THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD Devotion #12 of 17

"For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and He is the governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28); "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods" (Psalm 95:3); "One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6); "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created" (Revelation 4:11)

THE INSPIRED VIEW OF ISRAEL

Theologians have long wrangled over the nation of Israel. It is not my purpose to here resolve all, or even a major part, of the disagreements touching this people (although they are resolvable). My purpose is rather to consider them with God's sovereignty in mind. While the Word of God is filled with expressions on this subject, I will confine myself to a single passage. The point of this text is God's purpose, and the inability of circumstance to overturn it. How marvelous is the passage! Rather than provoking disputations, let it stimulate praise and thanksgiving for a God that works all things "after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11). (Rom. 11:7,8,11,12,15,23,24,27,28) "What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened . . . as it is written: 'God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day' . . . Again 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 . . . But 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 if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? . . . And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again . . . After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree! . . . And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins . . . As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs." There is nothing in this text that contradicts other revelations of the mind of the Lord. For instance, the necessity of faith is not obviated by these expressions. Nor, indeed, is the requirement for Christ overlooked. Another Gospel is not required for the fulfillment of these promises, nor will the Lord bring salvation by a power other than that of the Gospel (Rom. 1:16). Another thing, those who insist God is finished with the Jews speak foolishly. This text reprensents the mind of God, and it requires a remarkable degree of ignorance to affirm it teaches a cessation of Divine involvement with the ancient people. The divine wisdom required to reach the entire world in the manner outlined in Romans eleven is staggering. It is not possible for any mortal to conceive of such a plan: it is difficult enough for most of them to BELIEVE that God has so purposed. FIRST, He produces a nation, founded on the distinctiveness of Abraham's faith. SECOND, He holds them accountable for their failure to continue in the faith of Abraham, cutting off vast numbers of them. THIRD, He does not abandon them, but determines to provoke them to jealousy by holding His hand of mercy out to a rejected Gentile people. FOURTH, He maintains a favorable view of them because of the patriarchs, with the intent to eventually take away their sins, as He promised. These are Divine affirmations, for which there can be no refutation. Paul reasons with us concerning the logic of this whole arrangement. He refuses to let us flounder in unbelief, or think reproachfully of the nation blessed by God. FIRST, he reminds us that anyone and everyone in that nation that believed God were received by Him. Thus, the nation was not summarily cut off. Paul himself is an example of this acceptance. SECOND, he reminds us that Israel is the "root," and that it still supports us gentiles. Thus, if they are completely cut off, so are we. THIRD, he tells us that God, casting some of them aside, provided the basis for Him extending mercy to us. This being the case, imagine the blessing that will ensue when they return to the Lord. FOURTH, if we are overly impressed with the unbelief of the mass of Israel, let us remember the faith of the faithful (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). That is the dominating consideration of God, and it must be ours also. Now, I ask you, how could all of this be accomplished without a sovereign God? This is truly the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes! As Paul contemplated these things, he burst out in praise to God: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out! . . . " (Rom. 11:33-36). We do well to join in the praise of God, and studiously avoid the vain speculations of imaginative theologians.

-- TOMORROW: THE AFFECTATION OF THE HEART --