![]() The Old Testament (the Tenakh) is the history of how a people responded to the Word of the Lord. And today….How are the Israeli Jews responding to The Word of the Lord? ANSWER: From Arthur W. Kac in his book The Rebirth of the State of Israel: “Large masses of the Jewish people—we are informed—are strongly indifferent to all things of a Jewish religious nature….They are ignorant of the God of Judaism. They have no knowledge of the Biblical or Rabbinic teachings with regard to the basic things of human life.” Kac was a Messianic Jew who wrote this book in 1958. Just about everything in his book still exists. The Lord’s Complaints The Lord had established His covenant with Israel at Mount Sinai. He was to be their God Who redeemed, instructed and protected them; and they were to love Him and keep His commandments. That was the covenant….like a marriage. You’d never know that the State of Israel was in covenant with their God today. There seems to be very little communication between the two. Over and over again in the Tenakh, the Lord complains that Israel is aloof—will not listen—will not see what is obvious. That's not good for marriage or a covenant with the Lord. Is that true today? Sorry to say that it is. Otherwise, you would see and hear of Jews eagerly studying scripture—not the Talmud, the scripture. The Talmud will not do, for it is the word of MEN. Jewish and Israeli students are not being given courses in the scriptures. Hear the Lord, as He complains: “Listen, you that are deaf; and you that are blind, look up and see! Who is blind, but my servant? [Israel] Or deaf like my messenger?...” He sees many things, but does not observe them; His ears are open, but he does not hear.” (Isaiah 42:18-20) * * * * * * * * * * * Who is calling the new nation of Israel to repentance? I don’t hear that call. Can you? Let’s name some people who could issue such a call: rabbis? What about leaders of Christian Zionism....instead of merely celebrating Israel, challenging her? THE LORD through Ezekiel the prophet: “I scattered them among the nations…wherever they came, they profaned my holy name.” (Ezekiel 36:19) That’s the issue in a nutshell. Check out those prophetic portions, and you will see that when the Lord says He is going to bring His people back to their land, He will also reprove and cleanse them. And that’s going to be some revolution! “I will make an end of all the nations among which I scattered you, but of you I will not make an end. I will chastise you in just measure…because your guilt is great.” (Jeremiah 30:11) The Marriage Covenant Ignored. When I was in Israel ten years ago, one of our taxi drivers said that he and his wife were getting a divorce and that divorce was common in Israel. I took that to mean that adultery was common. I believe that Jerusalem is an exception to this, since they are more observant religiously. In Israel generally we are looking at an evil and adulterous generation, just as Jesus said about the situation of His time. The approach to immorality is casual. In the army, casual sex. In the reserves in which all men serve, it’s a time for fun. It’s called the “warrior-womanizer” culture. Corruption in politics? There is some, perhaps much, but there is also an abundance of slander and malice in the public sphere so that you can’t know which is worse, the corruption or the mendacity (a tendency to lie). “They sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say, but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths, they act; their heart is set on their gain.” (Ezekiel 33:31) REALITY IN AMERICA: The American Jews are talented and have produced high entertainment in America. But much of that entertainment has become a mirror of their own godlessness, immorality and materialism. Isn’t it time for Christian Zionists who love Israel so much to speak the truth about the “adulterous generation” in Israel? THE LORD (in Isaiah): “Whom did you dread and fear so that you lied, and did not remember me or give me a thought?” (57:11) * * * * * * * * * * * The most serious sin of Israel today is this: They continue to ignore the voice of the Lord--their covenant partner. The day of reckoning is coming. IN THE LAST DAYS: “Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not good, and you will loathe yourselves….Be ashamed and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.” (Ezekiel 36:31-32) ISRAEL…. Yes, they are a democratic nation; Yes, they have done good to the neighbors that have warred against them; Yes, they are innovative and industrious; Yes, they have a mission to “heal the world”…. Yes, some are taking on a spirituality as they live in the Land. And yes, they are God’s Chosen People… But…. at this point in their religious history, they mostly ignore the Word of the Lord and therefore most of them are living world-centered lives. They have no ear for the Word of the Lord….and yet…. They WILL encounter the Lord. And that is the His promise. “I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses….A new heart I will give you and a new spirit I will put within you, and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh….” Allelujah! |
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August 2020
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