"a warning..." "...what words can do. History is replete with speeches, lectures, editorials and textbooks turning neighbors into intruders and murder into justice."
We should look for words of love and promise and words to instruct us in righteousness.Isaiah 9:6-7 (ASV)
[6] For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] Of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of Jehovah of hosts will perform this.
Proverbs 30:4 (ASV)
[4] Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest?
I won't hide my faith in Yeshua the Messiah of the Jews aka Jesus the Christ. Why should I lie or represent myself falsely?
What words can do? The opening versus of the gospel of Yochanan (John):
John 1:1-5 (ASV)
[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
In Spanish: 1 En el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo era con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.
God is not ink on a page. Nor is he a wooden idol.
Hebrews 4:12 (ASV)
[12] For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.
But do we really want to know the thoughts and intents of our own hearts?
Presently 8,000,000,000+ people on the planet. And it's impossible to know how many people, how many human beings, have been born, lived their lives and already departed said planet. I hazard I guess that a very large percentage of all human activity is concerned with keeping one's belly full, keeping one's carcass warm, and in the pursuit of happiness: sinning much. Don't get me wrong. I don't like to be hungry cold or unhappy. The greater problem mankind faces (and I face it too) is that after we are filled, warm and happy we pat ourselves on our backs, live our lives and pass into eternity having misunderstood God's plan and the Messiah's purpose. For the most part mankind, Jews and Gentiles alike, have no great passion for the will of God to be done in earth as it is in heaven. If we had such passion we would be compassionate. We have a purpose for being made human in Their image and likeness. Should it be any surprise that God sent us His SON, is only and uniquely virgin born Son, fully human yet without sin or a sin nature to rescue us?
God, from Abraham to Yochanan the immerser aka John the baptist, chose those whom we call Jews to be a special, chosen, peculiar people FOR HIMSELF and His PURPOSES. Gentile Christians should know that. Some do. But too many think that the Jewish people have been rejected by God. God does not reject anyone. Jesus said, "He that comes to me I will in no way cast out." However shocking it may be God offers us his love and salvation through Jesus but many, both Jews and Gentiles reject Jesus and thereby reject God's love and salvation. Jewish people should believe that God did send Yeshua to save them, the lost sheep of the house of Israel. They should know that he sent Jesus to save them not only from their enemies, he sent Jesus to save them from their sins, from hell and from eternal damnation. It has been said that 5/6 (83%) of the Bible from Genesis all the way through the New Testament concerns Israel. Starting with Genesis chapter 12, and reading through to the end of the New Testament, things and persons pertaining to Israel are never out of view. A visiting speaker said to us once that people don't study the Bible. He said further that they don't study the Bible because they don't read the Bible. We can't know everything that God knows....
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (JPS)
[11] He hath made every thing beautiful in its time; also He hath set the world in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end.
... but we can know what He reveals to us.
Deuteronomy 29:29 (JPS)
[29] (29:28) The secret things belong unto the LORD our God; but the things that are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
Deuteronomy 7:6-8
[6] For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. [7] The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: [8] But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
God made promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their children for 1,000 generations because He LOVES them and He will keep them. In particular He promised them the land of Canaan.
Psalms 105:6-11 (KJV)
[6] O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen. [7] He is the LORD our God: his judgments are in all the earth. [8] He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. [9] Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; [10] And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: [11] Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:
"... confirmed... an everlasting covenant."
The rightful "owner" of the land of Israel is in dispute amongst men and nations today. But have we heard heard from God concerning this?
Lev 25:23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
Zec 2:12 And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.
• Psalm 24:1: "The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein."
• Deuteronomy 10:14: "Behold, to the Lord your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in that is in it."
• Psalm 50:10–12: "For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills... For the world is Mine, and all its fullness."
• Job 41:11: "Who has preceded Me, that I should pay him? Everything under heaven is Mine."
• Haggai 2:8: “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,” says the Lord of hosts."
• Psalm 89:11: "Yours are the heavens, yours also the earth; the world and its fullness—you founded them."
Gentiles, and particularly and especially those who say they are Christians, should not object to what God has given to whom. If they believed the Bible they would not. Jewish people on the other hand should not base their claim to the land without faith in the Son of God. Neither Jew nor Gentile ought to presume to speak without faith in the Living God. Truth is not a commodity or a currency. Yeshua said of himself "I am the way, the TRUTH and the life." But the truth is more, even much more than often resisted when first apprehended. Wow People will even say "There's no such thing as absolute truth." No? Really? Is what they say true? Is it absolutely true that there is no absolute truth? The beasts of the earth, sea and air are better off than a man who doesn't know the truth.
Isaiah 28:16 (ASV)
[16] therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner-stone of sure foundation: he that believeth shall not be in haste.
Psalms 118:22-23 (ASV)
[22] The stone which the builders rejected Is become the head of the corner. [23] This is Jehovah's doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
