Now I do not know if the famous Indian novelist Arundhati Roy had Israel in mind when she wrote her Booker Prize winning novel, “God of small things,” but for a good 3000 years tracing back to the call of that Father of Faith Abraham…the Almighty Creator God has indeed been God of this small Nation in West Asia. Israel’s land area of 27,869 Sq kms is only 0.85% of say a country like India from where yours truly is penning this series.
OK folks, Israel celebrated its 66th year of its “re-birth” on May 14th (though as per the moon-based Jewish calendar, the equivalent of the civil date of May 14th is May 5th in 2014), having received its independence on the same day in 1948. Now what is that about Israel that interests all keen Bible students? The reason is as simple as it is profound: The World’s future events are not so much linked as inter-twined with Israel’s second birth as it were. In this Series of 5 parts, yours truly has attempted to bring to the fore the significance of Israel to all followers of the Lord God of Abraham.
Selection…
Israel’s selection in God’s grand scheme of things to bring the Saviour and the Salvation to this World can be put down to His grace alone, which He showed in firstly calling Abraham out from his idol-worshipping relatives and entering into a covenant with him (Genesis 12:1-4, Genesis 15/Joshua 24:2-3). Let the Scripture take over at this stage…a part of Moses’ farewell message to the Jews of that era: “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deut 7:7-8)
Israeli liberation from the Egyptian captivity foreshadowed the Redemption plan which Christ by His atoning death on the cross completed. Anyone who puts his trust on Christ to take away his sins, immediately experiences liberation from a slavery far more dangerous than the Egyptian bondage-SIN. God did not liberate the Jews from their slavery because they were good and holy, but rather to make them good and holy. The Ten Commandments and the Book of Leviticus (all about Holy Living) were given to them after their liberation and not prior to it. Similarly Jesus liberates a Christian from sin to make for Himself a “Holy, spotless, beautiful Bride” by using His Word and the Spirit (Rev 19:6-9).
Prayer: Father, we praise and thank thee that You saved us from sin purely out of Your grace in order we become a “Holy Bride” for Your son. May we ever co-operate with Your Holy Spirit, as we are being prepared for the great, ethereal marriage. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire “God of a Small Nation” mini-series, please click here.)