Guaranteed blessings...if

How is the word “Israel” associated today? To some, the word signifies “courageous”; “Mideast democracy”; “friend of America." To others, “oppressor”; “little satan” (USA is “big satan”); “Mideast cancer.” And the word “Jew” stirs equal passion in friend and foe alike. Amazing, isn’t it? Jews—a tiny minority in a world of gentiles. Israel—a sliver in a Middle East wood pile. Yet the world takes notice for good or ill.

It’s been that way from Israel’s existence. Neighbors noticed when 90 year old Sarah had a baby (Genesis 21:2). A world superpower tried to make permanent slaves of the Jews. Ten plagues later, including the death of every Egyptian first-born and the destruction of an army, the Jewish freedom march began (Exodus 12). Seven powerful nations couldn’t stop them. Walls at Jericho fell, untouched by human hands or weapons (Joshua 6).  Pagan kingdoms fell. A whole nation of Hebrews actually heard God speak audibly—and were too frightened to hear Him again.

A moral code was given that still keeps today’s world from totally returning to the jungle (Exodus 20). An incomparable temple was raised—and the true and living God—the God of the Jews—was sought after and found by pagans who saw the difference between genuine and false, lies and truth, good and evil.

As author C.S. Lewis said, “He selected one particular people and spent several centuries hammering into their heads the sort of God He was – that there was only one of Him and that He cared about right conduct. Those people were the Jews, and the Old Testament gives an account of the hammering process.”

Everything Israel’s incredible Creator predicted came true. Uttered twice (see Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28), God had guaranteed blessings that would be Israel’s if only they returned His love with their obedience. Happy and protected families. Fruitful, drought-free seasons. Smitten enemies. A reputation for holiness. A light that would shine throughout a darkened world. The head and not the tail. The selected nation through which God Himself would come to planet earth in the person of the Messiah.

There has never been another nation like Israel. There never will be. God proved through Israel His own unique reality by the reality of promises made and promises fulfilled. The whole world paid notice. But He didn’t stop there. He also told Israel what would happen if they pushed God away. The whole world would pay notice.

Either way, receiving God’s blessings or cursings, the Jews would be His witnesses to the world that every god other than the God of Israel was invented, useless and worthless. And if their short-lived times of blessing were noticed by the nations, the promised punishments for disobedience would speak louder as a warning to the world that God plays no games, is not “the man upstairs,” says what He means and means what He says!

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras