All Discussion PAGE 217

Ez.3:10-15 "Led by the Spirit"

God is speaking to us this very day, "unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the LordGod; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear." Ezekiel was only required to receive it in faith 'that in the parlance of the Spirit has this phrase,'in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.' Compare with the Spirit's expression at the end of each message to the seven churches in Asia minor.'He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches (Re.2:7)'

This message is the testimony of Jesus Christ Jesus Christ sent to the angel of the church of Ephesus. Having become familiar with the living creatures what does this expression of angel signify? Is it not the Angel of his Presence or the spirit of Christ? When we read these expressions we need understand faith is the currency on which messages of God are tendered and received. No other.

Vv. 12-15Consider these expressions,'Then the spirit took me up' and 'So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away,' and these shows he was led by the Spirit and not any miraculous transportation in spirit. Jesus was led by the Spirit before he was fully ready to begin his ministry. Forty days is an indication of preparation that we see after he was risen as well. 'Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil (Matt.4:1)".

In the episode of Evangelist Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch the Spirit took the initiative. "Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot(Ac.8:29). At the end we are told,"The Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing./But Philip was found at Azotus:(8:39-40)" It does not profit us to read into lines not intended by the Spirit so we may assume Philip was led by the Spirit and he did all was told in faith. Travel plans of personages are not the main point but instruction in righteousness.

Ez.3:1-11 "One Language Two Continents"

House of Israel was one entity because of the language they spoke was common. But here from what God tells the prophet it is clear that absence of faith was the root cause. Because of their disbelief they were split every one as two continents. On one level every one was connected with the other by a common language. Their speech did not help the state of their heart. In departing from God they demonstrated their heart was evil with disbelief. As writer to the Hebrews said,"They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways (He.3:10-12)."Their speech was merely adequate to feed and satisfy the requirements of flesh and blood; but in persisting backsliding heart revealed it was not at rest with the body. In short body was at odds with the spirit.

When God commands Ezekiel,"Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel we know already what it carried. It was full of woe and lamentations.

"So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 'Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.' Prophet Ezekiel would indeed taste it as such because he received his word in faith and his command, "Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears". For those whose heart was astir because of disbelief shall resist him as they resisted Moses earlier and even wanted to stone him. His task was to warn them in all seriousness and leave it at that.

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God (He.7:19). This better hope required faith by which they could cleave unto God. St Paul explains it "But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members(Ro.7:23)".

Ez.2:8-10 "Written within and without" (2 of 2)

"a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits./Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it (Ze.5:2-3)". Curse for stealing is written on one side whereas for swearing is limited to the other side. By the same rationale when it is made into a book or folded up what is written on the within and without are about different things.

It is as different as clean plates without and unclean within; similarly white sepulchres holding rotting bones and flesh within. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness(Matt.23;27)". The Book with seven seals was similar to the roll: "And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals(Re.5:1).As each seal is broke open woeful events are rolled out which is more in keeping with God's judgment on Israel.

But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.

9And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;

10And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Ez.2:8-10 "Written within and without" (1 of 2)

In order to have an insight into the narrative mode of the Spirit we shall begin with examples. He organizes the narrative arc from the stand point of the divine Will and How it is accomplished. When a hand writes on the Wall judgment is executed the same night. "And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin (Dan.5:25)," and it is done,"That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed (Dan.5:30-ESV)". So God sent the hand that wrote the inscription (v.24). In short the visual sign of the hand is the judgment part of divine Will.

From John's Gospel we are told that "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:( John 5:22)" Having said this let us go back to the vision concerning the living creatures. "And they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides;(1:8)" What does the hand of the angel of his presence indicate? Judgment on disobedient whether north south, east or west shall be equal. God is no respecter of persons. (Ro.2:11). No an hand was sent unto me. It holds out a roll of book or a scroll.

In v.10 we read thus:"And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe."In the Book of Zechariah we are given the Vision of a Flying Roll.

Ez.2:5-8 "Of Whose are we?

Here we have a terrible indictment coming from God at a nation whom He had once qualified as His Firstborn. It is how God wanted his servant Moses to introduce them as His people to Pharaoh. 'They are a rebellious house' and God wants them to be shown what they had become. It was the task of Ezekiel to speak his words and serve as a sign as well as suffer personally for their sins. Social distancing during the pandemic became mandatory. Rebelling against sensible laws set in place for order and safety, for public good is to be blamed. They are in fact rebelling against God.

Without ensuring faith of theIn the following verse we have this line,"Sothe LORD alone did lead him, andthere was no strange god with him(v.12)."God as the Maker of the heaven and the earth has placed man in His house. Moses was faithful and his role was as one entrusted with the upkeep of it. "For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God./ And Moses verily was faithful in all his house(He.3:4-5), From the Book of Moses the Lord alone did lead him shows the nature of faith and it was pretty obvious from his infancy so much so the writer to the Hebrews testifies thus,"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;(He.11:24)" So what proves your antecedents that you belong to the House of God? Is it not faith?

Every verse here God repeats their rebellious character. In their bondage He had respect and concern. He gave them commandments and delivered them with a mighty hand from a furnace that the land of Egypt had become ."As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings(De.32:11)":

5And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Ez.2:1-4 "Son of man"

Here we have the Gospel and its role in the frame of reference which is Fellowship of God with Man. It is established by Law. It is eternally enshrined in the heavens (Ps.119:89)

Jesus called him by preference as Son of man. When he comes into the house of Zacchaeus what does he say? "This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham./For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost( Luke 19:10)" The house of the man, of a tax-collector is a microcosm for the world. Jesus had no place to lay his head, just as well. Any home that opened the doors to him received the Son sent by his Father. John 3:16. Zacchaeus despised by the Jews is a case in point. The Spirit one might say is the driver of the gospel. The Spirit supplies each component in the mechanism of the earth (a house to live in.') God is the Maker of heaven and the earth and His visions ought to convince us the House is very much lived in. God uses the vision to impress Ezekiel upon His sovereignty. Just as the Spirit reins in living creature in such least reducible world of motion voice of speech supplied by the Lord God control the history of mankind. The Gospel is the gospel of reconciliation as well as serves judgment upon the disobedient. So gospel is as the writer to the Hebrews would say, "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart(He.4:12)".

When God addresses the prophet as Son of man the same title the Son shall use when the time comes therefore by law of Gradation is a stand-in for every believer.

And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee.

2And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me.

Ez.14:16-20 "Arise, Shine Forth"

In vv.16-20 The Spirit lays stress on three names, as exemplars of righteousness. They lived in faith despite of the circumstances.

"Noah found grace in the eyes of theLord./....Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God(Ge.6:8-9)". He lived at a time when it was not different from what we are living. Truth is alternate truth and revising reality to buttress the wicked ideology is same as those who lived when 'the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually(v.6:5)'. Their culture wars was muck that a great flood simply washed away. At such a time Noah condemned them by patiently deepening his faith. The ark that he built was a sign.

Daniel was in exile but he would not defile himself with the royal dishes offered to their gods. So God gave him gifts and grace to live among them. He interpreted dreams of his royal master but in order to be faithful he relied on the Wisdom of God. He was righteous in his generation. Job despite of his losses clung to God in order to place his life in its proper context. "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee./Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes( Job 42:5-6)". He realized wealth or lack of it along with whatever the flesh stands for is trifle to the knowledge of God from hearing and seeing. What is hearing but the Word and what is seeing but end of our faith, salvation? Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.(Is.60:1)"

Their righteousness delivered them. And God was justified in exacting vengeance on the wicked as we shall see with our own eyes God judging every ungodliness.'And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God

Please pray for my Daughter Jessica and her family

Ez.14:12-15 "Take Three" (2 of 2)

"That her land may be desolate from all that is therein, because of the violence of all them that dwell therein(12:18-19)"

14:14-16

Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the LordGod./If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:/Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the LordGod, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

Each saint is set as a sign for his generation. In serving God faithfully shall deliver his souls. There is no second term. It is the reason why the writer to the Hebrews warned,"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,/But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries./He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: /Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?(He.10:26-29)"

Jesus died for our sins once thereafter God has set him above every other name and as the co-heir of the kingdom of God. It would presumptuous for any man to think he can after deliberately sinning find grace. In doing so we tempt God.

Noah Job Daniel are all stand -in for Jesus as the Son. Who are Noah,Daniel and Job? Are they not our teachers?"And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:(Is.30:20)"

Ez.14:12-15 "Take Three" (1 of 2)

We came across already what God wanted Ezekiel was to be a watchman for his countrymen. He was trusted with their safety and if he had failed to warn them all that God said he was to be accountable to him direct. So if death was his portion it was no matter. He had by faith delivered his soul. In the case of Isaiah and Jeremiah tradition has it that they died martyrs. It is very clear that loving God with all our heart, mind and soul is not to whitewash flesh that is perishable, but soul that is immortal. For this reason Jesus said whom we should really fear, I mean in the sense of reverence, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell(Matt.10:28)". How foolish it is to refurbish the stable after the horse has bolted? After your character is shambles like a pigsty whatever you claim as your greatness is mere hogwash. So loving God with all heart, mind and soul means to suffer if that was demanded of you. We have the example of Moses "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;(He.11:24-25)" God tells Ezekiel to suffer along with the nation in order to bring to focus the real requirements of a Mediator to which Jesus Christ shall fill to perfection 'in the fulness of time.' So we consider the passage from Ezekiel skipped as we discussed many other topics. Here it is more apt and we are considering the lives of Noah, Daniel and Job. First here is the text:

"Son of man, eat thy bread with quaking, and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness;/ And say unto the people of the land, Thus saith the LordGodof the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and of the land of Israel; They shall eat their bread with carefulness, and drink their water with astonishment,

Ez.14:1-11 "Stumbling block" (2 of 2)

Glory of a man like the kingdom, leaves as quickly as it came to the fore. Similarly the glory of an Empire on which the sun never set is now like one inured for long austerity. Bulldog quality long associated with Great Britain is more the yelp of a mongrel. Man like nations choose his own stumbling block when his heart departs from God. For this reason when God set Ezekiel as His watchman he had to say thus:"When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.(Ez.3:26)

4Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the LordGod; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I theLordwill answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

5That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

6Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the LordGod; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

7For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to enquire of him concerning me; I theLordwill answer him by myself:

8And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am theLord.

Ez.14:1-11 "Stumbling block" (1 of 2)

"Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me./And the word of theLordcame unto me, saying,/Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?" (vv.1-3)

Here we have the significance of a stumbling block in the history of Israel. It is their sin becoming obvious. In the case of the golden calf what was their sin? It became established along with their rejection of Judges appointed by God. God allowed Old Samuel to agree to their wishes and choose a king from their midst. Instead of God leading them they were led by kings both good and evil. Only when Jeroboam became the king of the Northern kingdom the people came to realize what really was taking place in their national lives. The golden calf they had repudiated once as evil became their gods.. "After this thing Jeroboam returned not from his evil way, but made again of the lowest of the people priests of the high places: whosoever would, he consecrated him, and he becameoneof the priests of the high places(1 Ki.13:33)".In the next verse we are shown what it is to reject the living God for an idol. It removed even the memory of his house from the face of the earth. This we even now find happening around us where nations by making wealth above the wellbeing of the nation are made a byword for their foolishness. "And this thing became sin unto the house of Jeroboam, even to cutitoff, and to destroyitfrom off the face of the earth(v.34).

God sent Ahijah the Shilonite to pronounce the doom for the royal house,"Therefore, behold, I will bring evil upon the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam him that pisseth against the wall,andhim that is shut up and left in Israel, and will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as a man taketh away dung, till it be all gone(1 Ki.14:10)".

Ez.15 "The Living Vine" (2 of 2)

In God's mind there is only one Son, whose humility was such to obey his Will perfectly. There is no second. Likewise there is only one Jerusalem and not another that has been scorched by sin of disobedience as often as its history shows. What is this holy city of God? It is of this city Prophet Isaiah has sung: "In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation willGodappointforwalls and bulwarks./ Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in(Is.26:1-2)".

It is the city of God that the living vine refers to and God is the Maker and Builder. He is also the Husbandman and Jesus Christ as the true vine. "As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me(John15:4)". Holiness of God brings it glory into it. Unlike the city we discussed at the beginning it is his righteousness that the saints redeemed for the earth shall bring. Their baggage was nothing of their own but freely issued to each and each received in faith.

God tells Ezekiel why the city was reduced to rubble by strangers. The wood when it was whole was no good for anything; much less was when fire had taken its toll. "Therefore thus saith the LordGod; As the vine tree among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so will I give the inhabitants of Jerusalem./And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am theLord, when I set my face against them(vv.6-7)".

Ez.15 "The Living Vine" (1 of 2)

Here Jerusalem is compared to a vine tree, among many other trees of the forest. People make the city. It can be made a city of renown or be made a den of robbers. But how long can they hold on to it by their own might without adding something of their character? When Jesus went into the temple what he saw there was enough. He made a whip of cords 'he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do notmakemy Father's house a house of trade ( John 2:13-16)". People have their baggage that they bring along and before long the city is cut up into so many sections and many of which become no-go zones after dark or it is a turf war each claiming a piece as his own.

