Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst.
Nehemiah 9:19-20
What an amazing story of God's faithfulness.
ReplyDeleteThank God for His great compassion as He guides us (His Spiritual Israel) with His Holy Spirit through our wilderness as we journey to the promised land.
ReplyDeleteSpiritual Israel... I attended a Messianic Jewish congregation (Jews and also gentiles who believe Jesus is the Jewish Messiah) for about five years, so when I hear Israel used in the context of Christians it catches my ear. I had a commenter once (not you) specify in her comment that she believed we, Christians, are Israel in the Bible now. But I believe Israel in the Bible, even the New Testament, means the Jewish people. We are grafted in... But somehow saying "both" in this context catches in my throat, like there's something more to be said.
DeleteI am curious, because of your comment, what you think. I read your posts and see that you are always listening for the Lord to speak. Since this is close to my heart, I thought I would ask!
(There is replacement theology out there that says God has abandoned the Jewish people in favor of the church...which I totally don't believe.) Something tells me you don't believe that either.
Hi Sandi,
ReplyDeleteI will try to put simply what I believe the Lord has shown me but that may be difficult as there are many things that are attached to this simple explanation.
In a letter that Paul wrote to the early Christians in Galatia, he states that all those who walk by the rule of being a new creation are the Israel of God (Galatians ch. 6 v. 16). I believe this means that we who are born again have become the Spiritual Israel of God and we can be taught through the scriptures in the Old testament being discerned spiritually, whether for correction or encouragement.
We are told that the scriptures are discerned Spiritually:- 'And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.' (1 Corinthians ch. 2 vs. 13 and 14.)
Just as John the Baptist went in the spirit of Elijah, we can walk in the ways of any one of those people of Israel written about in the Old testament, whether good or bad, and I believe these revelations can encourage or correct us.
So I believe that we are not physical Israel (although I was born of a Jewish mother) but we are God's Spiritual Israel and, just as the physical Israel had to journey through the wilderness to reach the promised land, we too are on a journey. As we journey we also have to eat our daily 'manna', that being the Word of God which is our spiritual food.
Regarding the physical status of a person Galatians ch. 3 vs 27 and 28 read:- 'For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.'
I hope this has answered your question in some way Sandi, it would take a long time to explain everything about this that is in my life, but I feel and have always felt ever since I have been born again that the Spiritual connection with the Lord is more real than my physical connection with the world. I also believe that much of what is happening in physical Israel is happening in Spiritual Israel.
Brenda,
DeleteI appreciate your taking the time to answer that, and in such detail. Thank you.
That was beautifully said, and encouraging to read, especially your closing sentence. It just really made me feel ...at peace...to read it.
I don't have anything to add...or anything to discuss. You said it well. Thanks.
Thank you for this blessing that uplifts my day, Sandi!
ReplyDeleteHello Sandi, Love the prayer and the pretty scene. Lovely image. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day and the weekend ahead!
ReplyDeleteHello Sandi, Thank You for dropping by and leaving a comment. I love all the spiritual inspiration on Your blog and will be Your newest follower, if I'm not already following You.Denise
ReplyDeleteAwesome... That's what I call God's grace! Beautifully penned,Sandy. Thanks for your visit ...Glad I could read you too!!
ReplyDeleteGleaning here.....
ReplyDeleteHe does NOT abandon!
He does NOT fail to guide!
He does NOT withhold!
:-)
DeleteThank you, Rebecca. That blessed me!
Hi Sandi, A perfect photo to go with the verse from Nehemiah. Wonderful comments by Brenda. Excellent post! Thanks Sandi.
ReplyDeleteThank you, John!
DeleteA wonderful post, Sandi and also the discussion between you and Brenda, so nice to read.
ReplyDeleteSandi, you are a woman of the Word! So nice to get to know you!
ReplyDeletePeace,
Delana
That's a beautiful picture. Real place ?
ReplyDeleteI think so, Sujatha. But it is not my picture. I found it on the Creative Commons website.
Delete