For some reason the Lord woke me this morning, with this on my mind… Abraham was completely and wholly obedient to God (Genesis 21:1-17) so, God said, “Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and ALL the nations of the earth shall be BLESSED IN HIM? For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to KEEP THE WAY OF THE LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring to Abraham WHAT HE HAS PROMISED HIM.” (Genesis 18:18-19)
In the New Testament we are reminded of God’s promise to Abraham. “Since there was no one greater to swear by God took an oath in His own name, saying: “I WILL CERTAINLY BLESS YOU, and I WILL MULTIPLY YOUR DESCENDANTS BEYOND NUMBER.” God bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would NEVER CHANGE HIS MIND. So, God has given both HIS PROMISE AND HIS OATH. These two things are unchangeable because IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE.” (Hebrews 6:13-18)
So, about this promise, “…you are A PEOPLE HOLY TO THE LORD YOUR GOD. The LORD your God has CHOSEN YOU to be a people for His treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the FEWEST OF ALL PEOPLES, but it is because the LORD loves you and is KEEPING THE OATH that He SWORE TO YOUR FATHERS…” (Deuteronomy 7:6-8)
As we know from studying the scriptures, Israel was often disobedient to God. As a result, they were forced out of Israel and taken captive to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar in about 586, for 70 years (1 year for each Sabbath Year they ignored) and the beautiful Temple was destroyed. Then because of many more years of disobedience in 70 AD, Roman General Titus killed millions of Jews, destroyed the awesome Temple, and scattered the Jews all over the world. But, God promised, “In that day the heir to David’s throne will be a banner of salvation to ALL THE WORLD. The nations will rally to him, and the land where he lives will be a glorious place. In that day the Lord will reach out His hand A SECOND TIME to bring back the remnant of his people—those who remain in Assyria and northern Egypt; in southern Egypt, Ethiopia, and Elam; in Babylonia, Hamath, and all the distant coastlands.” (Isaiah 11:10-11)
Mark Twain visited Israel in 1867, and he was “fed up with the primitiveness of the settlements and roads he encountered: “The further we went the hotter the sun got, and the rockier and barer, repulsive, and dreary the landscape became…There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country”. That’s what the Jewish people faced when they began to return. On May 14th, 1948, Israel officially became a Nation once again. The scriptures declare, “For behold, in those days and at that time, When I (the Lord) BRING BACK the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I WILL ALSO GATHER ALL NATIONS, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; THEY HAVE ALSO DIVIDED UP MY LAND.” (Joel 3:1-2) THIS LAND BELONGS TO GOD! Jesus said, “…when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, THIS GENERATION will BY NO MEANS PASS AWAY TILL ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE. (From when Israel becomes a nation till the END of the Great Tribulation (we who are saved, of course, will be raptured))” (Matthew 24:33-34) More tomorrow!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham