4 - The Rise of Israel

Israel – A privileged Nation

Image credit - Taylor Brandon - Unsplash.com

Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created man on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other.

Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of?

Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived?

• deuteronomy 4:32
• NIV

There is no doubt that the Nation of Israel is a privileged Nation. History demonstrates this and the great Apostle Paul sums it up beautifully in the book of Romans as follows:

Romans 9 v 2-5

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel.

Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises.

Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

In the above New Testament scripture, over 2000 years had passed since God made his promise to Abraham. And yet Paul declares without fear of contradiction that Israel is indeed a nation that is privileged above all other nations on earth.

The Lord is God

Deuteronomy 4 v 34-40

Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?

35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other.

36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire.

37 Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.

39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.

Awkward?

Are you uncomfortable with the Biblical status given to Israel?

Dear reader, it occurs to me right now, that you may not like the distinction being given to the nation of Israel. However, it remains the central theme of the Bible in both Old and New Testaments.

From Genesis to Revelation, from beginning to end, Israel as a nation are central in the purposes of God, this is a thread that cannot be ignored or denied.