Is the fabric of our faith muddied by misunderstandings about Israel and her call, or is the fabric of our faith stain resistant?
Is it time for us to wash the fabric of our faith in regard to "Israel"?
We ask this question and at the same time ask that the point of this article not be misunderstood. We absolutely affirm the fact that the modern Nation of Israel has a right to exist. Israel is Yah's idea, His plan, His land and His people... No doubt about it. However, is the completion of this plan for Israel to remain a secular-Jewish and/or a rabbinical-Jewish state? The two groups of secular and rabbinic certainly have had their difficulties relating to one another during their rather short 63-year political history. Political alliances and one-ups-man-ship are a constant in the modern and multi-party state of Israel. The majority of them agree on their right to live in the Promised Land and to have defensible and secure borders; but the 'how' is full of variety. The matrix of the world order (think UN) is certainly opting for a change of the rights of this Jewish State.
Is the current chapter in Israel's long history now approaching its end? Is the time coming for the re-unification of all Israel coming into sight?
The struggles Israelis go through on a daily basis are enormous. Most of the world hates or distrusts them and they have few friends among the governments of the nations... save those folks within the nations who also claim to be the people of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
For certain we have entered into a new chapter of world history. No one seems to know any longer what normal is, what average is, what excellent is and Believers are unsettled by the Biblical Judges model of ... "and everyone did what was right in his own eyes." What once was deemed good is the new bad and vice versa. These days are challenging to our norms; the fabric and strength of faith is being tested right now. How we find ourselves responding to health, job, family, finances and fellowship issues are the testing ground for our faithfulness. Yeshua said, "when the Son of Man returns will He find faithfulness on the earth?" (Luke 18:8). Are we being faithful to His commandments that He asked us to guard?
It really is time "to have that talk with Yeshua" and go to the Source with our questions. If we seek Him with our whole heart we will find Him and gain understanding as to how He is moving in this time, in this every hour. Don't get caught in the "you do not have because you do not ask" group; ask YHVH about it now.
Here is one answer to our question. It is one that we need to truly ponder at this time:
Ezekiel 37: 19.. 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand." ' 20 And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. 21 Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. 23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
Jeremiah 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Yes, Israel is Yah's idea and they have a right to exist; but what Israel is to look like is not what it is today. Let's see, God writes on Stone, then on Sticks, then on Hearts. That seems simple enough. We are now in the stage of having Him write on our hearts the truth that, in this moment in time, He is working to reunite the two sticks of Joseph/Ephraim and Judah.
It is a fact, it is even obvious that the there will be a re-uniting of the two kingdoms of the old Israel. It will be God's people, God's Land, all done God's way. It won't be secular, it won't be Rabbinical, it won't be Catholic, Baptist, Methodist, etc. It will be re-united Israel, and it will be bigger and more powerful than it is today. The modern state of Israel is step one. It is a step that we wholeheartedly affirm, but we also know that it is not Israel's final step.
We are living in times that test our faith. Let us make sure to wash our faith in the Water of the Word. In doing so, that fabric will not shrink, be shredded nor stained. If you are not ready for these tests, then have that little talk with Yeshua. He will make the garment of your faith stain resistant and you will be able to stand strong with love and answers for those whom He wants you to influence.
No comments:
Post a Comment