Turn from your wicked ways
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Stealing from Israel
Stealing from Israel
Previously, I have written of deceiving and being deceived. In this post I will make reference to one of the least objectionable methods of deception. I say least objectionable because it’s teaching is not a total all- out lie. However, this error will carry the hearers down a wrong path which has many possible pitfalls. Some of the followers of this teacheing will not return to the truth.
There has been a push over the last number to decades to have America either take the place of Israel or for America to become a “spiritual Israel." Some preachers have even suggested that God has totally abandoned (meaning left never to return) Israel, and America has now taken her place both in status and in all the blessings afforded to her by God. A prominent preacher/prophet, whom I greatly respect, has suggested that America now can claim the blessing of Israel found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. This passage says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." The thought being is if America will turn from her wicked ways then God will bring healing and prosparity to America. The problem with this thinking is that God never made this promise to America, and by claiming something not given to her, it is technically a form of stealing. I realize I am being harsh, but I would like to make a point. It is like if a father said to his only son, "if you work and study hard I will make you CEO over my company." The son does not take up his father's challenge, but decides to be a football player instead. One of his son's friends decides to work and study hard. He then goes to the father and says, you are required to make me the CEO over your company. We would completely understand why this new senario does not work. The father never made the promise to the friend. If the father decided to make this friend the CEO of his company, he could do that, but that choice would not be based on the offer given to his son.
Paul states the following in Romans11:23-27. And they also, if they (Israel) abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them (Israel) in again. V24 For if thou (individual gentiles) wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these (Israel), which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? V25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. V26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: V27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As we can see, God has temporarily stopped working exclusively with Israel until they turn back to God from their unbelief. God has allowed Israel as a nation to remain in their unbelief, so we as individual gentiles can be brought into the family of God by believing in His Son Jesus Christ. Israel’s root of unbelief lies in the rejection of their (and my) Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in scripture in one day the entire nation of Israel will turn from their unbelief and accept Jesus Christ as thier Messiah. Zechariah 12:9-14. God hs not forsaken Israel for ever and America was never given the promises outlined in 2 Chronicles 7:14.
I return to the thought American somehow believe they have taken the place of Israel through some good actions they have done. Recently, it was stated that it has been 400 years since the sailing of the Mayflower. This fact is true. It was stated that the Founding Fathers of America gathered together at a small church on Manhattan and dedicate America to God. This may also be true. However, even if these two facts are combined together, why do preachers think they have the right to hijack/steal the promises of Israel as outline in 2 Chronicles 7:14? Did God covenant with the gentiles in the same manner He made a covenant with Israel? NO! Did Israel acquire these blessings because they first dedicated themselves to God and began sailing to Palestine? The answer is NO. However, the answer is found in Deuteronomy 7:6 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people (notice it says above all people of the earth and that includes America) that are upon the face of the earth. V7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: V8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers,hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. V9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; Out of all the nations on the face of the earth, God chosen to bless their land if they obeyed Him. Search the Scriptures and see if this promise is given to any other nation other than Israel. You will not find another nation that has been promised the same blessing. The closest blessing you will find that mignt apply to America is when He says, I will bless them that bless thee, Israel. Genesis 12:3
I will attempt to explain why different preachers are so quick to steal the promises given to Israel in a future post. Next I will show one possible pitfall in believing the above mentioned error.