Israel
25 Lest you be wise in your own conceits, I want you to understand this mystery, brethren: a hardening has come upon part of Israel, until the full number of the Gentiles come in, 26 and so all Israel will be saved; as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; 27 "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." 28 As regards the gospel they are enemies of God, for your sake; but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. 30 Just as you were once disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, 31 so they have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may receive mercy. 32 For God has consigned all men to disobedience, that he may have mercy upon all. Romans 11:25-32.
Night
I was on vacation last week and have not had a chance to post anything in a while. What I love about vacations is finding time to read. I read 5 books last week. One of books I read was given to me by my son-in-law. The book is by Elie Wisel called Night. It is his story of a young Jewish boy who witnessed the death of his family in the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz. It is one of those books that you don't want to read; but, once you start you can't put it down. The horror of a family being stripped of everything they owned, loaded into a boxcar and shipped to death camp is beyond comprehension. But, his story is so personal and compelling that one cannot ignore the degree of evil and destruction in what transpired in a modern European nation during World War II. It is a story that needs to be told and remembered.
The Re-birth of the Nation of Israel
It was the collective guilt of the modern world over the death of six million Jews that caused the United Nations to vote the nation of Israel into existence in 1948. Never before has any nation been destroyed, its people dispersed to the ends of the earth, and then, nearly two thousand years later, re-gathered to their homeland and re-established as a nation. Even more amazing is that at the time of Israel's independence, no less than seven Arab states with modern armies attacked Israel to wipe it off of the face of the earth. The Israelies were outnumbered 100 to 1. Israel not only repelled the invaders but acquired more of Palestine than was granted in the UN partition plan. Yigael Yadin, Israel’s commander of operations in that war, had a terse explanation of Israel’s victory. "It was a miracle!"
History of Israel:
Why is so much of the Bible focused on the history of Israel and the future of its people? Why was one nation called out as "God's chosen people"? These questions are answered when we examine God's ultimate purpose for Israel. When God made His unconditional promise to Abraham that He would make his descendants a great nation, God also promised to bless all people through that nation (Genesis 12:1-3). Therefore, Israel was never considered a sole recipient of God's blessings, but rather, a channel for God's blessings to all mankind.
God's miracles for Israel, such as their dramatic deliverance from Egypt, were intended not only for the Israelites themselves, but as evidence of God's absolute power and uniqueness for a watching polytheistic world (Exodus 7:5; 14:18; Joshua 2:9-11). The Messiah that would come through the nation of Israel was always intended to be the Savior for all mankind (Isaiah 49:6). The Old Testament also contains many invitations to the entire world to come and worship the one living God in Israel (Psalm 2:10-12; 117:1). Based on recent events in the Holy Land, it is clear that God's promise to Abraham is still being fulfilled. Accordingly, God's promise to bless all peoples through Israel is still absolutely apparent. The teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the growth and influence of His church, were made possible through God's choice of Israel as His people. All people who accept Jesus as their Messiah, whether Jew or Gentile, receive the great blessings of God channeled through His chosen people, the nation of Israel.
Replacement Theology
There are some who would teach that the church has replaced the Israel of old. Some suggest that the church is the new "spiritual Israel" and that the modern state of Israel has nothing to do with the Bible. The problem with that interpretation flies in the face of Paul's declaration in Romans 11 that the call and gifts of God are irrevocable. Paul warns Christian gentiles against being proud of their position. He declares that God intends for Gentiles to make Israel envious of the church's relationship with the God of Abraham.
Moses told the Israelites:
It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love upon you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples; 8 but it is because the LORD loves you, and is keeping the oath which he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Deuteronomy 7:7-8
Although Israel rejects the gospel today, it still remains chosen and deeply loved by God because of HIs promises to Abraham.
posted by Bradford L. Stevens @ 10:07 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Excellent discussion topic!
I agree that God still deeply loves Israel, as He does all the earth’s people; but I have to disagree somewhat with the point it seems you’re trying to make that Israel (as a nation) remains chosen.
Granted, the section of Romans that talks about Israel, the Law, and grace is not the easiest to understand; but I think one of the “keys” to the difficult parts is found in Rom. 9:6, “…not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel.” (Compare w/ Rev. 2:9 and 3:9). Paul asserts in 11:1-6, that although most of the Jews rejected Christ as God’s Son and the fulfillment of the Promise and the Law (and would thus be rejected), there was still a “remnant” elect among the Jews who accepted Christ as Lord. I think Paul’s statement that “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” refers to the special relationship God had previously with the Israelites. Has God revoked this relationship? Certainly not; He has called them into an even closer relationship with Him based on grace extended through His Son. God has “consigned” both Jews and Gentiles “to disobedience” so that, through the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, “He may have mercy on all” (Rom. 11:32).
There is also some biblical evidence that the N.T. writers viewed the church as “spiritual Israel.” Paul seems to refer to the church as “the Israel of God” in Galatians 6:16. Paul’s language is also suggestive in Romans 11 when he refers to Israel being “broken off” from God’s tree and the Gentiles being “grafted in.” He also says very clearly that Israel, “…if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in [again]” (Rom.11:23).
Therefore, I don’t think that God has a special relationship with Israel (or Jews) today outside of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While events in the “Holy Land” today certainly have biblical roots (e.g., the tensions between the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael), I don’t believe they point to any miraculous protection of Israel, or a special working of God in the region. The modern state of Israel is not the same as biblical Israel (“not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel”). Jews who submit to Christ are Savior are “called” and “chosen.”
I am very thankful for our ability to discuss Scripture and our views, and even to disagree, without animosity. There are so many today in the church that can’t do this. Certainly I could be wrong in my interpretation of Paul’s writings, and I’d appreciate your comments. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!”
Dear Micah,
I appreciate your comment and discussion. The ultimate answer will be revealed when we all get to heaven. But, to address your question consider the question the disciples asked Jesus in Acts 1:6-7 "Therefore, when they had come together,they asked him saying, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' And he said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority'." After having been with Jesus after the resurrection, the burning question on their mind was the kingdom for which the Jews looked for the Messiah to establish (Isa. 9:6-7;11:10-12). Many would suggest that the disciples had a complete misunderstanding of the nature of Christ's kingdom. But, look at the answer of Jesus carefully. He did not say that there would be no literal kingdom. He merely states that the time of the establishment would not now be revealed to them. There can be no doubt that the 'restoration' about which the Old Testament prophets spoke focused on national Israel. The words of our Lord do not contradict this. Matthew 19:28 suggests a future renewal in which the apostles will participate in 'judging the twelve tribes of Israel'. I may be a simple minded person of faith, but when I read the prophecy of Micah 4:1-2, and I look around at a world where there are many Jews and Gentiles who have not yet come to the Lord, where war abounds, and where God is not yet reigning as king on the earth, I conclude that this prophecy was not fulfilled in New Testament times. Thus, it is still to come. Again, I label all this as my opinion. In the end, God gets to have the final word. But, I find much encouragement in viewing the scripture as I think those who heard it did within the context of their world. I don't read Romans 9-11 as God gave up on Israel and substituted the church in lieu thereof. In fact, I find Paul's warning to the church not to take pride in its status as being "grafted in" as directly on point here.
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