I’m sure you have someone dear to you who does not yet know the Lord. Perhaps a close family member or an old friend. When we think of them, our hearts break. We can’t bear the thought of them being cut off for good. We pray and petition the eternal heavens, trying to match the persistent widow’s determination. I have even caught myself praying, “Do whatever you have to do, Lord – whatever it takes to turn them around!” I would rather that my nearest and dearest would even suffer in this life, if only it meant that they would grasp Yeshua’s outstretched hand and be safely with us in eternity. This is God’s value system too. We see him prioritizing the eternal over temporal comfort over and over again.
When we consider how to bless Israel, are we thinking of temporary earthly comforts or the eternal destiny of her people?
THE NOW-AND-THE-NOT-YET
The Kingdom of God is both the “now” and the “not yet” simultaneously. Even though we are saved by the past event of Yeshua’s victory of the cross and resurrection, we will not enter into the eternal fullness of everything he has bought for us in this life. We will have to wait until we are with him in glory. But it’s not just “pie in the sky when you die”; it’s also “steak on the plate while you wait!” Moreover, when seeking to give and bless others, we do not have to choose between giving to those in practical need and those in spiritual need – God wants us to care about both.
Unfortunately, the help that Israel receives from the outside world is rather lop-sided. The vast majority of aid tends to be driven towards the temporary comfort and relief of Israelis who do not know the Lord, and there is very little given to help them find true rest with God in eternity.
What good is it if they have food and medicine now and die only to be separated from the Lord forever? They need both!
“MY HEART’S DESIRE AND MY PRAYER TO GOD FOR ISRAEL IS THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.” (ROMANS 10:1)
Many Israelis know about their practical needs very well, but are not aware of the peril that they are in spiritually. They will not appeal to you for help and rescue from the trouble brewing at the Day of the Lord, because they do not know that they need it. But if you believe the words of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua, you know that this need is the top priority for all of us – even if it doesn’t always feel like it. It was to his Jewish friends that he warned that no one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6)
Paul dedicated three whole chapters to set-out, in sequential order, God's programme for Israel. Chapter 9 reminds us of Israel's past history, their tremendous privileges, and precious promises, while chapter 11 rejoices in their election by grace, their future hope, and eventual salvation.
Here in chapter 10, Paul outlines the state of the nation during the present Church dispensation. It summarises Israel's stumbling and the rejection of their Messiah. It speaks of the irony that the Gentiles who did not seek after God, have gained the righteousness that comes by faith, while the Jews who strived to achieve it through their own efforts by keeping the Law, failed miserably and even rejected the One through whom righteousness is received.
Jesus became a Rock of offence and a Stone of stumbling to unbelieving Israel, which grieved the apostle Paul who longed that His fellow-countrymen would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved: "Brethren", he wrote in this first verse of chapter 10, "Brothers-in-Christ my heart's desire and earnest prayer to God for my Jewish brothers, is for their salvation."
I wonder if Paul recalled his own furious rejection and vicious persecution of Christians in those early days of the Church, when Jesus spoke to him on that road to Damascus and asked him, "Paul, Paul, why do you persecute Me?" I wonder if the yearning in his heart for the salvation of his fellow-Jews was heightened, when he recalled the stoning of Stephen and heard his Christ-like prayer, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Lord, lay not this sin on Saul of Tarsus).
The dear pleasure of Paul's heart and his deep spiritual burden was for Israel's salvation. His personal longing and pleading prayer was that God's chosen nation would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and place their collective trust in His sacrificial work for the forgiveness of their sins.
Paul's greatest joy would be the spiritual awakening of his people, and yet he knew blindness in part was happening to Israel and would continue until the fulness of the Gentiles had come in. Many in Israel would remain in darkness until the dispensation of the grace of God was completed.
Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a strict Pharisee, and a passionate persecutor of the early Church. His conversion shocked many in Israel who considered him to be a traitor to his Jewish roots. He had to endure much opposition and hatred from both saved and unsaved Jews because his teaching offended them to the core of their being. Unsaved Jews would not recognise Jesus as Messiah, while many who believed in Him could not accept that the rites and rituals required of Israel were not a requirement for the Church.
However, Jesus was the final sacrifice for their sins - the ultimate sacrifice for sin. He was the definite Passover Lamb, the final Sin Offering, the perfect Burnt Offering, and the One to Whom the Law and the prophets pointed. The rejection of their Messiah caused the kingdom promised to Israel to be postponed for a time, and God required Paul to pen this series of chapters outlining His past, present, and future programme for His people, to prevent any false claims that God had finished with Israel and replaced them with the Christian Church.
The false teaching of 'replacement theology' needs to be firmly rejected.
Let us never forget that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, and pray for the salvation of Jew and Gentile alike.
Let us thank God for His faithfulness to Israel - past, present, and future, and rejoice that His promises to them, and to us, are true and cannot be broken. Let us pray for the day when the current blindness to the truth is lifted from Israel's eyes, and Jesus returns as their Messiah and King to set up His earthly kingdom as promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and His Seed, forever.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Paul's detailed discourse on the past history, present status, and future hope for Your people, Israel. Thank You for the many members of the Jewish race who have already believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and been saved. I pray that many more would have their blindness removed and recognise Him as their Saviour and King. I pray that Christendom's current, unbiblical teaching of 'replacement theology' which fuel's anti-Semitic hatred, would be halted, and thank You that the day is coming when You will bring Your plans and purposes to completion, as outlined in Scripture and Christ is crowned as King of kings. This I pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.
We are asking on behalf of those who will not ask you. Would you be willing to contribute towards Israel’s spiritual needs? ONE FOR ISRAEL provides Israelis with the life-changing message of the gospel in ways and with words that they can understand. You can help us take that message further, to reach more people, and give them a real opportunity to say “Yes!” to Yeshua.
