Honoring ISRAEL: November 2020

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Has God Cast Away ISRAEL?

Romans 11:1-2

King James Version

11 I say then,

Hath God cast away his people?

God forbid.

For I also am an Israelite,

of the seed of Abraham,

of the tribe of Benjamin.

2 God hath not cast away his people

which he foreknew.

What a revealing chapter Romans 11 is!

All Jews can find comfort in the following verses, revealing God's PLAN for Israel.

Elias, the prophet, fearing for his life, and pained at how prophets were being killed, and God's altars were being destroyed, makes intercession with God, against Israel.

Romans 11:4-5

King James Version

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him?

I have reserved to myself seven thousand men,

who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also

there is a remnant

according to the election of grace.

God had given Israel the "spirit of slumber":

Romans 11:8

King James Version

8 (According as it is written,

God hath given them the spirit of slumber,

eyes that they should not see,

and ears that they should not hear;)

unto this day.

But God has a curious purpose, which may seem confusing to the fearful heart, but clear to the apostle Paul.

Romans 11:11

King James Version

11 I say then,

Have they stumbled that they should fall?

God forbid:

but rather through their fall

salvation is come unto the Gentiles,

for to provoke them to jealousy.

And the apostle Paul assures the Gentiles of the integrity of Israel:

Romans 11:16

King James Version

16 For if the firstfruit be holy,

the lump is also holy:

and if the root be holy,

so are the branches.

What follows is the comparison of Gentiles to grafted wild olive tree branches, which I wrote of in the previous post.

The breaking off of branches (some Jews), allows Gentiles to be grafted on the "good" tree, giving them many benefits, too.

Romans 11:22

King James Version

22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God:

on them which fell, severity;

but toward thee, goodness,

if thou continue in his goodness:

otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

In the same manner, apostle Paul reminds Gentiles not to be "highminded", for the Jews are still the "natural branches" grafted into their own olive tree:

Romans 11:24

King James Version

24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree

which is wild by nature,

and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree:

how much more shall these,

which be the natural branches,

be grafted into their own olive tree?

Gratitude is good manners for Gentiles.

Romans 11:19

King James Version

19 Thou wilt say then,

The branches were broken off,

that I might be grafted in.

God truly had a purpose for causing Israel to "slumber".

Romans 11:25

King James Version

25 For I would not,

brethren,

that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,

lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;

that blindness in part is happened to Israel,

until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

Because Israel may be "provoked" to jealousy regarding God's GRACE upon the Gentiles, she may correct her ways, and thus, be saved, for that is the plan of God, all along:

Romans 11:26-27

King James Version

26 And so all Israel shall be saved:

as it is written,

There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer,

and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27 For this is my covenant unto them,

when I shall take away their sins.

Unbelieving Jews may seem enemies to believing Gentiles, but the "elect" are "beloved for the father's sakes".

Romans 11:28

King James Version

28 As concerning the gospel,

they are enemies for your sakes:

but as touching the election,

they are beloved for the father's sakes.

Paradoxically, now-believing Gentiles have obtained God's mercy because Jews haven't believed.

Romans 11:30-31

King James Version

30 For as ye in times past have not believed God,

yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31 Even so have these also now not believed,

that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

But in the end, God wishes mercy upon all.

Romans 11:32

King James Version

32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief,

that he might have mercy upon all.

Updated 13 April 2023

How GENTILES are to Regard JEWS

Apostle PAUL, in speaking to us Gentiles (we who are not Jews), says we are like branches of a wild olive tree, and here's why:

Romans 11:16-21

King James Version

16 For if the firstfruit be holy,

the lump is also holy:

and if the root be holy,

so are the branches.

17 And if some of the branches be broken off,

and thou,

being a wild olive tree,

wert grafted in among them,

and with them partakest of the root

and fatness of the olive tree;

18 Boast not against the branches.

But if thou boast,

thou bearest not the root,

but the root thee.

19 Thou wilt say then,

The branches were broken off,

that I might be grafted in.

20 Well;

because of unbelief they were broken off,

and thou standest by faith.

Be not highminded,

but fear:

21 For if God spared not the natural branches,

take heed lest he also spare not thee.

It is obvious.

We Gentiles are the "wild olive tree" grafted among the "natural branches", to partake of the "root and fatness of the olive tree".

The Jews are the "natural branches".

We must find NO conceit within ourselves, just because our Jewish brothers are having a difficult time.

We got in, because some of them broke off.

That verse is an admonition, lest it get to our head , about another verse the apostle spoke of, previous to that:

Romans 11:25

King James Version

25 For I would not,

brethren,

that ye should be ignorant of this mystery,

lest ye should be wise in your own conceits;

that blindness in part is happened to Israel,

until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

That phrase, "until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in", has been "trailing" me FOUR times today already, so I know it's time to address it here, and possibly, in the next post.

Related post:

GOD's PLAN of SALVATION

JEWS and GENTILES

Updated 16 April 2023

God's COVENANTS with Israel

What was God's covenant with Israel?

Here's what I found:

Psalm 105:8-15

King James Version

8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever,

the word which he commanded

to a thousand generations.

9 Which covenant he made with Abraham,

and his oath unto Isaac;

10 And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law,

and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:

11 Saying,

Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan,

the lot of your inheritance:

12 When they were but a few men in number;

yea, very few,

and strangers in it.

