There is a large part of the church that believes that God is finished with Israel. After all, the Jews failed to uphold the covenant, right? They practiced idolatry and God punished them by exile. When Yeshua came, they failed to recognize Him as Messiah. Now the blessings that were reserved for Israel passed on to the church, right?
WRONG!
In our haftarah portion for this week (Isaiah 40:1-26), God said:
Isaiah 40:1-2 (KJV)
1
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2
Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.
Although Israel had received double for all her sins, she was to be
comforted, her warfare would be ended, and her iniquity would be
pardoned.
Isaiah 40:9-11 (KJV)
9
O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!
10
Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
This promise given to Israel speaks about God's return and His Kingdom. She (Israel) was not to be afraid, for He would come with a strong hand and His arm would rule. He would feed His flock like a shepherd, He would gather the lambs and carry them, and He would gently lead those with young.
This passage is very reminiscent of John 10:14 where Yeshua claims that He is the good shepherd.
John 10:14-16 (KJV)
14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
15
As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.
16
And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
Believers have correctly claimed Yeshua as their shepherd, but Isaiah clearly shows this promise was for Zion. How can both be true? Verse 16 indicates that the original fold must be Israel, but there is another fold that would also be brought in. This second fold is made up of Gentile believers. Yeshua said that the two folds would become one and that He was the one shepherd.
If most of the church believes that Israel has no further place in God's promises, what hope does the church have? Not only has Israel been guilty of idolatry, but the church has as well. If God can remove Israel from His promises, He can also remove the church!
The idea that God is finished with Israel is not Biblical, nor is the idea that God's promises to Israel now belong to the church. Praise God, we Gentiles can be gathered into the sheepfold of Israel and all those who believe in Messiah Yeshua can stand on God's promises! They will not fail!
It has been of concern to me that not only do many churches consider God to be done with Israel, but that "replacement theology" abounds. I often wonder how they make any sense of God's prophetic word, especially those passages that clearly demark Israel and the Body of Christ as being distinct, and - at times - beneficiary of different things. What's more, I fear the danger in which today's nations place themselves when they seek to harm Israel, the eternal Apple of God's Eye.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kathleen! It doesn't make any Biblical sense, and I too, fear for those nations opposed to Israel, especially the United States, if it moves closer to denouncing Israel. Thank you for reading and commenting!
ReplyDeleteBlessings dear Friend!