Who is Israel-03

Israel and the United States have been in the news continuously over their attack on Iran. We will not address this news at this time, but who is Israel? Is it this nation that is an ‘ally’ of the United States or an historical name for the ‘Promised Land’? Let us try and understand what God has said on this very important truth.

As with many truths in the Bible, there is a physical dimension and a spiritual dimension. There are also promises, covenants, and warnings. God’s covenants are conditional as they require obedience and a deep reverence to Him to be continued. Throughout most of the historical existence of the nation of Israel, the people openly disobeyed God, killed his prophets, and worshiped idols.

Matthew 23:27  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. :28  "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 

:29  "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, :30  and say, 'If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' 

:31  "So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. :32  "Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers. :33  "You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?

Jesus’ scathing indictment of the rulers of Judah summarizes the idolatrous and rebellious history of both the nation of Israel and Judah.

We studied last Saturday the clear fact that all of Abraham’s physical descendants were not truly his sons! Jesus told them that they were in reality the sons of Satan. Clearly Abraham’s true family is spiritual not physical. Paul further clarified this solemn truth.

Romans 9:6  But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; :7  nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." :8  That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 

This could not be more clear. Is there any further evidence of this? But take note on the first verse. All Israel is not Israel!

Romans 10:12  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; :13  for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." 

Belief in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the difference between true saving grace and a faith in works or lineage.

Romans 11:6  But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. :7  What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 

:8  just as it is written, "GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY." :9  And David says, "LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM. :10  "LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER."

Just like with Pharaoh, God hardened their already hardened heart and have kept them in darkness. What a terrible condemnation for idolatry and disobedience. God had warned them from Mount Sinai all the way to their crucifixion of Jesus and on to today. We cannot know the infinite wisdom and plans of God. But we can obey and worship Him alone.

More next Saturday.