Day: July 22, 2022

Posted in Ephesians

God’s Heart for Israel – Part Two

Posted on by Tom Flaherty

“Remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  Ephesians 2:12-14

When Christ came there was a tremendous spiritual war in Israel and the leadership ended up rejecting their own Messiah. The Father gave them the consequences of their choice and they became isolated from the New Covenant which was promised to them. The Gentiles, God’s second family of choice, then came in and benefited greatly from all the hard work Israel had done and actually came into the covenant promised to Israel instead of Israel. Today there is confusion in the body of Christ as to how God feels about Israel.

  1. Some feel God is still angry at them because of their rejection of Christ and continues to punish them for their bad attitude.
  2. Some feel that the church has replaced Israel; God has forgotten His firstborn – they were just a means to the end of His present family.
  3. Some know that God still loves Israel and is taking care of them anonymously even though they still refuse to recognize their Messiah, but see the continued independence of the Jews as a problem that doesn’t involve them.
  4. Some have seen the sorrow in God’s heart and have joined Him by intercession and kindness toward the Jewish people.

Whatever the responses of the children, the Larson family will not be complete to Dad and Mom until Bobby comes home. Whatever joy they have in their remaining children, none of them can replace Bobby. In the same way, God’s family won’t ever feel complete to Him until Israel comes home. He wants our hearts to be engaged with His for Israel. We have great spiritual wealth today in Christ because of their sacrifice. We need to remember that sacrifice and honor it by praying for Israel, weeping for Israel, and blessing Israel.  God’s kindness to them through the church is going to help bring them home.