EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the first in a 10-part series exploring Israel’s relationship with God and what it means for the rest of humanity. The views expressed in this series are the author’s and are not necessarily endorsed by Modern Day Missions.
“They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.” — Romans 9:4-5
On the surface, these verses appear to be telling the story of the Jewish people, or Israeli nationals. But these verses really summarize the handiwork of Israel’s God — Yahweh, the one true God of the universe. This is the story of Yahweh’s pursuit of humanity’s redemption from his own wickedness and depravity. It is the story of God’s relentless generosity, because he refused to let mankind suffer the fate its unenlightened actions were destined to produce.
Contrary to the theology of deism, this text shows a God who intervenes into human history to restore people to unity with the divine. He chose to forge a nation as a herald of the redemption and conciliation he would hold out for the entire human race.This story of redemption also demonstrates God’s desire to demystify himself, even giving himself a name by which to be known — “Yahweh” — to distinguish himself from other so-called deities. The history of Israel displays Yahweh’s desire to be known by a collection of people that he could call his beloved. That is why God often tarried to fulfill his promises to the nation until the Israelites sought him for those promises.
God promised the father of Israel — Abram — that his people would be delivered from slavery in Egypt after 400 years and that “they would come out with great possessions.” Yet he didn’t fulfill this promise until they “cried out for help” and “their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.” This shows Yahweh’s desire to operate in concert with his people and relate to them.Israel’s history also shows us God’s generosity to those who disobey him, his forgiveness to those who forsake him, and his responsiveness to those who seek him. In summary, this story does not show what’s so special about the Jews (although they are special — set apart by God) it shows what’s so special about Yahweh. He demonstrates his holiness by bestowing peculiar, irrevocable blessings upon a group of people that worshipped him — in faith, love and obedience — so that his superiority to other so-called gods would be undeniable to the world.
Raymond Billy is a discipleship overseer with Youth With A Mission in Kona, Hawaii.
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