Why did God allow Israel to come into contact with heathen nations?

Answer 1

When this God was created he did not know that there were other Gods revealing different theological concepts to highly religious individuals of other regions.

This God can't stop the birth of heathens because his rival Gods are more powerful. The Gods of the heathens keeps them happy and satisfied on earth while this non-heathen God punishes and oppresses his slaves on earth but promises them a place in paradise when they die.

When you die, you will go to a heaven that practices apartheid so you will finally be free of those inferior heathens created by another God.

Answer

Throughout the Jewish history God revealed himself to the nation primarily through prophets. These were people chosen by God, because they had particular qualities. We are told that they were 'filled with the Holy Spirit' and spoke out what God had intended for his people.

Many prophets arose in Israel and Judah including greats like Isaiah and Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Elijah, Amos and Joel among many others.

Yet despite their prophesies and numerous acts of God where his love was shown for the Jewish nation (eg in deliverance from Egypt, the formation of a golden age of prosperity, the provision of a land 'flowing with milk and honey', and the promise of a messiah fulfilled in the coming of Jesus Christ, the Jews were never satisfied, and continually turned away from righteous living, and the God who loved them.

Despite God forbidding intermarriage between Jews and others (although the Jews disobeyed this rule) there were two main reasons why God allowed the Jews to be exposed to other races and beliefs.

First, as a means to show the Jews his power. As one example of this, Elijah and the worshippers of the false god Ba'al staged a 'competition'. The worshipers of Ba'al lost out to God miserably, who performed a miracle in the presence of the Ba'al worhsippers. As a result, mant were converted to the God of the Jews on that say.

Secondly, God allowed the mixing of the Jews with other nations as a means of chastisement or learning. An example of when this occurred was when the Jews were taken into exile because of their disobedience. In these times it was very difficult for the Jews because they not only lost their land but lost the ability to worship God in the Temple. Yet, on their return, rather than repent and become a righteous nation as they were in the times of prosperity, they still disobeyed God and suffered as a result.