The God of Israel
There is nothing and none more awesomely powerful or breathtakingly beautiful than our Lord Jesus Christ, the true passover lamb!
The Lord gave specific instructions to the children of Israel regarding a Feast that He named ‘The Lord’s Passover’ (Exodus 12:11 NKJV). In brief, each household had to take a male, unblemished lamb and keep it inside their house for five days. On the fifth day, at twilight, they had to kill the lamb and, with some of the lamb’s blood and water, paint it on top and both sides of their house’s doorframe. They had to roast the lamb in fire and eat all of it!
In handing down this God-given tradition, each new generation of Jewish children would ask, “what do you mean by doing this ritual every year?’ their parents would say, “It is to remember the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of our forefathers when they were in Egypt, when He killed the firstborn of every Egyptian household including their livestock, but He delivered our families.” (Exodus 12:25-27 NKJV)
Flying over millennia to 2024 where in a few days’ time observant Jews, especially the ones living in Israel, will once again sit around the table inside their homes, partaking of The Lord’s Passover, with enemies all around – Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, and Iran! The Lord has prepared the passover feast for His people in the presence of their enemies (Psalm 23:5). For indeed Christ the Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for them (1 Corinthians 5:7).
O that this year, Jews all across the globe would see and accept the reality of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Jewish Messiah! Paul, the Jewish apostle, yearned with great sorrow and heartache for his fellow countrymen. His grief was so intense he wished he would be accursed, cut off from the Messiah, if it would mean that his Jewish kinsmen would come to faith in Him (Romans 9:1-4). He implored them saying, “You are Israelites, my fellow citizens, and God’s chosen people. To you belongs God’s glorious presence, the covenants, the Torah, the temple with its required sacrifices, and the promises of God. We trace our beginnings back to the patriarchs, and through their bloodline is the genealogy of the Messiah, who is God over everything!” (Romans 9:5 TPT)
Now, many of the Jews are opposed to the gospel, but their opposition has opened the door of the gospel to us who are not Jewish. Yet they are still greatly loved by God because their ancestors were divinely chosen to be His. And when God chooses someone and graciously imparts gifts to him or her, the gifts are never rescinded (Romans 11:28).
We, non-Jews, have everything to be grateful to God for because a temporary and hardening to the gospel came over Israel, for our sake, until the full number of non-Jews comes into His family. And then God will bring all of Israel to salvation (Romans 11:25). I believe that time is almost upon us. Over the next 18 months let’s be prayerfully watchful of what God is doing in the Middle East and especially in Israel!
Psalm 60 is a poem of King David composed when he fought against the Syrians with the outcome still uncertain. He says, ‘God, it seems like you walked off and left us! Why have You turned against us? O Lord, we plead, come back and help us as a father. You have taught us hard lessons and made us drink the wine of bewilderment. Come to your beloved ones and gently draw us out. For Lord, You save those whom you love. Come with Your might and strength! (Psalm 60:1,3, 5).
Then I heard the Lord speak in His holy splendour. From His sanctuary I heard the Lord promise: “In My triumph I will be the One to measure out the portion of My inheritance to My people, and I will secure the land as I promised you.” (Psalms 60:6-7)
God said to me once and for all, “All the strength and power you need flows from Me!” And again I clearly heard it said, “All the love you need is found in Me!” And it’s true that You repay people for what they do (Psalms 62:11-12)
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things! Blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen. The Prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended. (Psalm 73:18-20)
Love and blessings
Pearl