The Israel of God (Gal. 6:16)
By Woodrow W. Mitchell, Litchfield, Maine
This
article is not written to discredit any true prophecy concerning fleshly
Israel. Rather, this is submitted to point out Scriptural facts without which
no prophecy concerning Israel can be truly understood.
The Israel of God
is quite different than the Israel often seen in the understanding of men. The
first man to ever bear the name Israel was Jacob. Gen, 32:28. Notice in that
verse why it was that God gave him that name. It was not because of his blood,
but because of what Jacob had done and experienced
Spiritually,
One of the greatest mysteries to men, formerly
and even now, after so long a time, is God's inclusion of all Christians, Jew
and Gentile, in the same body. Eph. 3:1-6; Gal. 3:28, 29; Eph. 2:11-18;
Rev. 21:2, 26. This was a lesson even Peter had to learn, and never fully
grasped. Acts 10:34, 35; Acts 11:4-18; Gal. 2:11-14
God's plan had all men expressly in mind before any
man was ever called an Israelite! Gen. 12:3; Gen. 28:14.
Let us notice how Paul included the Gentiles in the
name Israel. Compare Rom. 9:24-26 with the Scriptures in Osee (Hosea) to which
he refers: Hos. 1:10 and Hos. 2:23. Rom 9;24 clearly declares that the Israel
of Hos. 1:10 speaks not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles. Some
look upon us as ignorant when we often include ourselves in Scriptures applying
to Israel. They say, "When God says Israel, he means Israel." We
agree with what they say, but not with what they mean.
Let us have some Spiritual thoughts from the New
Jerusalem:
1. First, let us notice that
the name is New Jerusalem.
2. It is the bride of Christ.
Rev. 21:9, 10, 1.
3. It is the mother of us
all. Gal. 4:25, 26; Rev. 3:12.
4. It is entered only by the
truly converted. Rev. 21:27; Rev. 22:14; Isa. 1:27; Isa.
26:2; Isa. 35:8. (Sin may
cross worldly boundaries, and fool men, but it cannot cross the Spiritual.)
5. It is built upon the foundation of the holy apostles and prophets (which is Christ). Eph. 2:20: Rev. 21:14; 1 Cor. 3:10, 11; Zech. 4:1, 2, 8, 9; Isa. 14:32; Isa. 28:16; Prov. 10:25; Ps. 87:1-3, 5, 6. Compare I Kings 7:10; with I Peter2:5 Isa. 66:17-19, etc.
6. Notice how the same New
Jerusalem is spoken of in Isa. 35:10; Isa. 66:17-19, etc.
In the vision of the dry bones, God speaks of the
whole house of Israel. Eze. 37:11. Many think and teach this as referring
only to fleshly Israel. However, let us look wisely at a few verses in that
same chapter of Ezekiel: 15-19, 22, 24, 25, 27. Let us first especially notice
the similarity of verse 27 with Rev. 21:3. We know that both chapters 21 and 22
of Revelation speak of the bride, the Lamb's (Christ's) wife, the Holy
Jerusalem. Rev.21:9, 10. The fact that Eze. 37:27 is a companion verse to Rev.
21:3 should help us to know that the whole house of Israel takes in more than
just the Jews according to
the flesh. There is, however, much more to add to this proof, as we shall see.
Let us consider "the
stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim." I wonder how many
realize that Ephraim was born of Joseph's Egyptian bride? Joseph, being very
faithful to Christ (Christ-like), was cast out by his brethren, the children of
Israel, his father, and sold into Egypt.
Ephraim was born in Egypt, of Joseph's Egyptian bride. We remember how
Joseph, being very faithful
(Christ-like), was cast out by his brethren, the children of Israel, his
father, and sold into Egypt.
How precisely did the same spirits follow the same
pattern when Jesus was cast out by his fleshly brethren, and sold into the
hands of the Gentiles, and he took the
Gentile church for his bride!
How perfectly has the Holy Spirit given and preserved for us this true life
illustration!
Moses married an Ethiopian woman. He was criticized by his brother and
sister for this. God took
Moses' part, and they were found to be in error. Num. 12:1-11.
It is interesting to note
that Jacob, prophesying by the Spirit, did not hesitate to pronounce the
blessing of God upon Ephraim, although Joseph's wife was the daughter of a priest
or prince of Egypt. Gen. 41:45; Gen. 46:20.
Yes, as previously mentioned
briefly. God chose Jacob, and called him Israel, not because of his blood, but
according to the testimony of God Himself, "because as a prince he had
prevailed with God and with men." See Gen. 32:28. Jacob had become
somewhat of an overcomer.
Now notice the Spiritual agreement of this as
compared with the promise to the overcomer in Rev.3:12
Jesus, Who is of course the
real author of all these things, verifies this same wonderful truth in Mk.
3:31-35.
Now, we are often thought to
have overlooked God's promises to the Jews because we emphasize the higher
Zionism over the lesser Zionism. We have nothing against the Jews seeking a
home in Palestine, but we believe that in this world there will always be
tribulation, for the Jew as well as the Gentile. We, as true Christians, feel
so sorry for those millions of Jews who have died without Christ, while
following the hope of a worldly Zion. Even if God were to allow men to live a
