Imagine living in a country where every nation surrounding you would welcome your demise. Where even the neighbors of your neighbors plot your destruction. That’s the heritage of the Jewish state of Israel
Israel continually walks a tenuous line between peace and war with her neighbors. Where terrorism is a reality of life. Where armed militia patrol the streets. Where Israel’s enemies govern sections of the country.
Why would Papa place Israel, His beloved, in the midst of enemy territory?
So that Papa’s glory— steadfast love is showcased for mankind’s edification and salvation. Even from ancient times this has been the heartfelt cry of Jacob— Israel.
Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors! Let Your compassion quickly meet our needs, for we are on the brink of despair.
Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of Your name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of Your name.
Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff, asking, “Where is their God?”
Show us Your vengeance against the nations, for they have spilled the blood of Your servants. Listen to the moaning of the prisoners. Demonstrate Your great power by saving those condemned to die.
O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times for the scorn they have hurled at You.
Then we Your people, the sheep of Your pasture, will thank You forever and ever. Praising Your greatness from generation to generation. Psalm 79:8-13
Even before this psalm of Asaph was written, Papa had set in motion at Mount Sinai the initial phase of His answer.
The Lord instructed Moses: “Come up here to Me, and bring along Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy of Israel’s elders. All of you must worship from a distance. Only Moses is allowed to come near to the Lord. The others must not come near, and none of the other people are allowed to climb up the mountain with him.”
Then Moses went down to the people and repeated all the instructions and regulations the Lord had given him.
All the people answered with one voice, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded.”
Then Moses carefully wrote down all the Lord’s instructions. Early the next morning Moses got up and built an altar at the foot of the mountain. He also set up twelve pillars, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he sent some of the young Israelite men to present burnt offerings and to sacrifice bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses drained half the blood from these animals into basins. The other half he splattered against the altar.
Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people.
Again they all responded, “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.”
Then Moses took the blood from the basins and splattered it over the people.
Declaring, “Look, this blood confirms the covenant the Lord has made with you in giving you these instructions.”
Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and the seventy elders of Israel climbed up the mountain. There they saw the God of Israel. Under His feet there seemed to be a surface of brilliant blue lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself. And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, He did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in His presence!
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain. Stay there, and I will give you the tablets of stone on which I have inscribed the instructions and commands so you can teach the people.”
So Moses and his assistant Joshua set out, and Moses climbed up the mountain of God. Exodus 24:1-11
Papa sovereignly chose to redeem Israel by making them His people. In His desire to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable nature of His purpose, intervened and guaranteed it with an oath. So that by two unchangeable things, His promise and His oath, in which it is impossible for God to lie. Hebrews 6:17-18
This redemption is closely linked to Papa’s covenant loyalty or steadfast love. Israel is Papa’s unique possession, and He dwells among them. Israel has been redeemed to be Papa’s servants.
Of all the nations in the ancient world, Papa entered a covenant relationship with only Israel. This unique belief system has sustained the Jewish people during times of captivity and despair.
At the end of this age, Israelites will once again endure hardship and captivity as the antichrist’s reign of terror rages. But thankfully Papa’s faithfulness to the covenant made at Mount Sinai, He will once again provide an escape. Beause He saw, and it was displeasing in His sight that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one and was amazed that there was not one to intercede.
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness upheld Him. He put on righteousness like a breastplate and a helmet of salvation on His head. He put on garments of vengeance for clothing and wrapped Himself with zeal as a cloak.
According to their deeds, so will He repay. wrath to His adversaries, retribution to His enemies. To the coastlands He will deal retribution.
So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west and His glory from the rising of the sun. For He will come like a rushing stream which the wind of the Lord drives.
A Redeemer will come to Zion and to those in Jacob who turn from wrongdoing, Isaiah 59:15-20
Yes, at long last Jesus will lead the Israelites into eternity’s promise land, never again to wander in the wilderness of unbelief and rebellion.
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