Today’s Scripture Reading (September
4, 2015): Leviticus 20
More and
more the litmus test for where you stand on Christian issues starts with how
you stand on the subject of Israel. No matter how much we may want to deny it,
the beginnings of our faith be starts in the Middle East. Our sacred writings
were written in the Middle East for an audience that lived in the Middle East. The
three sister faiths - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - all find their origins
in the Middle East. Much of the prophecy that Christians seem to love to argue
over pertains to happenings that will take place in the Middle East; including
the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem, the famed Battle of Armageddon, the
return of Jesus and the descent of the New Jerusalem. In the eyes of many
Christians, tension in the Middle East means that the days of our planet are
drawing to a close. We can’t escape it or deny it – the Middle East is
important to all of us, even those who seemingly have no connection with that
troubled area of our World.
But one of the key questions for Christians is this, does the
Christian Church replace Israel or does it simply augment and join Israel in
their mission – a mission that has been given to them by the one living God.
Hopefully if you have read this blog for long, you know that I believe in the
latter. It is irresponsible for us as Christians to believe that we have
replaced Israel. Israel remains the chosen people of God, but we have joined
them in their mission to proclaim that living God to all of the people of the
Earth. And there are prophecies that indicate that a time is coming when their
will be a great revival among the Jewish people – and they will return to God,
although admittedly what that return might look like is another matter for more
debate.
Historically, Israel has been tied to specific piece of land
in the Middle East. Even in times when Israel did not occupy the land, Israel
looked forward to the time when they would be able to return to the land that
had been promised to them. But the Mosaic Law also came with a specific warning
that pertains, first to Israel, and then to the rest of us. Israel was to keep
the Law in its entirety or this land that was promised to them would vomit them
out. And I have to admit, I love the phrasing. This is not something that God
is going to do – the land will do it. The land would not allow them to stay
unless they were willing to honor God. The reality is that this was exactly
what had happened to the inhabitants that had lived in the land before Israel –
the land would vomit them out.
Israel would live in the land. But in the same way as those
who had gone before them, they would refuse to keep the Law. And eventually,
first the Northern Tribes, but then also to the Southern Tribes, the land would
once again vomit out its inhabitants. But this also leaves us with a problem.
There is really no moral ground for an argument that allows either group to
inhabit the Promised Land – the land has already vomited them out because of
their refusal to honor God as he needs to be honored. Because of this, the
inheritance is gone.
This brings us back to the prophecy that we like to argue
over. The time is coming when not just Israel, but the world will return to
God. We, who have not honored him in the past, will honor him in the future. And
at that time the land will be returned to the people of God – it will be
restored. Some believe that this is exactly what happened with Israel’s return
to their plot of land following the World War II. Others are not quite sure.
But there is no doubt that it would happen – and maybe this is exactly what the
prophet Joel meant when he spoke these words - I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—Then
you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the
Lord your God, and that there is no other; never
again will my people be shamed (Joel 2:25a, 27).
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading:
Leviticus 21
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