One of the foundational doctrines of the Church is that God is sovereign. This is seen clearly in Isaiah the 6th chapter.
The Lord speaks and says to Isaiah, "Go and tell this people that they can keep on seeing and hearing, but they won't understand or perceive".
God's decided to judge this people. That's His decree. He wants their already stubborn hearts to remain that way, so that He can judge them. Surely He could have shown mercy, and changed their hearts, but He sovereignly decrees that they will not see, nor hear, and so they will not understand, nor return and be healed.
How long will this take place, that these people will be proud and arrogant against the truth of God?
Until the cities are laid waste and the land is desolate. Or until God's judgement has satisfied His will.
That should make us think. It should make us exaime ourselves before the face of God. We need to always be asking the Lord if our hearts are becoming callous, and to ask Him to make us humble; remove our pride daily. "Help us pick up our cross by faith daily, Lord", should be our cry.
But there's also a good side to God's judgement. He always has a remnant. He is always purifying His name, and His people.
God is the righteous Judge of those who are not His children; who worship God with their lips, and not their hearts. And God is a disciplining Father of those who are not bastards, but are His dear beloved children, whom He surely does correct and conform.
God does all this, because He is righteous, and because He is merciful and gracious.
May we learn to fear His sovereignty, and also rest and have genuine peace in the same sovereignty. Amen.
3 comments:
yep...
don,
Well said. IMO, the real true Israel are those God sovereignly chooses for redemption. Ethnic Israel was chosen to usher in the promise and the Messiah, Jesus Christ. With this first advent, the role of ethnic Israel ended and only the remnant of Israel throughout history are included in the people of God.
I think in this passage your point reveals this fact. Ethnic Israel just like all races do not respond apart from this mercy. IOW, even a nation with all the advantages of God's revelation rejected Him apart from Him doing a work in each individuals heart.
I can't reconcile all those pre-mil passages that we see, but that is my understanding.
It's a deep subject to be sure, the real true Israel.
I have been listening to many thoughts, and it seems to be an area of overlapping orthodoxy.
I do like your thoughts Wayne, thanks for sharing.
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