2000-08-05 - Messiah His Final Call to Israel

Messiah His Final Call to Israel, Part 1

"But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. When they are saying, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-3)

When men everywhere are blinded by Satan's lies, then the Day of Wrath will burst upon an unsuspecting world in all its fury. Everyone should be well-informed regarding the times in which we are living. Those who know God in Christ and the prophetic Word should be about their Father's business. "We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day, the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4)

I believe that when this document was signed we edged our little toe onto the final stage of prophetic events to transpire in the end of the age of Grace in which we now live. As the final curtain goes up some who have the opportunity will try to bring the truth of Scripture to the Nation of Israel. Over the course of this series we hope to bring you helpful insight into God's plans and purposes for Israel and how you may cooperate with Him in praying for the peace of that nation. We will be building on each devotional, in other words we will be giving some detailed historical information about Israel so that we may build on that foundation in later devotionals.

Sometimes it is necessary to build upon a knowledge base to explain certain things. We will be using to a large extent the writings of the late Dr. David L. Cooper from a book entitled Messiah His Final Call to Israel. Thus the name for this Devotional Series.

Messiah His Final Call To Israel

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork" (Psalm 19:1).

"But the fool has said in his heart, There is no God." (Psalm 14:1).

All who by faith see the Eternal God standing behind the physical, material universe, as David in Psalm 19 did, recognize the truth expressed in the following quotation:

Wherefore David blessed Jehovah before all the assembly; and David said, Blessed be thou, O Jehovah, the God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty; for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O Jehovah, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come of thee, and thou rulest over all; and in thy hand is power and might; and in thy hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. (I Chronicles 29:10-12)

In keeping with the truth of this quotation is that which the Apostle Paul uttered at Mars Hill in Athens, Greece, when he stood before the philosophers and statesmen of the Supreme Court.

The God that made the world and all things therein, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; and he made of one every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation; that they should seek God, if haply they might feel after him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us; for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain even of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:24-28)

According to this inspired utterance, God "made of one every nation of men …having determined their appointed seasons, and the bounds of their habitation…"

Figuratively speaking the Lord has a blueprint of all the nations of earth, on which is indicated the rise, the expansion, and the decline or the continuance of each one. During the centuries of time, the Lord is directing the course of human history, as indicated on the blueprint, because

God is not a man, that he should lie,
Neither the son of man, that he should repent;
Hath he said, and he will not do it?
Or hath he spoken, and will he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19).

When the Lord created man he had one object in view, namely, "that they should seek God . . . for in him we live and move and have our being . . .for we are also his offspring." Since man is the offspring of God, naturally God loves every person individually and wants to do all in His power for the blessing and welfare of each. He "would have all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth" (I Timothy 2:4). God is longsuffering toward all, " not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9). He showed His profound interest in every individual by sending "his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). Man is a free moral agent, having the power of choice, which he may exercise for his own good or to his detriment. The Lord never forces or coerces anyone's will. In His great solicitude of His creatures, He uses all spiritual and moral forces possible to influence them, never crossing the threshold of man's personality.

Wise and impartial parents are equally interested in all their children and plan to bring the greatest blessing to each. Some children, however, not appreciating their relation to the parents, assume attitudes and pursue courses which make it impossible for the parents to do for them what they would like to do. Most frequently, it is thus with men in relation to God. This fact is brought out in Romans 1:18-32.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness; because that which is known of God is manifest in them; for God manifested it unto them. For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; that they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile passions, for their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature, and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another, men with men working unseemliness, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was due. And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practice them. (Romans 1:18-32) .

Notwithstanding man's rebellion and sinfulness, God is endeavoring to bring the greatest blessing to the largest number in the shortest length of time. God in His wisdom and love has chosen to bless men in and through others. He declares that He will bless all nations through Abraham and his seed.

Now Jehovah said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto the land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make they name great; and be thou a blessing; and I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee will I curse, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3)

God's great concern and love for all mankind gave birth to the unique and miraculous elements which are seen in Israel throughout the centuries, and on account of which one can speak of the "Romance of Jewish History." The Lord had this plan in mind when He dispersed the nations and separated the children of men.

When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the children of men, He set the bounds of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32:8)

In giving to each group its inheritance, the Lord made allotments in accordance with the number of the children of Israel. As this Scripture indicates, each nation, in the plan of God, is related to Israel. God selected Abraham and his seed--his literal seed and the Messiah the seed par excellence--to be the channel of world blessing. In view of all the facts presented thus far, it is clear that God loves all men equally; but He chose the Hebrew race to be the channel through which that love might flow to all people. Moreover, the Lord's giving special advantages and opportunities to Israel is not to be interpreted as favoritism, but as a necessary step in equipping them for their special mission in the world.

Not realizing that a man cannot receive anything except it be given him of God (John 3:27), and that the special gifts of the Jewish people were conferred upon them by the Almighty to equip them for their world mission, some people look with jealousy and envy at the Hebrew race--because of their great contribution to the civilization of the world. It is a well known fact that the Jews stand foremost in the ranks of all the arts, the sciences, and the professions, and that their contribution to our civilization is out of all proportion to their number--in comparison with that of other nations. When all the facts are marshaled and understood, their is no logical reason for racial prejudice and jealousy. Let all--both Jew and Gentile--humbly accept the gifts and calling of God, as they pertain to each one, and look upon each other with mutual respect and good will. We will leave you with these truths to ponder. Next week we will take a closer look at Israel's early history in hopes that we can clearly show what the Bible teaches are the requirements for the peace of Israel.

To be Continued

Psalm 122:6 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem"

In His Service,
Rick & Sandy

liv4yeshua@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org