Israel--A Rendezvous with God

Over 300 years ago King Louis XIV of France asked Blaise Pascal, the great French philosopher, to give him proof of the supernatural.  Pascal answered:  “Why, the Jews, your Majesty—the Jews.”  Immediately we have a paradox.  While their continued existence as a people and their founding as a nation are replete with demonstrations of the supernatural, in Israel itself today religious practice is another matter.  In one survey, beyond observing big Holidays, more serious matters like observing the Sabbath, following the 10 Commandments and practicing morality as instructed in their holy book is up for grabs.  Many would style themselves agnostic in matters of faith if not atheistic.

This is not to say Israelis are without faith, but it is to say that Judaism is not widely held and practiced in present-day Israel.  What’s the point?  As a people and a nation, Israel has a rendezvous with God and getting there from here portends a bumpy road.

Here’s why things are going to get “bumpy” for Israel.  Israel’s relationship with Jehovah God and their relationship with the land are one.  This relationship was based on “covenant” which Jehovah initiated.  This covenant was sort of like a marriage relationship.  In fact, this imagery is used repeatedly, particularly by Israel’s prophets, to point out the close relationship Israel was to have with Jehovah—usually as a matter of rebuke because Israel wasn’t holding up her end of the deal.

Notable about this “deal” (covenant relationship) is that so long as Israel was faithful to Jehovah, she could dwell in the land and prosper.  Should Israel rebel against this deal, which she did, God would put her out of the land as a sign of his displeasure and scatter the people across the face of the globe, which He did.

Now, a 2^nd and final time Jehovah God has set Himself to draw the dispersed of Israel back to the land.  Now, with “Judah”, by the vagaries of history and God’s doings, having become the dominant “tribe” of Israel (there were once 12 tribes) and known popularly as “Jews”, now “Israelis”, back in the land.  It then becomes obvious God’s favor is upon the people—but “their hearts are far from Him”.

No matter.  God’s tough and He’s got a plan.  He’s going to take away the “hardness” of their heart, characterized in the Bible as a “stony heart”, and give them a heart of “flesh” (see Ezekiel 36:26, 27).  Then the people will follow His decrees and be careful to keep His laws.  The whole world will see it and be mesmerized by this resurgent love affair between Israel and her God and will want to participate in it.  What a day that will be, but, between here and there, with all that must happen to bring Israel to her destiny with Jehovah, the road is apt to be a bit bumpy.