In the transition from the family of Abraham to the nation of Israel, we learn a valuable lesson about God making provisions for everyone! Unfortunately, the Jews over time quickly misunderstood the reasons for the divine selection of Abraham’s descendants to become their own nation (cf. Deut. 9:13-29), and they falsely filled themselves with both pride and prejudice (Jonah is a great example of one whose attitude towards Gentiles was ungodly). It is true that God made a covenant with them like no other (cf. Ex. 19:5-8), but in this covenant that He made with Israel, He included provisions for Gentiles as well to demonstrate, among many things, that His concern was not just for one nation, but that He truly loves everyone! I do not believe that God focused on the nation of Israel while forgetting about the rest of the world, allowing them to wander around as best as they could and depending upon whatever knowledge they had received during the Patriarchal Age.
For example, in the very formation of the nation with the institution of the Passover, God already laid the foundation for the inclusion of everyone. Exodus 12:43-51 teaches that any circumcised Gentile (proselyte) could enjoy the full privileges of the Jewish religion. Here, we first learn of the distinction between a full proselyte (a Gentile who accepts the religion of the Jews, demonstrated with his circumcision) and a “foreigner” or a “sojourner” [ASV] (one who remains uncircumcised and thus, did not enjoy the full privileges of the Jewish people). Later, in the formation of the Law of Moses, God will remind them, “Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Ex. 22:21). Again, while so many believed that God was not interested in the other nations, the truth of the matter is that He wanted the nation of Israel to be a light to the rest of the world, just as God is very interested in non-Christians today, and expresses such through the light that Christians are supposed to shine forth to them. Our failure to radiate righteousness is not a reflection on God’s lack of love for those in the world, just as the failure of the Jews to radiate God’s righteousness through their own covenant was not a reflection on His lack of love for the Gentiles. God cared even for “the stranger,” and they were supposed to learn this valuable lesson from His people, the Jews (cf. Lev. 19:9-10; 23:22; Deut. 14:21). The very fact that God sent Jewish prophets to prophesy to all the nations and not just to Israel or Judah ought to teach us this necessary lesson (cf. Is. 13-27, 43:9-11; Jer. 46-51; Ezek. 25-32; Amos 1:3-2:3; Obadiah, Jonah, and such like). In addition, we have seen throughout the history of the Israelites the interaction that God had with Gentiles and the provisions he made with them, including Rahab (Joshua 2), Ruth, the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17), and Naaman (2 Kings 5). Even the prayer of Solomon at the grand dedication of the marvelous temple recognized the provisions that God gave to Gentiles who responded appropriately (cf. 1 Kings 8:41-43), which we see centuries later in a couple of Roman centurions, one of whom was named Cornelius (cf. Luke 7:1-5; Acts 10:1-2).
One of the great tragedies of years gone by is the false notion that God has one law for the non-Christian and another law for the Christian. Such is completely false. Through even the law of liberty (James 1:25), God has provided provisions for his people, the church, as well as demanding accountability and responsibility by those who are not in the church. In this fashion, he shows that he has made provisions for everyone! No one is without excuse! This has always been the case. To God be the glory!