(Posted August 2014)
As the
war on Gaza kicks back into gear this week following a three-day truce, and as
the Middle East continues to unravel, Ezekiel 28:25-26 gives the one key that
will bring about safety and security to Israel:
Thus
says The Lord God: ‘When I have gathered the house of Israel from the peoples
among whom they are scattered, and am hallowed in them in the sight of the
Gentiles, then they will dwell in their own land which I gave to My servant
Jacob. And they will dwell safely there, build houses, and plant vineyards; yes,
they will dwell securely, when I execute judgments on all those around them who
despise them. Then they shall know that I am The Lord their God.’ (Ezekiel
28:25-26)
The only
way Israel may think and believe it can hallow Jehovah God is to re-institute the
formalistic rituals of temple worship. But this requires a temple, with the
associated abattoir. And the only spot on which Israel believes such a temple
can be built is …otherwise occupied. So, still locked in her Torah
mind-set, Israel is, thus, unable to hallow God.
What a conundrum, especially when God may be more interested in being hallowed in their/our hearts, through repentance of sin, and acceptance if His (not our) sacrifice for sin -- Jesus Christ. *
One might think a whole lot of lives could be saved, homes and buildings left in tact, economies saved, and American tax dollars saved, if only Israel could see its way to obey the main point in this particular Scripture. But this would be the wrong conclusion. Why, you ask?
Take a closer look at the second requirement in Verse 25: ‘... and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles..’ This is intentionally stated in the passive voice, which suggests it is not any particular thing Israel itself can or will do. Rather, looking at the broader message of Scripture on this and related topics, only Jehovah God, Himself, can/will bring about the conditions in which Israel will hallow Him before the Gentile nations of the world. Imagine the pride that might be spawned if Israel, itself, could nationally and politically manipulate such conditions. Then imagine the great fall that would ensue, the fruits of pride, in accordance with Proverbs 16:18.
Only in God’s own timing, and only by His chosen context and means, will Israel hallow Him before Gentile nations — the whole world! Period.
What then do you say of several American-inspired plans to manipulate the Government of Israel to finagle some sort of ‘national hallowing of God’ in order, by man’s hand, to bring about God’s stated will? For example, see:
What a conundrum, especially when God may be more interested in being hallowed in their/our hearts, through repentance of sin, and acceptance if His (not our) sacrifice for sin -- Jesus Christ. *
One might think a whole lot of lives could be saved, homes and buildings left in tact, economies saved, and American tax dollars saved, if only Israel could see its way to obey the main point in this particular Scripture. But this would be the wrong conclusion. Why, you ask?
Take a closer look at the second requirement in Verse 25: ‘... and am hallowed in them in the sight of the Gentiles..’ This is intentionally stated in the passive voice, which suggests it is not any particular thing Israel itself can or will do. Rather, looking at the broader message of Scripture on this and related topics, only Jehovah God, Himself, can/will bring about the conditions in which Israel will hallow Him before the Gentile nations of the world. Imagine the pride that might be spawned if Israel, itself, could nationally and politically manipulate such conditions. Then imagine the great fall that would ensue, the fruits of pride, in accordance with Proverbs 16:18.
Only in God’s own timing, and only by His chosen context and means, will Israel hallow Him before Gentile nations — the whole world! Period.
What then do you say of several American-inspired plans to manipulate the Government of Israel to finagle some sort of ‘national hallowing of God’ in order, by man’s hand, to bring about God’s stated will? For example, see:
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* Notwithstanding
much debate concerning possible reinstitution of animal sacrifices in the
promised third temple in Jerusalem.
