAY – Given What You Asked For

- Lesson

Read the following:

1 Samuel 8:4-22

KJV 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6 But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. 10 And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king. 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. 16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day. 19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; 20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

CEV 4 One day the nation's leaders came to Samuel at Ramah 5 and said, “You are an old man. You set a good example for your sons, but they haven't followed it. Now we want a king to be our leader, just like all the other nations. Choose one for us!” 6 Samuel was upset to hear the leaders say they wanted a king, so he prayed about it. 7 The Lord answered: Samuel, do everything they want you to do. I am really the one they have rejected as their king. 8 Ever since the day I rescued my people from Egypt, they have turned from me to worship idols. Now they are turning away from you. 9 Do everything they ask, but warn them and tell them how a king will treat them. 10 Samuel told the people who were asking for a king what the Lord had said: 11 If you have a king, this is how he will treat you. He will force your sons to join his army. Some of them will ride in his chariots, some will serve in the cavalry, and others will run ahead of his own chariot. 12 Some of them will be officers in charge of 1,000 soldiers, and others will be in charge of 50. Still others will have to farm the king's land and harvest his crops, or make weapons and parts for his chariots. 13 Your daughters will have to make perfume or do his cooking and baking. 14 The king will take your best fields, as well as your vineyards, and olive orchards and give them to his own officials. 15 He will also take a tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers and officials. 16 The king will take your slaves and your best young men and your donkeys and make them do his work. 17 He will also take a tenth of your sheep and goats. You will become the king's slaves, 18 and you will finally cry out for the Lord to save you from the king you wanted. But the Lord won't answer your prayers. 19-20 The people would not listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want to be like other nations. We want a king to rule us and lead us in battle.” 21 Samuel listened to them and then told the Lord exactly what they had said. 22 “Do what they want,” the Lord answered. “Give them a king.” Samuel told the people to go back to their homes.

Israel wanted a king like the other nations. Though God warned them about the hardships a king would bring—taxes, wars, and oppression—the people insisted. God told Samuel to give them what they asked for, even though it wasn't His ideal plan.

This shows that when we stubbornly reject God's way, He sometimes allows us to face the consequences. Yet even then, God doesn’t abandon us; He continues working to bring about His purposes.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White explains that Israel’s desire for a king was a rejection of God’s direct rule. God allowed it to teach them the results of trusting human leadership over divine guidance.

- Conclusion

Sometimes God gives us what we demand, but it’s not always for our good. Trusting His wisdom is always best.

- Reflection

Why did God allow Israel to have a king even though it wasn't His perfect plan?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can we avoid making the same mistake today?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- WEDNESDAY – The Rulers of the Gentiles

- Lesson

Read the following:

Matthew 20:25-28

KJV 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

CEV 25 But Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know foreign rulers like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over everyone they rule. 26 But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. 27 And if you want to be first, you must be the slave of the rest. 28 The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.

Mark 10:42-45

KJV 42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them. 43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: 44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. 45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

CEV 42 But Jesus called the disciples together and said: You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. 43 But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. 44 And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. 45 The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people.

Jesus taught that rulers of the world often dominate and oppress. In contrast, true leadership in God's kingdom means serving others, not lording over them. Jesus Himself came to serve and give His life for others.

God’s way is different from the world's way. Greatness in God's kingdom is measured by humility, service, and love, not by control or fame.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White emphasizes that real greatness is found in serving others, as Christ did. Those who follow Him must learn to lead by love and sacrifice, not by seeking position or power.

- Conclusion

In God's eyes, true leaders are those who humbly serve others, following Jesus’ example.

- Reflection

According to Jesus, what is the true mark of greatness?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can we apply Jesus' teaching on leadership in our own lives?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- THURSDAY – A Light to the Gentiles

- Lesson

Read the following:

Isaiah 42:6

KJV 6 I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;

CEV 6 I chose you to bring justice, and I am here at your side. I selected you and sent you to bring light and my promise of hope to the nations.

Isaiah 49:6

KJV 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.

CEV 6 Now the Lord says to me, “It isn't enough for you to be merely my servant. You must do more than lead back survivors from the tribes of Israel. I have placed you here as a light for other nations; you must take my saving power to everyone on earth.”

God called Israel not only to keep the truth but to share it. They were to be a light to the Gentiles, showing the world who the true God was. Sadly, Israel often failed by keeping the blessings to themselves and not reaching out.

God’s plan was always global. Through Israel—and later through the church—He wants the whole world to know about His love, salvation, and kingdom.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White stresses that God's people are not to hoard His blessings. They are to share the light of truth and reflect God's character to those still living in darkness.

- Conclusion

God’s mission has always been about sharing His light with others, not keeping it hidden.

- Reflection

What was Israel’s mission to the nations?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How can we fulfill the mission Israel often neglected?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- FRIDAY – Further Thought

- Lesson

Throughout history, God has been working among the nations. From Babel to Nineveh, from Abraham to Israel, He patiently calls people to Himself. Even when His people fail, His mission continues. Prophecy shows that God's purpose is bigger than any one nation—it is for all humanity.

We are part of that ongoing story. God calls us today to be faithful witnesses, to trust His ways over human plans, and to serve others with humility and love.

- EGW Notes (Paraphrased)

Ellen White reminds us that though human pride and rebellion seem strong, God's purposes will triumph. He works through willing hearts to spread light and truth to the ends of the earth.

- Conclusion

The nations may rage, but God’s kingdom of love and truth will last forever. We are called to shine His light now.

- Reflection

How does the history of nations show God’s patience and purpose?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What part can we play in God's plan for the nations today?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Why was Israel’s desire for a king a spiritual mistake? What can we learn from their example?

Reveal Suggested Answer

What lessons does Jesus’ teaching about leadership offer to church leaders today?

Reveal Suggested Answer

How does understanding God’s plan for all nations affect how we see missions and evangelism?

Reveal Suggested Answer

- LESSON SUMMARY

The Nations: Part 1

This week we learned how God worked among the early nations after Babel. From Nimrod’s pride to Nineveh’s repentance, from Abraham’s faith to Israel’s struggles, God's purpose has remained the same: to bless the world and call all people back to Himself. He uses nations, individuals, and prophecy to fulfill His mission of love and salvation.