Acts 15:12-21. After Peter speaks to the assembled apostles and elders, arguing that they should not impose circumcision on the Gentiles, Barnabas and Paul next address the assembly, which is listening quietly. Paul and Barnabas relate all of the experiences they had in their travels, including how God worked signs and wonders among the Gentiles, and many Gentiles were converted. Then James speaks and quotes the prophets who foretold that God would rebuild the house of David "that the rest of men may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name." Therefore, James argues that they should not trouble the Gentiles with circumcision, but rather tell them to refrain from idols, unchastity, food that has been strangled, and blood. These Mosaic laws are taught in every synagogue, which many of the Gentiles have been attending anyway.

I was a little surprised to read the words of the prophets that James quoted. I didn't remember there being such a clear Old Testament reference to God welcoming Gentiles into His family. I looked it up, and this quote is from Amos 9:11-12, but in my translation (the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition) it reads "and all the nations who are called by my name." So that's why it didn't strike me before, because the word "Gentiles" wasn't used. But James' point remains the same - the Jews were God's nation, so if God is saying that other nations will be called by His name, He is necessarily referring to Gentiles.

God doesn't hide things from us - He reveals them to us slowly, but we are not all always ready to receive them. He told Amos, and Amos told the people, that other nations would one day be accepted in His name. At the time, there must have been some who understood that this meant Gentiles would be eventually accepted, but I wonder how many of the Jewish people really understood what it meant? It certainly didn't get a lot of traction, since the resistance to accepting Gentiles was so strong later. But now the apostles and elders can look back and see that God has told them what He wants!

This is something that I just love so much about the Bible - I love puzzles and finding hidden clues in literature and games, and the Bible is full of "hidden" clues. When reading something like this, I am reminded that God does not change, but His plan is being carried out in time and through our long history, while He remains outside of time, and eternal. Therefore, God can and did give a clue to Amos that didn't become applicable until hundreds of years later!

Man lives on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God, and humanity needs every one of those words from our past in order to attain our promised future. This is one reason why it is so important to read the Bible!