Jewish History.

Jewish History. Romans 11:7-10.

What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded. Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day." Romans 11:7-8 (NKJV)

To the Jew it may appear that Christians think that Jews are not following God, to which Paul asks, "What then?" Paul is refereeing that Israel has not attained what it seeks; yet there are a few Jews who have found a relationship with God, by making Jesus their Messiah.

It is very important for Jews, who do not follow Jesus, to pay attention to the words being spoken here; for if you are reading this, you are at a crossroad and if you venture in the wrong direction, you may never return to have a second chance.

Throughout the scriptures, God's dealing with Israel only saved some of those that He called His people. A remnant of people came to know God's path for them and many are they who met death without pleasing God.

Accounts go back to Sodom and Gomorrah. Angels pulled out Lot and his family, saving them from the destruction; yet, Lot's wife, instructed not to, looked back and her body became a pillar of salt. She died, disobedient to God. That day not all who were called out made the right choice to follow God.

Then there were those who died wandering in the wildness. God was displeased with the people He had called out of Egypt. What could have been a three day journey to the promise land was stretched into forty years as God waited for those who would believe, to follow Him as God.

Displeased by their murmuring, faithlessness, and lack of obedience, God dealt harshly with them. All those who left Egypt died in the wilderness; only their children would see the Promised Land.

During the time of Daniel, God again held Israel accountable for their actions. What they thought they were getting away with was openly seen by God. God told them to give the land rest every seventh year, but they continued in their business farming it.

For 490 years, God allowed them to be unfaithful and continue. He sent prophets to warn them of the destruction coming, yet they did not want to listen to the prophets. Then came the fulfillment of the warning, when the Babylonian army road into their land and took them away into slavery.

Jerusalem was ruined, the temple was pillaged and destroyed, all who resisted were killed and even the children became slaves.

A problem existed that the people dwelled in the safety of being considered "God's chosen people." However, though they were religious about God, they were not obediently following God. These led themselves, they did what they wanted, and suffered as promised. Where God wanted them to follow, they wanted to lead. When God wanted them to listen, they wanted to talk; and it was their forwardness that God despised.

Isaiah records a word of the Lord saying, Therefore the Lord said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work Among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden." Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the Lord, And their works are in the dark; They say, "Who sees us?" and, "Who knows us?" Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, "He did not make me"? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"? Isaiah 29:13-16 (NKJV)

What difference is there from the people who ignored those prophesies and those who ignore the prophesies of the coming Messiah? There is no difference and if Christianity is correct then the Jews who will not follow God will suffer from their decision.

And David says: " Let their table become a snare and a trap, A stumbling block and a recompense to them. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, And bow down their back always." Romans 11:9-10 (NKJV)

King David had much to say about having a stubborn heart. He recorded lamentations for those who would not listen in the wilderness, as he warned his generation and future generations of Jews to be careful to listen to God.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: "Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, As in the day of trial in the wilderness, When your fathers tested Me; They tried Me, though they saw My work. For forty years I was grieved with that generation, And said, 'It is a people who go astray in their hearts, And they do not know My ways.' So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" Psalms 95:6-11

As discussed, Israel's past has reoccurring problems that have followed them through history. In every generation a remnant of people has listened; yet, masses have died disobedient. This ignorance is not selective as top leaders, kings, and priests have displeased God. Where many repented, the number who did not far surpasses the number of those what did.

This brings us to our day and the community of Jews that span the globe. How many please God and how many displease God. If the formula from history is applied to the present, the remnant of Jews who are faithfully following God must be a minority in their community.

In the community of Jews, all are Jews and all follow the same way; minorities, for the most part do not exist. However, there is a minority who follow Jesus as the Messiah.

Though not popular and frowned upon, Jews for Jesus is a minority that faithfully follows God. Like Job, they suffer the ridicule of their closest friends who tell them to repent; however, like Job, they are right on target in their relationship with God.

It is important to recognize that all Jews, disobedient and faithful, are considered God's people. They are chosen, yet they must choose God back. God never turns His back on them and is always there to be their God, yet they must choose to worship, choose to follow, and choose to obey Him.

Lastly, God is not finished with His people. There will come a day, in the end of time, that God will open their eyes and the truth about Jesus will be known. It will come in times of great peril and when all seems lost; their eyes will be opened to see Jesus, the salvation of God.

God holds people, both Jew and Gentile, accountable to believe and follow Him. History is riddled with death as many have not reached to God for life. For the Jew, this is a matter that they must think through carefully. Will you be a Jew or a Jew for Jesus?