So far, we've just been
revisiting history that many are familiar with. Most Christians are
familiar with the fact that the Children of Israel are God's chosen
people. But the important connection between us that I want to point
out is yet to come. Be aware that I'm not attempting to reveal some
"never before revealed information" - that would be
impossible. Our Bible has been scoured faithfully by scholars and
those thirsty for knowledge of our God for centuries. But what I am
hoping to do, is to bring back into focus some details important to
our knowledge of who we are, who the Children of Israel are, and the
eternal relationship that exists between us. So, on with the mission
...
We're surrounded by worldly
ideals, attitudes and theories. They come to us in the news and in
all forms of political, social and even entertainment media. But if
they're not consistent with the word of God, then they're the ideals
and values of frail and perishable men. Their intent is to persuade
us to believe them and to allow ourselves and our thoughts to be
governed by their ideals. But what we're talking about here is an
ancient people chosen by an ancient, but everlasting and eternally
current God. The ideals of men are as frail and perishable as the men
who utter them. But what God speaks, lives forever to be the truth in
spite of what any man may determine in his own limited understanding.
Israel has been surrounded by controversy among men for centuries and
many have had much to say. But the only thing that should be
important to us as Christians ... is what our Father God has said
about His people. By faith and acceptance of Christ as our Savior, we
too are His people, but we're not alone.
God made promises to
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that He declared to be "forever",
so we know that He still honors them today. The history of the
people He chose to call His own is colorful. There has been much
blessing, but also much suffering. There have been seasons of
consecration and seasons of rebellion. Repeatedly they stumbled and
repeatedly God called them back. By reading their history in the Old
Testament, we find repeatedly that God allowed them to suffer the
fruit of their own rebellion and wickedness. But He always called
them back. He always made it clear that if they returned to obedience
and serving Him, that he would bless them. He never gave up on them
and He's never forgotten His promises to their forefathers - not even
now.
But now, bearing God's
promises and His favor toward Israel in mind, consider the current
nations of the middle east today and their posture toward Israel as
well as Israels' assertion of right to the land that they hold.
Remember the dealings and covenants between our Father God and
Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Joseph and the others throughout Israel's
history and remember the term that He placed on some of them. We know
that our God always honors his word to men. The Jews if any, have
been the devout observers of God's Old Testament commandments,
principles and laws. They've been the practiced keepers of God's
traditions and the observers of the days and seasons declared to be
set aside by God. Remember that to the Israelites, God's promises are
forever as God declared them to be and Gods' promises and teachings
are passed from generation to generation with great care. Believing
God, true children of Israel view His promises to be as current as
today’s' newspaper.
The separation of nations
began in the book of Genesis along with attitudes that have existed
for centuries. Because of human nature, no father could likely
declare a favorite either by vocalization or by deed among his
children without the possibility of creating jealousy among the
others. Jacobs' favoritism of Joseph is a very good example of that
which is why its inclusion in the Bible is so particularly important
to our understanding some of the controversy around Israel throughout
history. Like Joseph, our Fathers' people have suffered and endured
much only to rise up once again. They continue to exist and prosper
only by the Fathers' favor (which doesn't always mean what we might
think of when we think of the words prosper and favor. Real
prosperity in our Fathers' eternal perspective is something quite
different from the worlds' terminal viewpoint and is reflected in His
favor). Our God's favor (even though they don't recognize it as such)
continues to inflame the jealousy of other nations toward them. But
true to His word, when those who have continue to strive to adhere to
what He has told them to do according to His law and commandments, He
has continued to bless them.
As God set apart His chosen
people, the jealousy of other nations began and has continued even
until now. But I believe that in His Word, we find that our God made
the keys to prosperity and favor available to any who would obey
them. For example, the book of Proverbs exists as a guide for
successful living in Gods' presence and His favor but adherence to
its' teachings is mandatory to recognize the benefits that its'
wisdom offers. Its wisdom was adopted by His people, and in so doing,
they made themselves available to His blessing. They incorporated
obedience and the observance of Gods' laws and teachings as a life
style and they prospered not only spiritually, but in the world as a
whole. They prospered by following the wisdom of Gods' teaching,
honoring the festivals and days the Lord decreed that were to be set
aside and His other commandments and laws. When they were obedient,
they made themselves available to become an example of the truth of
Gods' word. But for those who saw Gods' favor on Israel but either
didn't understand it or refused to acknowledge the truth and follow
Him as well, it bred in them the cancers of anger, jealousy and
resentment. So now, fast forward to today and see that nothing has
changed. Gods' promises, favor and wisdom are unchanging - what was,
... is still. The truths of God remain unchanged.
In many ways, the Jews that
are truly following God as they understand that they should are more
devout in their observances and life practice than some Christians.
Reading the book of Leviticus makes it very evident that the rules
and laws they were commanded to follow were far reaching and were
given to bring them to a level of righteousness and holiness that
would allow them to relate to God. But they, like any, are subject to
their flesh and living their lives according to all of the laws,
commandments and precepts of God given throughout the books of the
Old Testament proved to be cumbersome and difficult. But this being
the only way according to their accepted knowledge to be able to be
redeemed, there are still many who seek God's favor and acceptance in
this way. Of course, we being redeemed through Christ know that
they're missing something critically important. But in general, the
truly devout Jew makes a sincere effort to honor God by being
faithful in their observance of what God has said that they should do
in the Old Testament.
The
first reference to the Israelites as Jews in the KJV is found in 2
Kings 16:6 *** " At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered
Elath to Syria , and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came
to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day." *** The same verse is
translated a little differently in the NLT - 2 Kings 16:6 *** "
At that time the king of Edom recovered the town of Elath for Edom.
He drove out the people of Judah and sent Edomites to live there, as
they do to this day." *** Understand that the New Living
Translation is still talking about the same people. Judah is one of
the 12 tribes of Israel - Gods' firstborn. From this point on in the
Bible, the Israelites didn't disappear, they were now more commonly
referred to as Jews. To the Jews are ascribed all of the history and
all of the distinctions of the children of Israel - because they are
one and the same.
*******
Genesis 49:10 " The
scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his
descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one
whom all nations will obey."
**********
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