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In our last Shofar, we concluded an extended series by Sam Nadler, "Jewish Evangelism and Discipleship," the links to which may be found in our Library. We are now pleased to present this essential study, also by Sam: "God's Plan for Israel, and Why It Matters." - ed.

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GOD'S PLAN FOR ISRAEL,
AND WHY IT MATTERS


by Sam Nadler

As you read this [November, 2010 - ed.], the Word of Messiah ministry team is preparing to go back to Israel this month for our on-going ministry in that troubled Holy Land. Though some may question why we even bother, understanding God’s plan for Israel clarifies this issue, and leads us to pray and do all we can to reach out to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.

Israel Past: Chosen to Serve
Why did God choose Israel to begin with? People have speculated that perhaps God chose Israel because of our “communication skills” (so many Jewish comedians!); or our supposed “ability with money” (except in my family!), or even a new stereotype: because we’re all so good looking!

Nice try, but those who know me would never believe that! But, seriously, why did God choose Israel? God chose Israel, not because Israel was the greatest of peoples, but because we were, in fact, the least:

For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the Lord brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

- Deuteronomy 7:6-8 -

Though God did choose Israel and called us to be priests to the nations (Exodus19:5,6), we were not the most spiritual of peoples, but rather, God calls us a “stiff-necked” people: Know, then, it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stubborn people (Deuteronomy 9:6).

Amazingly, God sovereignly chose to love Israel because of their weaknesses, in order to demonstrate this principle: His grace according to His promise is sufficient for any person to trust in for their own existence and fulfillment (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-30; 2 Corinthians 12:8-10). Thus we see why Israel was chosen: to be God’s instrument of love expressed to the entire world. This blessing of love and grace would be ultimately personified in Yeshua, the seed of Abraham, Messiah of Israel and Savior of the world (Genesis 12:3, Galatians 3:14; Romans 9:5).

Israel Present: Service Suspended
In Romans 11 Israel is typified as “natural branches” broken off of the “olive tree.” This olive tree is a picture of Israel’s service for God, as every part of the olive tree was used in Temple service (wood, oil, etc.). For the past two thousand years Israel’s spiritual service has been temporarily suspended, like a train is sidetracked while it undergoes repairs. At the present time, though the nation on the whole has rejected Him, there is a remnant of the Jewish people that do believe in Yeshua (Jesus): Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5). So what is happening now? Hardly a day goes by without some news of terrorism or warfare in Israel. Why? Rather than ‘occupying the land of Palestine’, Israel is simply endeavoring to survive in the very land promised and given to their forefathers by God Himself. And there’s the rub: Sinful, fallen man resents a holy God, and thus resents the very people who are a reminder of God’s existence. The propaganda and military war of terror against the only Jewish nation on earth is simply the outplay of the spiritual war headed by Satan himself. This Adversary of God and Man operates through the lives of lost people in an attempt to destroy Israel, which would thus negate God’s promises to Israel. But God will keep His promises, and though the Body of Messiah, made up of Jews and Gentiles, is presently God’s instrument of service in the world, one day Israel will be restored!

Israel Future: Service Restored
The Olive Tree also reminds of the restoration of Israel’s spiritual service for God. This restoration will occur at the end of the future Tribulation period, after the “times of the Gentiles” are fulfilled (Luke 21:24), and the nations led by the Anti-Messiah have ‘filled up’ their rebellion against God. In that day, the world’s attempt at a “Final Solution” regarding Israel and “those Jews” will be the catalyst for the Second Coming of Messiah, Who will then destroy His enemies at Armegeddon. (see Romans 11:25; Luke 21:24, Revelation 16:16). To all the nations of the earth God Himself has sternly warned, And it will come about in that day that I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:9). Unfortunately, man in his pride doesn’t believe God, and as David wrote in Psalm 2, they take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Messiah. It is at the end of the Tribulation period, the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7), that surviving Israel will trust in Yeshua and be grafted back into the ‘olive tree’, even as Paul prophesied – and thus all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob" (Romans 11:23-27). According to the prophet Zechariah, in the future, Israel will look unto Messiah, whom they have pierced (Zechariah 12:10), confess their sin of rejecting Him (see Isaiah 53), and at that time Israel will be cleansed of their sins through His atonement (Zechariah 13:1). Zechariah then states that the result of Israel’s “looking to Messiah” will be His return to planet Earth to rescue them, And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14:4). This correlates perfectly with the New Covenant teaching that Messiah will not return until Israel repents nationally, as Yeshua said, Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! For I say to you, from now on you shall not see Me until you say, "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” (Matthew 23:38,39). In that day Israel’s repentance and trust in Yeshua will usher in the Messianic kingdom period declared by all of Israel’s prophets (Acts 3:19-22).

God is Faithful
Though the enemies of God have consistently attempted to destroy Israel to thwart the work and redemptive plan of God (see Psalm 83:1-6), through it all God has faithfully kept Israel even to this day! Understanding God’s plan for Israel helps all believers understand why Paul, the ‘Apostle to Gentiles’, always ministered to the Jews first. Paul knew that God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew (Romans 11:2), and Paul’s preaching to Israel was evidence of God’s faithfulness.

Since God has been faithful to His people - even though by and large they have not believed Him - we who have believed Him can have confidence of our salvation in Messiah Yeshua, for He who promised is faithful! In fact, your prayers and support of our work to bring the Good News to Jewish people around the world each month, and in Israel this month, is actually a living demonstration that you trust in God’s promises! Thanks, and please remember, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).

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Sam Nadler is director of Word of Messiah Ministries in Charlotte, N.C. This article is reprinted
from Word of Messiah's website with permission, and may be viewed in its original form at
http://www.wordofmessiah.org/nov_03_1.htm. Many other fine articles
and other features may be found at Word of Messiah.

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