Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and they served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; so they abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him. (v, 6)
Despite numerous deliverances from their enemies and the many miracles they witnessed, the Israelites chose to follow idols. The history of Israel teaches us that faith does not depend simply on human will or effort, but on the heart. The heart is often described as the spirit of a person.
The history of Israel is a history of treachery and idolatry against God. This is not about the Israelites in particular. The history of Israel is the history of mankind. God chose Abraham and made his descendants into a nation. Their history is recorded in the Bible so that we may learn that we are no different from the Israelites.
Countless people call themselves Christians and receive baptism. Yet they still follow idols. Today, those idols can be money and even AI. Money and AI are useful and beneficial when they are used as tools. But more and more people are treating money and AI as gods. It is therefore not surprising that Calvin spoke of people who consider themselves to be demi-gods. The Bible reflects our true face like a mirror.
We cannot truly believe in God and walk in His ways through our own will and effort. We need to be reborn by receiving God’s Spirit. Through the history of Israel, we learn that we are born imperfect. Adam and Eve were created innocent, but they did not have God’s Spirit to resist temptation.
I do not know where to begin when it comes to correcting the misleading information about Adam and Eve. I can only repeat what I have said before: Adam and Eve were blameless, but they were not holy. God made us imperfect so that Jesus Christ could perfect us. Christ overcame temptation through the power of the Spirit.
Then Jesus arrived from Galilee at the Jordan, coming to John to be baptized by him. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have the need to be baptized by You, and yet You are coming to me?” But Jesus, answering, said to him, “Allow it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 3:13 – 4:1)
Most theologians and ministers continue to place themselves under the Old Covenant. However, there is only one true and everlasting covenant—the New Covenant. Following the conditional covenant is against God’s will.
“Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers on the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. “For this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put My law within them and write it on their heart; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. They will not teach again, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the Lord, “for I will forgive their wrongdoing, and their sin I will no longer remember.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
Many Christians have misunderstandings about Israel. Israel was established so that we could understand our true nature, regardless of our backgrounds. Human history is summarised in the history of Israel. Therefore, it is absurd to say that only the Israelites were treacherous toward God. All humanity is treacherous and evil.
It is equally absurd to say that only Israel is the chosen nation and is therefore special to God. In the New Testament era, Israel points to the visible church. As promised in the Old Testament, only the remnant is saved—the true Christians who have received the Holy Spirit. Receiving the Holy Spirit does not come from human will or effort but entirely from God’s grace. Otherwise, grace is no longer grace.
Looking at the state of churches around the world, it is true that the disasters announced against Israel in the Old Testament are coming upon the visible churches. However, God remembers His people who are sealed with His Spirit. Just as the Israelites were saved by the blood painted on their doorposts on the night of Passover, the saints will be saved by the blood of Christ.
Those who believe in God will be saved.
For though your people, Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. (Isaiah 10:22)