One man's sin is like a fire setting fire to a tree and the next to it. It is what God tells Ezekiel of the vine tree. The living vine was aflame with prejudices and others simply let it as their own. It is thus a nation whose walls are done with untempered mortar may look for some couple of centuries like a shining city on a hill, but it is of untempered mortar, nevertheless concealing the rot beneath. In Georgia we saw a father and son gunning down a jogger in broad daylight simply because his color brought their bile up. For two months the city fathers and law simply pretended to have not noticed anything amiss. So the hatred in one had become the general hatred passing for the norm. It is thus the city of David became a city of violence. In God's eye David was a man after his heart; nevertheless from the time Jerusalem became known as the city of David, it never had a chance. With the rebellious house of Israel ever backsliding from God it was for Ezekiel to tell the people.

Ez.16:1-14 "Bride of Christ" (2 of 2)

Ezekiel's account we are given vignettes of Israel in its beginnings:In terms of their beginnings they were drawn from Hittites and Amorites whose blood carried whatever was sinful in God's sight. Esau's many Hittite wives caused his mother sorrow so much so ' Rebekah said to Isaac, "I'm disgusted with living because of these Hittite women(Ge,27:46a). According to human standards nothing in them merited favor from other tribes. In Ge.26 we see an example why they sued peace with Israel.

Abimelech the king of Gerar along with his men went to Isaac "And they said, We saw certainly that theLordwas with thee: and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us, even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee;...thou art now the blessed of the Lord(vv.26-29)" In short they were as bad as the tribes against whom they had to compete for living space but God had predestined them and adopted in his Son. In the Adam and Eve episode the creation of Eve refers to the Fellowship of God with Man.

Spiritual significance of New Jerusalem in terms of Christ is different from Israel that went whoring after foreign gods; when God sets Ezekiel as his Watchmen the doomed city of Jerusalem shall be destroyed and it merely provides a historical context to the divine Will that it immutable. This Jerusalem is of the same significance as Egypt and Sodom that were judged and continues in various forms in the unfaithful Israel. When God tells here He is talking of New Jerusalem that is on the making in heaven "And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies (Hos.2:19)."

Ez,16:1-14 "Bride of Christ" (1 of 2)

Overview:

In order to understand this chapter we shall examine the manner the Spirit sets Core Will by rearranging the narrative of God document. Core Will of God is of two parts. Firstly Fellowship of God with Man and lastly Salvation Plan of God. We shall take up the second aspect of the Salvation Plan of God. Thereafter we shall take up the Bride of Christ which is core value of the Fellowship of God with Man.

In order to illustrate the Holiness of God, we have this promise in Ge.12:3. All families of the earth are to be blessed through Abraham. Thus we are given a narrative where Israel is in focus. In keeping with the literary mode of the Spirit, we have this verse,"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen(Matt.20:16)". Mode of inversion explains Jesus as the home chord to which everything else moves. So Moses as a stand-in leads the children of Israel to the Promised Land into which the Church is presented as the glorious Bride, 'forthe marriage of the Lamb has come,

andhis Bride has made herself ready (Re.19:6-7). Here is another: what is the significance of the 12 spies who brought a false report? (Nu.12:32). Joshua and Caleb were twospies who broughtback a goodreportand believed that God would help them succeed. Does not prosperity theology misinterpret to teach another gospel and another Christ? It indicates the same rebellious spirit of Israel, they chose instead to give a false report. Faith is the key.

The theme of Bride of Christ is already set in the Adam and Eve episode. God created man in 'our image' and male and female created he them. God led the house of Israel but their disbelief was so astounding. Isaiah speaks of the nation thus:"Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters. they have forsaken theLord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backwards."(Is.1:4-7)

Good thoughts, S. Spencer,

Not only did God promise to re-gather Judah, but also Israel from all of the lands that they have been dispersed. So we may see an influx of Israelites descended from the Northern Kingdom return as well, or maybe this will be completed after Jesus' final coming and the new Jerusalem is revealed where ALL of the select Israelites who believe in Jesus and Gentile believers will reside forever with God in their midst in a state of endless joy and satisfaction. That will certainly be glorious!