13 When they went from one nation to another,

from one kingdom to another people;

14 He suffered no man to do them wrong:

yea,

he reproved kings for their sakes;

15 Saying,

Touch not mine anointed,

and do my prophets no harm.

Exodus 19:5

King James Version

5 Now therefore,

if ye will obey my voice indeed,

and keep my covenant,

then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me

above all people:

for all the earth is mine:

Hebrews 8:7-13

King James Version

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless,

then should no place have been sought for the second.

8 For finding fault with them,

he saith,

Behold,

the days come,

saith the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah:

9 Not according to the covenant

that I made with their fathers

in the day when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of the land of Egypt;

because they continued not in my covenant,

and I regarded them not,

saith the Lord.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make

with the house of Israel after those days,

saith the Lord;

I will put my laws into their mind,

and write them in their hearts:

and I will be to them a God,

and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour,

and every man his brother, saying,

Know the Lord:

for all shall know me,

from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,

and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13 In that he saith,

A new covenant,

he hath made the first old.

Now that which decayeth and waxeth old

is ready to vanish away.

What happens when people divide the land of Israel?

Consequences are revealed on this video:

Something Big Is Coming! | LIVE with Tom Hughes & Bill Koenig

Related post:

GOD's PROMISE for ISRAEL

GOD's promises for ISRAEL

ISRAEL posts

JERUSALEM

Updated 13 April 2023

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Why GOD Chose ISRAEL

Isaiah 43:21

King James Version

21 This people have I formed for myself;

they shall shew forth my praise.

Why did GOD choose Israel?

Why not any other nation?

What was GOD's purpose?

How are we to honor this purpose?

Only a born again would surely want to do so.

We always have respect for GOD's ways, will, and wisdom.

GOD made me born again, and I write.

Thus, I have to share my findings with you.

Let Scripture tell you why GOD chose Israel:

Deuteronomy 7:6

King James Version

6 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God:

the Lord thy God hath chosen thee

to be a special people unto himself,

above all people that are upon the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 7:7

King James Version

7 The Lord did not set his love upon you,

nor choose you,

because ye were more in number than any people;

for ye were the fewest of all people:

Deuteronomy 14:2

King James Version

2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God,

and the Lord hath chosen thee

to be a peculiar people unto himself,

above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 26:18

King James Version

18 And the Lord hath avouched thee this day

to be his peculiar people,

as he hath promised thee,

and that thou shouldest keep

all his commandments;

Deuteronomy 26:19

King James Version

19 And to make thee high

above all nations which he hath made,

in praise,

and in name,

and in honour;

and that thou mayest be an holy people

unto the Lord thy God,

as he hath spoken.

2 Samuel 7:23-24

King James Version

23 And what one nation in the earth

is like thy people, even like Israel,

whom God went to redeem or a people to himself,

and to make him a name,

and to do for you great things and terrible,

for thy land,

before thy people,

which thou redeemedst to thee from Egypt,

from the nations and their gods?

24 For thou hast confirmed to thyself

thy people Israel to be a people unto thee for ever:

and thou, Lord,

art become their God.

Isaiah 41:8-9

King James Version

8 But thou, Israel,

art my servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

the seed of Abraham my friend.

9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends

of the earth,

and called thee from the chief men thereof,

and said unto thee,

Thou art my servant;

I have chosen thee,

and not cast thee away.

Jeremiah 31:1

King James Version

31 At the same time,

saith the Lord,

will I be the God of all the families of Israel,

and they shall be my people.

1 Peter 2:9

King James Version

9 But ye are a chosen generation,

a royal priesthood,

an holy nation,

a peculiar people;

that ye should shew forth the praises of him

who hath called you out of darkness

into his marvellous light;

Related material:

WHY DID GOD CHOOSE ISRAEL?

Jerusalem photo: David Herring

Updated 23 October 2023

Why ISRAEL Matters

Genesis 12:3

King James Version

3 And I will bless them that bless thee,

and curse him that curseth thee:

and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Surely you've heard of that verse before?

Makes you really think, doesn't it?

If we love God, then we honor His words, and His will.

Apparently, the LORD loves Israel.

Who are we to question God's ways?

If anything, we must find out why.

What makes Israel so special?

What is her role in this world?

How does she influence our lives?

Why has she had such a tough time?

Actually, the Genesis verse above already spoke VOLUMES.

It pretty much sets the tone for the world.

Why are we still resisting Israel's destiny?

If we read the Bible, we will find out that all attempts to destroy God's chosen nation, will be futile.

Only because you are fighting GOD yourself.

Who, in their right mind, would want to challenge the CREATOR?

But I know one who would.

This verse will surely keep things in perspective:

Proverbs 19:21

King James Version

21 There are many devices in a man's heart;

nevertheless the counsel of the Lord,

that shall stand.

Related material:

ISRAEL is the APPLE of God's EYE

Updated 23 October 2023

I won't claim to be an expert on Israel, except for material I researched on since last year -- stuff the Holy Spirit of God led me to -- so please enjoy the articles, videos, and helpful website links!

ARTICLES:

Israel is God's Elect

The Best-Kept Secret in Judaism

What Happened to the 12 Tribes of Israel?

"Promises and Betrayals" Regarding Britain and the Holy Land

God's LOVE for Israel

VIDEOS: