The final settlement of the middle-east controversy

On Lord’s Day 20th March, 2022, Mr Matthew Eccles, a licentiate minister of the Free Presbyterian Church, was the preacher at the services in Kilskeery church. In the morning service, he took as his text Genesis 15:8. “‭And he said‭‭, Lord‭ GOD‭, whereby‭ shall I know‭‭ that I shall inherit it‭‭?‭” This was the request of Abram of God following the giving of a most wonderful promise to him.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Mr Eccles preached a very encouraging and instructive message from his text on how we need confirmation of God’s covenant and where such confirmations and endorsements are to be found.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

When he turned the congregation to his text in Genesis 15, I noted that I had the numbers 4, 5, 6 written in the margin of chapter 15 and encircled. They were beside the verses 5, 7 and 18.

Following the service, when I returned home I traced the other numbers, one through to four and also number seven, which was in the margin of chapter 17, and saw that all the verses are linked to the clear promise of God to Abram, later called Abraham, and to his descendants.

I am going to list the verses I had so marked for your consideration.

1. “‭Now the LORD‭ had said‭‭ unto Abram‭, Get thee out‭‭ of thy country‭, and from thy kindred‭, and from thy father’s‭ house‭, unto a land‭ that I will shew‭‭ thee,‭” Genesis 12:1.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

2. “‭And the LORD‭ appeared‭‭ unto Abram‭, and said‭‭, Unto thy seed‭ will I give‭‭ this‭ land‭: and there builded‭‭ he an altar‭ unto the LORD‭, who appeared‭‭ unto him,‭” Genesis 12:7.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

3. “‭For all the land‭ which thou seest‭‭, to thee will I give it‭‭, and to thy seed‭ for‭ ever‭,‭” Genesis 13:15.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

4. “‭And he brought him forth‭‭ abroad‭, and said‭‭, Look‭‭ now toward heaven‭, and tell‭‭ the stars‭, if thou be able‭‭ to number‭‭ them: and he said‭‭ unto him, So‭ shall thy seed‭ be,‭” Genesis 15:5.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

5. “‭And he said‭‭ unto him, I ‭am‭ the LORD‭ that brought thee out‭‭ of Ur‭ of the Chaldees‭, to give‭‭ thee this land‭ to inherit‭‭ it,‭” Genesis 15:7.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

6. “‭In the same‭ day‭ the LORD‭ made‭‭ a covenant‭ with Abram‭, saying‭‭, Unto thy seed‭ have I given‭‭ this land‭, from the river‭ of Egypt‭ unto the great‭ river‭, the river‭ Euphrates‭,‭” Genesis 15:18.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

7. “‭And I will give‭‭ unto thee, and to thy seed‭ after thee‭, the land‭ wherein thou art a stranger‭, all the land‭ of Canaan‭, for an everlasting‭ possession‭; and I will be their God‭,‭” Genesis 17:8.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The words in these verses, which may be found repeated to the people of Israel on many subsequent occasions, settle for ever the question of the ownership of the land referred to, Canaan, later known as the land of Israel. God has given the title deed of this land to his ancient people the Jews. There are many who dispute this fact, the Muslim nations surrounding Israel in particular. Where there has been a knowledge of the Word of God, you find there a sympathy with the Jews’ claim to the land. I refer to the United Kingdom and the United States in particular.

May I just suggest some reasons why this wonderful truth is thus repeated.

I. THE LORD REPEATS THIS PROMISE BECAUSE IT IS A THING OF JOY TO HIM.

We are familiar with the practice of taking out a particular object which is precious to us from a place of safety where we store it and looking at it with renewed pleasure. We delight to have a visit from one we delight in and whose countenance we look upon with joy and love. I am sure that we all have a spot, a landscape which we love to visit for it brings great pleasure to us to view it again.

Well, for a reason similar to that which causes us to so gladly look again upon that which we cherish, the Lord so delights in this wonderful purpose which He has decreed for His beloved people, that He obtains pleasure in repeating His objective for Israel, not only for their comfort and encouragement but for His own delight.

Joshua said on that occasion when the spies brought back a most discouraging report about the ‘promised land’ and which discouraged the people greatly: “‭If the LORD‭ delight‭‭ in us, then he will bring‭‭ us into this land‭, and give‭‭ it us; a land‭ which floweth‭‭ with milk‭ and honey‭,‭” Numbers 14:8. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

He was right in saying that an evidence of the Lord’s delight in Israel would be His bringing of them into the promised land.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The fulness of that delight lies in the future. At best, Israel’s occupancy of the land has been but for brief periods, all of which were beset by threats of removal and dispersion. Indeed, not since AD 70 until 1948 did Israel have as much as a toehold in the land of promise. Even now, its occupation is constantly under threat. But a day of coming when the nation of Israel will occupy all the land within the borders set down by the Lord and their security within those borders will be divinely secured.

Isaiah spoke of that day. “‭Thine eyes‭ shall see‭‭ the king‭ in his beauty‭: they shall behold‭‭ the land‭ that is very far off‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ (or, ‘that has been enlarged’),‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭” Isaiah 33:17. In that time when Christ shall return to rule over the earth, Israel will know His protection to a degree not known before. “‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Behold, a king‭ shall reign‭‭ in righteousness‭, and princes‭ shall rule‭‭ in judgment‭.‭ ‭And a man‭ shall be as an hiding place‭ from the wind‭, and a covert‭ from the tempest‭; as rivers‭ of water‭ in a dry place‭, as the shadow‭ of a great‭ rock‭ in a weary‭ land‭,‭” Isaiah 32:1-2.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“‭Thus saith‭‭ the LORD‭, In an acceptable‭ time‭ have I heard‭‭ thee, and in a day‭ of salvation‭ have I helped‭‭ thee: and I will preserve‭‭ thee, and give‭‭ thee for a covenant‭ of the people‭, to establish‭‭ the earth‭, to cause to inherit‭‭ the desolate‭‭ heritages‭;‭ ‭that thou mayest say‭‭ to the prisoners‭‭, Go forth‭‭; to them that ‭are‭ in darkness‭, Shew‭‭ yourselves. They shall feed‭‭ in the ways‭, and their pastures‭ ‭shall be‭ in all high places‭.‭ ‭They shall not hunger‭‭ nor thirst‭‭; neither shall the heat‭ nor sun‭ smite‭‭ them: for he that hath mercy‭‭ on them shall lead‭‭ them, even by the springs‭ of water‭ shall he guide‭‭ them.‭ ‭And I will make‭‭ all my mountains‭ a way‭, and my highways‭ shall be exalted‭‭.‭ ‭Behold, these shall come‭‭ from far‭: and, lo, these from the north‭ and from the west‭; and these from the land‭ of Sinim‭.‭ ‭Sing‭‭, O heavens‭; and be joyful‭‭, O earth‭; and break forth‭‭ into singing‭, O mountains‭: for the LORD‭ hath comforted‭‭ his people‭, and will have mercy‭‭ upon his afflicted‭.‭ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭But Zion‭ said‭‭, The LORD‭ hath forsaken‭‭ me, and my Lord‭ hath forgotten‭‭ me.‭ ‭Can a woman‭ forget‭‭ her sucking child‭, that she should not have compassion‭‭ on the son‭ of her womb‭? yea, they may forget‭‭, yet will I not forget‭‭ thee.‭ ‭Behold, I have graven‭‭ thee upon the palms of ‭my‭ hands‭; thy walls‭ ‭are‭ continually‭ before me.‭ ‭Thy children‭ shall make haste‭‭; thy destroyers‭‭ and they that made thee waste‭‭ shall go forth‭‭ of thee.‭ ‭Lift up‭‭ thine eyes‭ round about‭, and behold‭‭: all these gather themselves together‭‭, ‭and‭ come‭‭ to thee. ‭As‭ I live‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭, thou shalt surely clothe‭‭ thee with them all, as with an ornament‭, and bind‭‭ them ‭on thee‭, as a bride‭ ‭doeth‭.‭ ‭For thy waste‭ and thy desolate places‭‭, and the land‭ of thy destruction‭, shall even now be too narrow‭‭ by reason of the inhabitants‭‭, and they that swallowed thee up‭‭ shall be far away‭‭.‭ ‭The children‭ which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost‭ the other, shall say‭‭ again in thine ears‭, The place‭ ‭is‭ too strait‭ for me: give‭‭ place‭ to me that I may dwell‭‭.‭ ‭Then shalt thou say‭‭ in thine heart‭, Who hath begotten‭‭ me these, seeing I have lost my children‭‭, and am desolate‭, a captive‭‭, and removing to and fro‭‭? and who hath brought up‭‭ these? Behold, I was left‭‭ alone; these, where‭ ‭had‭ they ‭been‭?‭ ‭Thus saith‭‭ the Lord‭ GOD‭, Behold, I will lift up‭‭ mine hand‭ to the Gentiles‭, and set up‭‭ my standard‭ to the people‭: and they shall bring‭‭ thy sons‭ in ‭their‭ arms‭, and thy daughters‭ shall be carried‭‭ upon ‭their‭ shoulders‭.‭ ‭And kings‭ shall be thy nursing fathers‭‭, and their queens‭ thy nursing mothers‭‭: they shall bow down‭‭ to thee with ‭their‭ face‭ toward the earth‭, and lick up‭‭ the dust‭ of thy feet‭; and thou shalt know‭‭ that I ‭am‭ the LORD‭: for they shall not be ashamed‭‭ that wait‭‭ for me.‭ ‭Shall the prey‭ be taken‭‭ from the mighty‭, or the lawful‭ captive‭ delivered‭‭?‭ ‭But thus saith‭‭ the LORD‭, Even the captives‭ of the mighty‭ shall be taken away‭‭, and the prey‭ of the terrible‭ shall be delivered‭‭: for I will contend‭‭ with him that contendeth‭ with thee, and I will save‭‭ thy children‭.‭ ‭And I will feed‭‭ them that oppress‭‭ thee with their own flesh‭; and they shall be drunken‭‭ with their own blood‭, as with sweet wine‭: and all flesh‭ shall know‭‭ that I the LORD‭ ‭am‭ thy Saviour‭‭ and thy Redeemer‭‭, the mighty One‭ of Jacob‭,‭” Isaiah 49:8-26.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Thus the Lord delights in repeating what it is He is going to do for His ancient people.

How sad that such statements of glorious intent should be ignored, twisted and misapplied, mocked and rejected as is the case today, even within the professing church!

Let me suggest another reason why the Lord repeats this wonderful promise.

II. THE LORD REPEATS THIS PROMISE FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE IT SPECIFICALLY REFERS TO.

It is ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Unto the ‘seed‬‬‬‬‬‬‬’ of Abraham. This is particularised more clearly in other Scriptures. Abraham had many offspring but the promise of God applied to his son Isaac ONLY and more specifically, to his son JACOB and his twelve sons. The Lord had told Abraham specifically, “‭ . . . . ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭in Isaac‭ shall thy seed‭ be called‭‭,‭” Genesis 21:12, and then to Isaac were two sons born, Esau and Jacob. The Lord declared to Isaac that it was of Jacob that the seed He has referred to in His promises would come.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬“‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬And Isaac‭ intreated‭‭ the LORD‭ for‭ his wife‭, because she ‭was‭ barren‭: and the LORD‭ was intreated‭‭ of him, and Rebekah‭ his wife‭ conceived‭‭.‭ ‭And the children‭ struggled together‭‭ within her‭; and she said‭‭, If ‭it be‭ so, why ‭am‭ I thus‭? And she went‭‭ to enquire‭‭ of the LORD‭.‭ ‭And the LORD‭ said‭‭ unto her, Two‭ nations‭ ‭are‭ in thy womb‭, and two manner‭ of people‭ shall be separated‭‭ from thy bowels‭; and ‭the one‭ people‭ shall be stronger‭‭ than ‭the other‭ people‭; and the elder‭ shall serve‭‭ the younger‭.‭ ‭And when her days‭ to be delivered‭‭ were fulfilled‭‭, behold, ‭there were‭ twins‭ in her womb‭.‭ ‭And the first‭ came out‭‭ red‭, all over like an hairy‭ garment‭; and they called‭‭ his name‭ Esau‭.‭ ‭And after‭ that came‭‭ his brother‭ out‭‭, and his hand‭ took hold‭‭ on Esau’s‭ heel‭; and his name‭ was called‭‭ Jacob‭: and Isaac‭ ‭was‭ threescore‭ years‭ old‭ when she bare‭‭ them,‭” Genesis 25:21-26.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The blessing which Jacob, the ‘supplanter’, humanly speaking, deprived Esau of by ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬the deception that his mother Rebekah and he engaged in, was bestowed upon him by his father Isaac. That blessing entailed the promise given of God to Abraham.

“‭Therefore God‭ give‭‭ thee of the dew‭ of heaven‭, and the fatness‭ of the earth‭, and plenty‭ of corn‭ and wine‭:‭ ‭let people‭ serve‭‭ thee, and nations‭ bow down‭‭ to thee: be‭‭ lord‭ over thy brethren‭, and let thy mother’s‭ sons‭ bow down‭‭ to thee: cursed‭‭ ‭be‭ every one that curseth‭‭ thee, and blessed‭‭ ‭be‭ he that blesseth‭‭ thee,‭” Genesis 27:28-29.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Whether men believe it or not, that blessing shall fall upon the elect of the offspring of Jacob in its fulness when the Lord Jesus Christ returns in glory.

“‭Sing‭‭, O barren‭, thou ‭that‭ didst not bear‭‭; break forth‭‭ into singing‭, and cry aloud‭‭, thou ‭that‭ didst not travail with child‭‭: for more‭ ‭are‭ the children‭ of the desolate‭‭ than the children‭ of the married wife‭‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭.‭ ‭Enlarge‭‭ the place‭ of thy tent‭, and let them stretch forth‭‭ the curtains‭ of thine habitations‭: spare‭‭ not, lengthen‭‭ thy cords‭, and strengthen‭‭ thy stakes‭;‭ ‭for thou shalt break forth‭‭ on the right hand‭ and on the left‭; and thy seed‭ shall inherit‭‭ the Gentiles‭, and make the desolate‭‭ cities‭ to be inhabited‭‭.‭ ‭Fear‭‭ not; for thou shalt not be ashamed‭‭: neither be thou confounded‭‭; for thou shalt not be put to shame‭‭: for thou shalt forget‭‭ the shame‭ of thy youth‭, and shalt not remember‭‭ the reproach‭ of thy widowhood‭ any more.‭ ‭For thy Maker‭‭ ‭is‭ thine husband‭‭; the LORD‭ of hosts‭ ‭is‭ his name‭; and thy Redeemer‭‭ the Holy One‭ of Israel‭; the God‭ of the whole earth‭ shall he be called‭‭.‭ ‭For the LORD‭ hath called‭‭ thee as a woman‭ forsaken‭‭ and grieved‭‭ in spirit‭, and a wife‭ of youth‭, when thou wast refused‭‭, saith‭‭ thy God‭.‭ ‭For a small‭ moment‭ have I forsaken‭‭ thee; but with great‭ mercies‭ will I gather‭‭ thee.‭ ‭In a little‭ wrath‭ I hid‭‭ my face‭ from thee for a moment‭; but with everlasting‭ kindness‭ will I have mercy‭‭ on thee, saith‭‭ the LORD‭ thy Redeemer‭‭.‭ ‭For this ‭is as‭ the waters‭ of Noah‭ unto me: for ‭as‭ I have sworn‭‭ that the waters‭ of Noah‭ should no more go over‭‭ the earth‭; so have I sworn‭‭ that I would not be wroth‭‭ with thee, nor rebuke‭‭ thee.‭ ‭For the mountains‭ shall depart‭‭, and the hills‭ be removed‭‭; but my kindness‭ shall not depart‭‭ from thee, neither shall the covenant‭ of my peace‭ be removed‭‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭ that hath mercy‭‭ on thee.‭ ‭O thou afflicted‭, tossed with tempest‭‭, ‭and‭ not comforted‭‭, behold, I will lay‭‭ thy stones‭ with fair colours‭, and lay thy foundations‭‭ with sapphires‭.‭ ‭And I will make‭‭ thy windows‭ of agates‭, and thy gates‭ of carbuncles‭‭, and all thy borders‭ of pleasant‭ stones‭.‭ ‭And all thy children‭ ‭shall be‭ taught‭ of the LORD‭; and great‭ ‭shall be‭ the peace‭ of thy children‭.‭ ‭In righteousness‭ shalt thou be established‭‭: thou shalt be far‭‭ from oppression‭; for thou shalt not fear‭‭: and from terror‭; for it shall not come near‭‭ thee.‭ ‭Behold, they shall surely‭‭ gather together‭‭, ‭but‭ not‭ by me: whosoever‭ shall gather together‭‭ against thee shall fall‭‭ for thy sake.‭ ‭Behold, I have created‭‭ the smith‭ that bloweth‭‭ the coals‭ in the fire‭, and that bringeth forth‭‭ an instrument‭ for his work‭; and I have created‭‭ the waster‭‭ to destroy‭‭.‭ ‭No weapon‭ that is formed‭‭ against thee shall prosper‭‭; and every tongue‭ ‭that‭ shall rise‭‭ against thee in judgment‭ thou shalt condemn‭‭. This ‭is‭ the heritage‭ of the servants‭ of the LORD‭, and their righteousness‭ ‭is‭ of me, saith‭‭ the LORD‭,‭” Isaiah 54:1-17.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

One other reason I might suggest why this wonderful promise is repeated by the Lord.

III. THE LORD REPEATS THIS PROMISE IN DEFIANCE OF THE ENEMIES OF HIS PEOPLE

There is none who need to heed these words more than those who are the brazenly defiant opponents of Israel in these last days!

The devil is the enemy of God and a hater of all that the Lord loves and is forever bent upon frustrating the purpose of God. Since a remnant of Israel will feature in the final outworking of God’s purpose, the devil hates that people.

That deliverance of a remnant is referred to by ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭Zechariah‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬.

“‭And it shall come to pass, ‭that‭ in all the land‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭, two‭ parts‭ therein shall be cut off‭‭ ‭and‭ die‭‭; but the third‭ shall be left‭‭ therein.‭ ‭And I will bring‭‭ the third part‭ through the fire‭, and will refine‭‭ them as silver‭ is refined‭‭, and will try‭‭ them as gold‭ is tried‭‭: they shall call‭‭ on my name‭, and I will hear‭‭ them: I will say‭‭, It ‭is‭ my people‭: and they shall say‭‭, The LORD‭ ‭is‭ my God‭,‭” Zechariah 13:8-9.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The fire spoken of there is the ‘fire’ of Antichrist’s persecution of the Jews in their land during the final three and half years of this age in what is termed , ‘the great tribulation’.

It is clearly seen today that the Jewish people, with the exception of those who have been brought to a saving faith in Christ, repudiate and reject all that God says in His Word, the sum of which is Christ!

“‭How‭ God‭ anointed‭‭ Jesus‭ of‭ Nazareth‭ with the Holy‭ Ghost‭ and‭ with power‭: who‭‭ went about‭‭ doing good‭‭, and‭ healing‭‭ all‭ that were oppressed‭‭ of‭ the devil‭; for‭ God‭ was‭‭ with‭ him‭.‭ ‭And‭ we‭ are‭‭ witnesses‭ of all things‭ which‭ he did‭‭ both‭ in‭ the land‭ of the Jews‭, and‭ in‭ Jerusalem‭; whom‭ they slew‭‭ and hanged‭‭ on‭ a tree‭:‭ ‭him‭ God‭ raised up‭‭ the third‭ day‭, and‭ shewed‭‭ him‭ openly‭‭‭;‭ ‭not‭ to all‭ the people‭, but‭ unto witnesses‭ chosen before‭‭ of‭ God‭, ‭even‭ to us‭, who‭ did eat‭‭ and‭ drink with‭‭ him‭ after‭ he‭ rose‭‭ from‭ the dead‭.‭ ‭And‭ he commanded‭‭ us‭ to preach‭‭ unto the people‭, and‭ to testify‭‭ that‭ it is‭‭ he‭ which‭ was ordained‭‭ of‭ God‭ ‭to be‭ the Judge‭ of quick‭‭ and‭ dead‭.‭ ‭To him‭ give‭‭ all‭ the prophets‭ witness‭‭, that through‭ his‭ name‭ whosoever‭ believeth‭‭ in‭ him‭ shall receive‭‭ remission‭ of sins‭,‭” Acts 10:38-43.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The rejection of the Lord Jesus is something that demands a very high price of all those guilty of such a folly and sin. None more so than those so privileged as were the Jews. Of this matter Pauls said, “‭What‭ advantage‭ then‭ hath the Jew‭? or‭ what‭ profit‭ ‭is there‭ of circumcision‭?‭ ‭Much‭ every‭‭ way‭: chiefly‭, because‭‭ that‭ unto them were committed‭‭ the oracles‭ of God‭,‭” Romans 3:1-2.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

As Moses had said earlier of Israel: “‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬And what nation‭ ‭is there so‭ great‭, that hath statutes‭ and judgments‭ ‭so‭ righteous‭ as all this law‭, which I set‭‭ before‭ you this day‭?‭ ‭Only take heed‭‭ to thyself, and keep‭‭ thy soul‭ diligently‭, lest thou forget‭‭ the things‭ which thine eyes‭ have seen‭‭, and lest they depart‭‭ from thy heart‭ all the days‭ of thy life‭: but teach‭‭ them thy sons‭, and thy sons‭’ sons‭,‭” Deuteronomy 4:8-9. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬These privileges were cast away ever so wickedly by the Jews at Calvary. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬“‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬And‭ it was‭‭ the preparation‭ of the passover‭, and‭ about‭ the sixth‭ hour‭: and‭ he saith‭‭ unto the Jews‭, Behold‭ your‭ King‭!‭ ‭But‭ they cried out‭‭, Away with‭‭ ‭him‭, away with‭‭ ‭him‭, crucify‭‭ him‭. Pilate‭ saith‭‭ unto them‭, Shall I crucify‭‭ your‭ King‭? The chief priests‭ answered‭‭, We have‭‭ no‭ king‭ but‭ Caesar‭.‭ ‭Then‭ delivered he‭‭ him‭ therefore‭ unto them‭ to‭ be crucified‭‭. And‭ they took‭‭ Jesus‭, and‭ led ‭him‭ away‭‭.‭ ‭And‭ he bearing‭‭ his‭ cross‭ went forth‭‭ into‭ a place‭ called‭‭ ‭the place‭ of a skull‭, which‭ is called‭‭ in the Hebrew‭ Golgotha‭:‭ ‭where‭ they crucified‭‭ him‭, and‭ two‭ other‭ with‭ him‭, on either side one‭‭‭, and‭ Jesus‭ in the midst‭.‭ ‭And‭‭ Pilate‭ wrote‭‭ a title‭, and‭ put‭‭ ‭it‭ on‭ the cross‭. And‭ the writing‭‭ was‭‭, JESUS‭ OF NAZARETH‭ THE KING‭ OF THE JEWS‭.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ ‭This‭ title‭ then‭ read‭‭ many‭ of the Jews‭: for‭ the place‭ where‭ Jesus‭ was crucified‭‭ was‭‭ nigh‭ to the city‭: and‭ it was‭‭ written‭‭ in Hebrew‭, ‭and‭ Greek‭, ‭and‭ Latin‭.‭ ‭Then‭ said‭‭ the chief priests‭ of the Jews‭ to Pilate‭, Write‭‭ not‭, The King‭ of the Jews‭; but‭ that‭ he‭ said‭‭, I am‭‭ King‭ of the Jews‭.‭ ‭Pilate‭ answered‭‭, What‭ I have written‭‭ I have written‭‭,‭” ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭John 19:14-22.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

From that time trouble unprecedented came upon Israel. The overthrow of Jerusalem in AD 70 and the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Jewish people and the dispersion of them throughout the Roman Empire saw the beginnings of the terrible harvest reaped by a favoured race who despised the favour they enjoyed from God.

That ‘trouble’ has continued through the centuries with times in which it was prophesied that the poor Jews would ‭‭say‭‭, “Would God it were‭‭ even‭! and at even‭ thou shalt say‭‭, Would God it were‭‭ morning‭!” ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

In Deuteronomy chapter 28:15-68 ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬are found the terrible consequences of rejecting God’s truth and which Israel was plainly warned of and which were withheld by God’s mercy for many, many generations, but which finally fell upon that people after Calvary and its rejection of the Messiah by His people.

Please read that chapter and tremble!

Truly, as God revealed Himself to Moses, so He is. “‭And the LORD‭ passed by‭‭ before him‭, and proclaimed‭‭, The LORD‭, The LORD‭ God‭, merciful‭ and gracious‭, longsuffering‭‭, and abundant‭ in goodness‭ and truth‭,‭ ‭Keeping‭‭ mercy‭ for thousands‭, forgiving‭‭ iniquity‭ and transgression‭ and sin‭, and that will by no means‭‭ clear‭‭ ‭the guilty‭; visiting‭‭ the iniquity‭ of the fathers‭ upon the children‭, and upon the children’s‭ children, unto the third‭ and to the fourth‭ ‭generation‭,‭” Exodus 34:6-7.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

This is a day when the iniquity of the father is being visited upon Israel.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ And yet there is more to follow, even the great tribulation at the close of this age.

But let those who are instruments in Israel’s tribulation and who presently rejoice at all and every trouble that comes to that people just note what the Lord said to Abraham. “‭‭‭I ‭am‭ the LORD‭ that brought thee out‭‭ of Ur‭ of the Chaldees‭, to give‭‭ thee this land‭ to inherit‭‭ it.”‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬God will deal most severely with the tormentors of Israel. As he did with Babylon, so He will deal with all who have and will yet put forth their hands against His people. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬The prophet Jeremiah, who so often prophesied of the destruction that would be wrought by the Babylonians against sinful Judah, also said this concerning Babylon. “‭And it shall come to pass, when seventy‭ years‭ are accomplished‭‭, ‭that‭ I will punish‭‭ the king‭ of Babylon‭, and that nation‭, saith‭‭ the LORD‭, for their iniquity‭, and the land‭ of the Chaldeans‭, and will make‭‭ it perpetual‭ desolations‭,‭” Jeremiah 25:12. When Babylon, God’s instrument of chastening against the rebellious Jews, had fulfilled God’s purpose, it in turn would be judged by the Lord for its cruelty toward His people. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Let all of today’s enemies of Israel take note. As the IRA leader, Gerry Adams, famously, though with an entirely different slant to the words, said: ‘Our day will come!’

Yes, there is a day coming when the focus of God’s wrath will be upon those who set themselves against God and His elect people, Jew and Gentile. It is a day in which they will cry out in the greatest distress imaginable! “‭And‭ the kings‭ of the earth‭, and‭ the great men‭, and‭ the rich men‭, and‭ the chief captains‭, and‭ the mighty men‭, and‭ every‭ bondman‭, and‭ every‭ free man‭, hid‭‭ themselves‭ in‭ the dens‭ and‭ in‭ the rocks‭ of the mountains‭;‭ ‭and‭ said‭‭ to the mountains‭ and‭ rocks‭, Fall‭‭ on‭ us‭, and‭ hide‭‭ us‭ from‭ the face‭ of him that sitteth‭‭ on‭ the throne‭, and‭ from‭ the wrath‭ of the Lamb‭:‭ ‭for‭ the great‭ day‭ of his‭ wrath‭ is come‭‭; and‭ who‭ shall be able‭‭ to stand‭‭?‭” Revelation 6:15-17.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

That day is coming and just before it dawns, Israel shall effectually pray:“‭Have respect‭‭ unto the covenant‭: for the dark‭ places of the earth‭ are full‭‭ of the habitations‭ of cruelty‭.‭ ‭O let not the oppressed‭ return‭‭ ashamed‭‭: let the poor‭ and needy‭ praise‭‭ thy name‭.‭ ‭Arise‭‭, O God‭, plead‭‭ thine own cause‭: remember‭‭ how the foolish man‭ reproacheth‭ thee daily‭.‭ ‭Forget‭‭ not the voice‭ of thine enemies‭‭: the tumult‭ of those that rise up‭‭ against thee increaseth‭‭ continually‭,‭” Psalm 74:20-23.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

In the day that the aforementioned prayer is answered, what glory will be enjoyed by all the redeemed and indeed, by all the inhabitants of the earth! Paul teaches us of that day and shows how that if the casting aside of the Jews brought blessing to the Gentiles therefore, how much more wonderful will the results of the Jews being reconciled and gathered again unto the Lord!

“‭For‭ if‭ the casting away‭ of them‭ ‭be‭ the reconciling‭ of the world‭, what‭ ‭shall‭ the receiving‭ ‭of them be‭, but‭ life‭ from‭ the dead‭?‭” Romans 11:15.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Oh how such truths, repeated truth, eternal truths, ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬unassailable truths, ‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭‭make us long for that day!‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬“‭‭‭‭‭‭Surely‭ I come‭‭ quickly‭. Amen‭. Even so‭, come‭‭, Lord‭ Jesus‭,‭” Revelation 22:20.‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

 

Rev Ivan Foster. (Rtd)

Lord’s Day, 20th March 2022.