Heavenly Father, Stewart said that prayer is powerful and so do I. In the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ we claim healing, quick recovery and no pain. Thank You Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Hallelujah! I have been a Christian for 57 years and proud of it. God bless you and your sister.

Prayer for my children paul larry destinee david to all have work all the time to keep safe to ask god for help when in need to go to church and prayer for myself my finace to get better and health to be closer to god in the name of jesus

Sister Jema:

In Isaiah and Ezekiel the word tells us over and over that God doesn't do his WORKS for us because of WHO WE ARE:

He does HIS WORKS for us because of who HE IS (truth and mercy).

God is LOVE, and truth and mercy casts out ALL FEAR.

God BLESS YOU!

Why do we trust God's providence and promises?

For one of many reasons, he's been active and faithful in our lives whether by blessings or chastening.

Another way, The Nation Israel!

God has shown the world he's a God that provides and keeps his promises, That is through the Nation Israel.

What's their future?

God bless.

Here's an very interesting article

by Mark Hitchcock

God's Faithfulness to Israel.

Part 1 of 5.

After the destruction of the second Jewish Temple in A.D. 70, a group of rabbis accompanied Rabbi Akiva up to Jerusalem. When they reached Mount Scopus and the site of the Temple came into view, they tore their garments. When they reached the Temple Mount, they saw a fox dart out from the spot where the Holy of Holies had stood in the Holy Temple. The other rabbis began to weep, but Rabbi Akiva laughed.

"Akiva," they said to him, "you never cease to amaze us. We are crying, and you laugh!"

But Rabbi Akiva asked, "And you, why are you crying?"

The rabbis responded, "What? Shall we not weep? The place about which Scripture states, 'and the stranger who draws close shall die,' has become a den of foxes. Indeed, this is a fulfillment of the verse, 'For Mt. Zion which lies desolate, foxes prowl over it.'" This is exactly why I laugh," Akiva replied. "For just as we have seen the prophecies of Jerusalem's destruction come to pass, so, too, know that the prophecies of her future consolation shall also be fulfilled. I laughed because I remembered the verses, 'Old men and old women will once again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with his staff in his hand because of advanced age; and the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.' The Holy One, blessed be He, has declared that, just as the first prophecies have been fulfilled, so shall the latter. I am joyous that the first have already come to pass, for the latter shall be fulfilled in the future."

God's Faithfulness to Israel.

Part 2 of 5.

Rabbi Akiva was absolutely right. God is faithful. He is faithful to His promises and to His people. Yet we must remember, as did Rabbi Akiva, that God's faithfulness cuts both ways. We often think of it only in terms of reassurances and blessings. But He also is faithful to carry out His threats and curses. Israel has been the recipient of God's faithfulness in both areas.

Because people throughout history have witnessed the Jewish people's distress, deportation, and even near-destruction, they are tempted to say God has forgotten His ancient people and cast them aside. But nothing could be more misguided.

God has been unswervingly faithful to His covenant. Through Moses, God told the Israelites what would happen if they obeyed Him and what would happen if they disobeyed. Deuteronomy 28 clearly explains the covenant blessings and curses. The fact that God is faithful in following through with His curses actually proves He will be equally as faithful in bringing forth His blessings.

Just as the curses were literal, the blessings are literal. Israel's scattering was literal, and so is Israel's regathering.

In the darkest book of the Bible-Lamentations-the city of Jerusalem and the Solomonic Temple lie in ruins. In the midst of the devastation, the prophet Jeremiah, like Rabbi Akiva, saw a ray of hope: "Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies" (3:32).

God's Faithfulness to Israel.

Part 3 of 5

Even in times of stern discipline, God has faithfully preserved His people. Have you noticed that every time someone has tried to wipe out the Jewish people, they have ended up with a holiday? Pharaoh tried, and they received Passover. Haman's attempt backfired, and they got Purim. The anger of Antiochus IV in the Intertestamental Period resulted in the Feast of Lights, usually called Hanukkah. And Hitler's hatred led to the May 14, 1948, founding of the modern State of Israel.

At every twist and turn, God has been faithful to Israel. Despite numerous deportations, with the final one lasting for 1,900 years to 70 nations, the Jewish people remained distinct. In the late 19th century, even the Hebrew language was revived and restored.

The formation of modern Israel against all odds-often called the "Miracle on the Mediterranean"-may be the greatest miracle of the 20th century. Wrote Randall Price, an archaeologist and president of World of the Bible Ministries,

God's Faithfulness to Israel.