If you would like to give a blessing to Israel that will last forever, click here for more information. Please help us make an eternal difference today!
When we consider how to bless Israel, are we thinking of temporary earthly comforts or the eternal destiny of her people?
THE NOW-AND-THE-NOT-YET
The Kingdom of God is both the “now” and the “not yet” simultaneously. Even though we are saved by the past event of Yeshua’s victory of the cross and resurrection, we will not enter into the eternal fullness of everything he has bought for us in this life. We will have to wait until we are with him in glory. But it’s not just “pie in the sky when you die”; it’s also “steak on the plate while you wait!” Moreover, when seeking to give and bless others, we do not have to choose between giving to those in practical need and those in spiritual need – God wants us to care about both.
Unfortunately, the help that Israel receives from the outside world is rather lop-sided. The vast majority of aid tends to be driven towards the temporary comfort and relief of Israelis who do not know the Lord, and there is very little given to help them find true rest with God in eternity.
What good is it if they have food and medicine now and die only to be separated from the Lord forever? They need both!
“MY HEART’S DESIRE AND MY PRAYER TO GOD FOR ISRAEL IS THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.” (ROMANS 10:1)
Many Israelis know about their practical needs very well, but are not aware of the peril that they are in spiritually. They will not appeal to you for help and rescue from the trouble brewing at the Day of the Lord, because they do not know that they need it. But if you believe the words of the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua, you know that this need is the top priority for all of us – even if it doesn’t always feel like it. It was to his Jewish friends that he warned that no one comes to the Father except through him. (John 14:6)
Paul dedicated three whole chapters to set-out, in sequential order, God's programme for Israel. Chapter 9 reminds us of Israel's past history, their tremendous privileges, and precious promises, while chapter 11 rejoices in their election by grace, their future hope, and eventual salvation.
Here in chapter 10, Paul outlines the state of the nation during the present Church dispensation. It summarises Israel's stumbling and the rejection of their Messiah. It speaks of the irony that the Gentiles who did not seek after God, have gained the righteousness that comes by faith, while the Jews who strived to achieve it through their own efforts by keeping the Law, failed miserably and even rejected the One through whom righteousness is received.
Jesus became a Rock of offence and a Stone of stumbling to unbelieving Israel, which grieved the apostle Paul who longed that His fellow-countrymen would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved: "Brethren", he wrote in this first verse of chapter 10, "Brothers-in-Christ my heart's desire and earnest prayer to God for my Jewish brothers, is for their salvation."
I wonder if Paul recalled his own furious rejection and vicious persecution of Christians in those early days of the Church, when Jesus spoke to him on that road to Damascus and asked him, "Paul, Paul, why do you persecute Me?" I wonder if the yearning in his heart for the salvation of his fellow-Jews was heightened, when he recalled the stoning of Stephen and heard his Christ-like prayer, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." (Lord, lay not this sin on Saul of Tarsus).
The dear pleasure of Paul's heart and his deep spiritual burden was for Israel's salvation. His personal longing and pleading prayer was that God's chosen nation would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and place their collective trust in His sacrificial work for the forgiveness of their sins.
Paul's greatest joy would be the spiritual awakening of his people, and yet he knew blindness in part was happening to Israel and would continue until the fulness of the Gentiles had come in. Many in Israel would remain in darkness until the dispensation of the grace of God was completed.
Paul was of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, a strict Pharisee, and a passionate persecutor of the early Church. His conversion shocked many in Israel who considered him to be a traitor to his Jewish roots. He had to endure much opposition and hatred from both saved and unsaved Jews because his teaching offended them to the core of their being. Unsaved Jews would not recognise Jesus as Messiah, while many who believed in Him could not accept that the rites and rituals required of Israel were not a requirement for the Church.
However, Jesus was the final sacrifice for their sins - the ultimate sacrifice for sin. He was the definite Passover Lamb, the final Sin Offering, the perfect Burnt Offering, and the One to Whom the Law and the prophets pointed. The rejection of their Messiah caused the kingdom promised to Israel to be postponed for a time, and God required Paul to pen this series of chapters outlining His past, present, and future programme for His people, to prevent any false claims that God had finished with Israel and replaced them with the Christian Church.
The false teaching of 'replacement theology' needs to be firmly rejected.
Let us never forget that Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes, and pray for the salvation of Jew and Gentile alike.
Let us thank God for His faithfulness to Israel - past, present, and future, and rejoice that His promises to them, and to us, are true and cannot be broken. Let us pray for the day when the current blindness to the truth is lifted from Israel's eyes, and Jesus returns as their Messiah and King to set up His earthly kingdom as promised to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and His Seed, forever.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for Paul's detailed discourse on the past history, present status, and future hope for Your people, Israel. Thank You for the many members of the Jewish race who have already believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and been saved. I pray that many more would have their blindness removed and recognise Him as their Saviour and King. I pray that Christendom's current, unbiblical teaching of 'replacement theology' which fuel's anti-Semitic hatred, would be halted, and thank You that the day is coming when You will bring Your plans and purposes to completion, as outlined in Scripture and Christ is crowned as King of kings. This I pray in Jesus' name, AMEN.
We are asking on behalf of those who will not ask you. Would you be willing to contribute towards Israel’s spiritual needs? ONE FOR ISRAEL provides Israelis with the life-changing message of the gospel in ways and with words that they can understand. You can help us take that message further, to reach more people, and give them a real opportunity to say “Yes!” to Yeshua.
If you would like to give a blessing to Israel that will last forever, click here for more information. Please help us make an eternal difference today!
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