THE ISRAEL OF GOD

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 23, 1896

THE ISRAEL OF GOD.

The Jews and Their Return.

It is not the design of this short article to enter into an exhaustive examination of the Scripture passages which speak of the Jews, and the promises of God to them. We freely admit that many of the promises in the earlier prophets taken by themselves would seem to indicate, as is claimed by many, that the Jews are to be restored to Palestine and the Jewish commonwealth again established; many other things, concordant and discordant, we are told by those of varying views, will then take place.

To those who may be inclined to look for some special movement among the Jews, some special work of grace among them on the part of God, we have some considerations to present.

1. The promises to Israel are based on conditions, and this is especially true as regards Israel as a nation. These conditions are forcibly set forth in Jer. 18:7–10, as follows:—

“At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.”

These conditions are very explicit and clear, and are stated in different language elsewhere. See also Deut. 8:19, 20.

2. The earlier revelations of God can only be understood by reference to the fuller and later revelations. It is not only reasonable that it should be thus, but it is so stated in the very matter of the Jew and Gentile. Many of the prophecies could be at the best but dimly comprehended at the time when they were given. It was not designed that they then should know it all, for it did not concern their day or generation. God gave it through men of that time that it might be an unimpeachable witness to later ages. So Daniel was told to “shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end; many [at that time] shall run to and fro, and knowledge [of these prophecies] shall be increased.” Dan. 12:4. The same truth, as applied to the Jews and alien nations, is stated by the apostle Paul. He declares that first of all he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles, and that to him God had committed a dispensation, or stewardship, of the grace of God (Eph. 3:1, 2), and that by revelation God made known unto him the mystery, or the Gospel (compare with chap. 6:19, Gal. 1:11, 12), and continues thus:—

“Which [revelation of the Gospel] in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel.” Eph. 3:5, 6.

The Revised Version thus reads:—

“How that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, . . . which in other generations was not made known unto the sons of men, as it hath now been revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; to wit, that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.”

What could show more clearly that in Christ all are one, that “by one Spirit are we [Christians] all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free.” 1 Cor. 12:13. Again, the same apostle says:—

“For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Rom. 10:11, 12.

Therefore, whatever blessings God may promise the Jews, or Israel, those who by faith accept Christ are fellow-heirs and fellow-partakers of the promise. This is even more forcibly, if possible, set forth in another passage by the same apostle. In referring to the Gentiles who were out of Christ, but had later accepted him, he thus sets forth their relation to the true Israel in the following:—

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world; but now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. . . . Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone.” Eph. 2:12–20.

“For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:27–29.

“Not as tho the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel. Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children; but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” Rom. 9:6–8.

Reading the earlier prophecies in the light of these clearer revelations, we may see the harmony and beauty of the plan of God. We will notice two:—

1. The origin of the term Israel.—The name was given of God; it means character. The name according to the flesh was Jacob, a supplanter, grasping, avaricious, overreaching. But in that night of wrestling by the ford Jabbok the name Jacob was changed to Israel, the supplanter became the prevailer by faith, the prince of God. See Gen. 32:24–28. The origin of the name is therefore of spiritual significance. The literal Israel, then, is spiritual Israel. The name was extended to Israel according to the flesh, but all are not Israel in truth who are of Israel according to the flesh. And, therefore, again, all Gentiles who by faith accept of Christ are of the true Israel of God, while those who reject him are not of Israel, even tho they come of the seed of Jacob.

2. The tribe of Judah.—In the prophecies concerning the sons of Jacob, we have the following concerning Judah:—

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people [nations] be.” Gen. 49:10.

The Shiloh of the tribe of Judah is our Lord Jesus Christ, and the gathering to him is the gathering by faith, as indicated above. Jesus is the great Jew, the One above all others for which the tribe of Judah was maintained when organization of other tribes came to naught. Jesus Christ came through the seed of Jacob, but he came for all the world. “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye [Christians, whether of Jew or Gentile] are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:9, 10. What more can any people have? What more could any one ask?