Part 4 of 5.

The fact of the Jewish people's continuity is even more remarkable in light of the testimony of history to exile and return. In all of human history there have been less than ten deportations of a people group from their native land. These people groups disappeared in history because they assimilated into the nations to which they were exiled. However, the Jewish people did not simply experience a single exile, but multiple exiles.The contrast here with other historical exiles should not be overlooked. While other people groups were exiled to one country, the Jews were dispersed to many different countries, and in fact were scattered to every part of the earth.Moreover, the Jewish people are the only people to have returned en masse to their ancient homeland and to have restored their national independence by re-establishing their former state.Any one of these facts of Israel's survival would be remarkable, but taken together they are miraculous.

The establishing of modern Israel is astounding in itself, but the fact that the country is surviving and thriving for 65 years in the middle of a sea of enemies is further testimony to God's faithfulness to His promise, "He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep" ( Ps. 121:4). In these events, God is setting the stage for the events of the end-times and His people's final restoration to the Promised Land.

See Part 5.

God's Faithfulness to Israel

Part 5 of 5.

Every visitor to Israel who travels by plane enters the country the same way-through passport control at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. Once you have passed through there and are about to exit, you are greeted by a huge, colorful tapestry welcoming you to the land.

Millions of people have come and gone through that airport, but most of them probably never noticed the big "welcome" sign. On this tapestry is depicted masses of people streaming in through the gates of the city of Jerusalem. On it, in Hebrew, is a prophetic text from the book of Jeremiah that speaks about the ingathering of the exiles: "'So there is hope for your future,' declares the L. 'Your children will return to their own land'" ( Jer. 31:17 NIV).

Whether or not newly arrived Jewish immigrants can yet read the words, the lesson is understood; for they who are coming home are part of God's present purpose in regathering His people in faithfulness to the fulfillment of His ancient promise.

Someone might ask why it is so significant to Christian believers today that God is faithful to Israel. The reason is simple and sublime. If God was and is faithful to Israel, then we can have firm confidence He will be faithful to all who trust in His Son. The same God who made His promises to Israel and faithfully fulfilled them will keep His Word to all of us who trust in Him to save us and see us through to the end ( Phil. 1:6).

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it ( 1 Th. 5:23-24).

Very good article in my opinion.

This weekend I will share an article from Dave Hunt.

Good night and God bless.

No problem, Jema, I am glad someone read my post as I do not assume that anyone will. I will certainly pray for you as you related your struggles in these areas. I hope others will pray for me in what I struggle with, too. Because I am partially disabled and cannot work for long periods of time due to asthma (exertion) and pain in my low back, feet, and shoulders, I need to take many breaks throughout the day. I am thankful I do not need to be on my feet on a concrete base for many hours like when I was teaching. But I do at times think that id do not get enough done in a day. But these breaks allow me time to read the Bible, pray with concentration, and participate here. So, how blessed is that!

I come from a family that values hard work and for people being able to get a lot done in a little time. That is the "standard" in my family growing up and has stuck with many of us in adulthood. Which can be a good thing. It becomes sinful when members of my family judge others as lazy who do not do as much work as others in our family do. I have a few older sisters who are very much this way. I don't let them bother me though, but it reminds me to let each of us choose for ourselves how we use our time our how fast or slow, short or long we work. This is certainly a work ethic that our family needs to part with because we are all getting older - all of us are between the ages of 50 and 71. Accepting that we are slowing down and not as strong in stamina or strength as in the past is part of the process of aging. We need to lay aside our "I can do things myself" for "I need help in doing this or that".

I have a friend who had a stroke 25 years ago and she has been able to be very active until about 5 years ago. She is now mostly bedridden with lots of pain in many joints. She is really down about this and needs prayers and help. Her husband just died last month after a long battle with cancer and being hospitalized for almost a year. I wish she would let me help her.

Thank you for your kind and wise words , they are appreciated :) .

Lee, Just to wrap up.

We are now entering retirement and we again need to "crunch the numbers" again to work out a lifestyle that is within our means. We are cutting back on many things. NO biggie. We understand that things are fleeting pleasures and even necessities and that God has so much more in story for us in Christ. Time will fly by and we both will be at home with the Lord sooner than many on this site. But in the time between now and then, we will live a life of gratitude, sensibility, responsibleness, and generosity, according to how God blesses us.