Join me, as I Discover the WAY, through the TRUTH, towards the LIFE.

Jan 10, 2007

God's wonderful ways, even through dark times

Background:The Israelites now exiled from Samaria, by the Assyrian king, have been resettled in Assyria. The king brought other people, the babylonians, the 24 The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns.(2 Kings 17:24) . When these new settlers came in, for the first time, 25 When they first lived there, they did not worship the LORD; so he sent lions among them and they killed some of the people. 26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: "The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires." (2 Kings 17:25-26) The king of Assyria then sent one of the priests taken captive from Israel, to go to Samaria and train the people on how to worship the LORD. Had God rejected His people the Israelites?

Lessons:

  1. God is faithful to His promise, no matter how long ago He made it, it still holds true-You know, God had promised that land to Abraham, about 300-400 yrs ago. Even though the people, His people, Israelites, were exiled-God remained there. It was the land He had promised to the faithful man Abraham, whom He had addressed as friend. God defended His promise. Abraham's descendants had mingled with other people and had lost their first love, the faith of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, but God remained faithful.
  2. God's plan is higher than our plan, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts-I've been thinking recently, even more so, looking at the stubbornness of the Israelites to return to God, that in all this, what we are enjoying now, the presence of our Loving Lord Jesus, His power of the cross, was initially a plan for the Jews, but the Lord opened up the banquet for all (wedding banquet in Matthew). Wow, His plan for the entire mankind. Oh the beauty of the gospel waiting to come full round, as summed up by Paul in Romans 11."11Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. 12But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!" For the first time, an Israelite priet went on a mission to train new people, the ways of the Living God.

Conclusion: If it weren't for this stubbornness, God's mercy wouldn't have been known to the gentiles. In all,God's plan always works together for the good of those who love Him. God didn't leave His people, even though they left Him. God did not forget His promise, even though they forgot Him. For now, even though Israel was exiled, we know they will be reunited with God, in our current future. I am in awe of it all. It is because of God's amazing grace, that we are able to experience the Love, the Power, the Life with the One and Only Living God, the God of Israel.

Pauls says "25Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the [c]full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in,
26And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.(
F)"(AMP)

All this so that we, the gentiles could know the mercy and Love of our Living God, it is beautiful and I am without words to express my gratitude to God.

1 comment :

Live, Love, Laugh said...

I am with you on this one, I don't think we sometimes fully realize just how thankful we should be. He is the only one who is Faithful and True.