The Lord commanded Moses to teach this to Israel, “…you are a holy people to the LORD your God…a SPECIAL TREASURE above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were THE LEAST OF ALL PEOPLES (Israel is about the size of New Jersey); but because the LORD loves you, and because HE WOULD KEEP THE OATH which He swore to your fathers…know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God WHO KEEPS COVENANT and mercy for a thousand generations…” (Deut. 7:6-9)
Just when was this covenant made? “…the LORD had said to Abram (Abraham): “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will MAKE YOU a great nation; I will BLESS YOU And MAKE YOUR NAME GREAT; And YOU SHALL be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And IN YOU ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH shall be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
“Look toward heaven and number the stars if you are able to number them…So shall your descendants be” (Genesis 13:14-18), “On that day the Lord MADE A COVENANT WITH ABRAM, saying, ‘To your descendants I give this land from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates‘” (Genesis 15:18) This map shows in yellow where Israel is now, the lighter color is what God promised them.
The reason I’m sharing this is because we need to know that God is faithful to His promises! As often as Israel, over the years, has cursed God and turned away from Him, He has always been faithful to His covenant with Abraham, “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I WILL BLESS YOU, and multiplying I WILL MULTIPLY YOU.” (Hebrews 6:13-14) The latest numbers include 9.217 million living in Israel as of 2020. For the second time in history, Israel was taken out of their country but maintained their identity (because of God’s promise) “If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God WILL GATHER YOU, and from there He will bring you. Then the LORD your God WILL BRING YOU TO THE LAND which your fathers possessed, and YOU SHALL POSSESS IT. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.” (Deuteronomy 30:4-5) About 8.3 million live outside Israel (including around 6 million in the United States.) The Lord our God faithful to Israel and, “…you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, HIS OWN SPECIAL PEOPLE, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once WERE NOT A PEOPLE (Gentiles) BUT ARE NOW THE PEOPLE OF GOD, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham