No 18

(Is God Through with the Jew?)

If the Bible were divided into six equal parts, five of them would concern the Jews, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But what are Jews? Are they a nation? Are they a religion? Does being Jewish make someone special? I would say yes because the Jews are God’s chosen people. They are neither a nation nor a religion and yet they are a definite political entity today. There are approximately 15 million Jews worldwide and over the centuries, they have been persecuted like no other group of people; still they are there. Way back on April 30 1492, two orders were issued in the courts of Spain – one was to get rid of the Jews (The Spanish Inquisition) and the other was for Columbus to sail on his historic voyage to the new world. Someone once said to properly understand the Bible, one should understand the place the Jew has been given in the plan of God for humanity. Jesus said the following words to a Samaritan girl near Jacob’s well in the town of Sychar “…for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22b). Our Saviour, Jesus Christ was born a Jew and was raised in Jewish surroundings. Now I ask the question “Is God through with the Jew?” The apostle Paul answered “God forbid” to this question that he himself asked in Romans 11:1 “Hath God cast away His people? God forbid!” Is the fact that Israel declared itself a sovereign nation on May 14 1948 a sign that there is a re-gathering of the Jews? I used to believe that very strongly until I saw a group of Orthodox Jews in New York City demonstrating their opposition to the nation Israel. Their belief is that the Messiah will usher them into Israel when He comes. Either way, God is definitely not finished with the Jew. When will Messiah come? The answer is in Romans 11:25b “until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in!”