love, and the possibility remained for other nations to share in the blessing of the covenant. 6. Israel continually viewed its history as enacted on the stage of the world, “before the eyes of the surrounding nations.” Repeatedly, Israel prayed that God might intervene in his merciful power so that the nations would acknowledge his Name (Exod. 32:12; Num. 14:16; Josh. 7:9; Isa. 37:20). Israel realized “that its history was not a private affair which was of no concern to anyone else; it knew that