Our Beginnings

Who do we owe besides God himself for our salvation, in other words, who was it that brought the gospel to the Gentiles?  It was the Jews who were responsible; they were the ones that God used to bring the good news to the Gentiles.  It was the apostle Paul that went to the Gentiles and preached the Word because that was his calling.  Some of the Jews would not accept Paul’s message.  Peter and the other disciples preached the good news also to the Gentiles and we Gentiles owe them a great deal.  

There are many Gentile believers that have anger and, more than likely, bitterness toward the Jews; I think some of the problem is that they don’t understand the Word.  The Jews, or Israelites, are God’s chosen people; they are the apple of His eye.  The sure way for a nation or any individual to be cursed by God is for them to curse Israel.  Even though some Jews, like Gentiles, are not born-again we have an obligation to love them and pray for them.  God is, and has been, bringing many Jews back to Jerusalem from many of the countries where they live.  God has not forsaken, or forgotten, His chosen people any more than He has any one of His children that love Him.

It says this about God’s chosen people after they had lived for 70 years in Babylon under God’s judgment in Zechariah 2:1-8:

“Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, ‘Where are you going?’

And he said to me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.’

And there was the angel who talked with me, going out; and another angel was coming out to meet him, who said to him, ‘Run, speak to this young man, saying: ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’

‘Up, up! Flee from the land of the north,’ says the Lord; ‘for I have spread you abroad like the four winds of heaven,’ says the Lord. ‘Up, Zion! Escape, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.’

For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye.’”

When it was over, God said words of encouragement and comfort to them reassuring them of His love for them.  That is what God does for each person that repents and turns to Him.  He also forgives and sends blessings.

God also said this in Jeremiah 29:10-11:

“For thus says the Lord: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”  

When the Israelites sinned, they suffered the consequences and so will we, but it is not God’s will that we sin.  His will is that all His people will prosper and not be harmed; they will have a hope and a future.  Remember the Word says that we will reap what we sow, but when we repent and confess our sins, the Lord will forgive us just like He forgave the Jews when they repented.

Like I titled this Tidbit, don’t forget where we got our beginning as a believer and, if you are not doing this yet, as a regular custom, start supporting, praying and blessing the Jewish people and their land and you will truly be blessed.  Something to think about, God bless and have a super day!!