Friday, March 26, 2010

God's Heart for Israel

Jeremiah 31:1, 3 - "At the same time," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people." The LORD has appeared of old to me [Jeremiah], saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you."

I hinted the other day that God will bless those who support Israel and He will curse them that don't. Israel comprises the true "apple of God's eye," the Jews. This little country has withstood the test of many times over the last 6,000 years. It may like it will be completely overthrown one day, but I guarantee it will not. There will be a day when not only we, but they, will see the soon coming Messiah. 

You might also look at this this way: God loves us; He desires to be our Husband; He has made a covenant with man that cannot be broken...if we choose to follow Him. As you read this, replace Israel with yourself. Personalize it. This is what God feels not only about His little nation, but His people...those who choose to follow Him. What He has done for Israel, He can do for us. We fall into the same category as Israel as His chosen people.

God loves Israel. The covenant He made with her is much like a marriage agreement. He bestowed blessings upon her. He chose to be her Husband. He chose her to be the light to the lost world. His love is everlasting and never changing. Genesis 17:7 and Hosea 2:19 - "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. I will betroth you to Me forever; yes, I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy..." Again, "you" refers to us as well.

God took care of Israel like a husband takes care of his wife. He desired to show the world His bride. He spoke gently and lovingly with her. He provided for her, fed her and clothed her. He was proud of His bride and gave her everything she needed. 

And then...Israel became unfaithful to Him. He pleaded with her to return to Him, but she chose not to. She chose to worship idols and live an adulterous life. He lost His patience and decided to distance Himself from her. When Israel realized His absence, she decided to repent; however, it was not from her heart and God lamented: "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you? O Judah, what shall I do to you? For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud, and like the early dew it goes away." (Hosea 6:4)

In her unfaithfulness, God chose to reprimand and warn her, out of His covenant love. That heart of love that never fades. He longed for her to seek forgiveness and return to Him, her first love. God will not give up on her even today. He will not divorce her but He will cling to her even in her disobedience.  "Then I will sow her for Myself in the earth, and I will have mercy on her who had not obtained mercy; then I will say to those who were not My people, 'You are My people!' And they shall say, 'You are my God!"' (Hosea 2:23)

God continues to show mercy on His bride. He still continues to woo those who do not know Him. He allows disobedience and He causes her to now not benefit in those blessings He has promised her. There will come a day when He will show His love for His adulterous bride again. She will see how He had taken care of her (for 6,000 years). She will renew her vows with Him and the world will see that He has not stopped loving her. 

Isaiah 54:7 - "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, but with great mercies I will gather you." God is now in the process of gathering His people back to the small nation of Israel...to their Promised Land. It began in 1947 when Israel became a nation of its own again. We are told that when this gathering begins to take place, we are in the last days. God's plan for Israel, for all mankind and for the return of Jesus is at work right now!

When that last day comes "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth..." (Philippians 2:10)  Despite the wars and disagreements between Israel and her enemies, God will show His sovereignty. On that day all of Israel, the Jews, and those on earth who have not yet bowed to the authority of the one, true God, will see Him and know and bow down. Better to bow now than then. Come, Lord Jesus, come.

Remember, God's heart for Israel is also His heart for us. Our lives parallel the lives of ancient Israel. When they followed God they were blessed; when they strayed He turned His back until they cried out for Him again. Israel's enemies cursed her and they were cursed in time. He can do that today too. 

Jeremiah 23:5-6 - "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."

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