GOD WORKS THROUGH ISRAEL

WHAT DOES WORK MEAN?

Work is the ability to involve oneself in activities that will provide for our necessities and avoid being lazy and idle or being a busybody. God is an active working God, who created the world, preserved it, governs it and saves it. His work is great, awesome, marvelous, wonderful and faithful. Since God made human being in His image, He expected them to work, both before the fall and after. Because of the introduction of sin into the universe, the nature of work changed from a simple and creative joy to struggle that often is painful and seems meaningless and dehumanizing at times. But for the Christian, work continues to take its meaning from the God who works in human history. All of it is designed to bring glory to God’s name and to rule the world wisely on His behalf. Since work produces the income that provides for food and drinks and other necessities, as well as providing opportunities for us to share with those in need. God encourages faithfulness in our work and speaks out against laziness. It is the prayer of believers that God would make their work effective and enduring, “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands” (Ps. 90:17). Apostles Paul command was, “For even when we were with you, we commanded you this; if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread” (2 Thess. 3: 10-12).

THE DAILY WORK

Since there was a growing problem with Thessalonian Christians quitting their jobs to await the coming of the Lord (this reminds me of what was experienced in this season during the millennium two decades ago; people sold lands and properties, while others hid themselves in caves while others were in white garments ready to receive the Son in glory, but unfortunately, their prediction was not précised). Apostle Paul emphasized the importance of daily work for the Christian. He instructed idle church members to work hard for their daily necessities, just as Paul himself did. If they refused, the Church ought to discipline them. Although we live in anticipation of the return of Jesus, God wants us to continue in our daily work while we wait; “But we command you brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us” (2 Thess. 3:6). And to the Ephesians Apostle Paul wrote, “Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something  to give him who has need” (Eph. 4:28).

GOD WORKS THROUGH ISRAEL

“Behold the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah- not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house  of Israel after those days, says the Lord; I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God , and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor and every man his brother saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sins I will remember no more” (Jer. 31:31-34). While God loves the entire world, the nation of Israel holds a special place in His heart. About 2000 B.C., the man Abraham was chosen to be the founder of this unique nation (Gen.12). From that time Israel enjoyed a special relationship with God. In Romans 9, Paul the apostle reviews this unique relationship. He says they were adopted by God, were given the covenants, became the custodians of the Law, and were stewards of the tabernacle and the temple. But the question has often been asked why God chose Israel. It should immediately been pointed out that the divine choice was not based on any human or national goodness. Moses makes this clear in Deuteronomy 9:4-6, “Do not think in your heart, after the Lord your God has cast them out from before you, saying, ‘Because of my righteousness  the Lord has brought me in to possess this land’; but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out from before you. It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your Fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.”  There are two reasons why God selected Israel; First, He needed an instrument to punish the wicked Canaanite nations; Israel would become that instrument (Deut. 9:3-5), “Therefore understand today that the Lord your God is He who goes before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them quickly, as the Lord has said to you.”(See verses four and five in the above passage). Second, He chose Israel as the means by which Christ would come into the world to die for the sins of the peoples of all nations (Jn. 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

ASPECTS OF GOD’S WORK

1.       God created the world: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:1-2). Biblical revelation begins with a simple, strong and sublime affirmation. Instead of arguing about the existence of God, it declares that the very existence of the universe depends on the creative power of God. The heavens and the earth owe their creation and continuance to Him. We are therefore, living in a world that God has made. It all belongs to the Creator, and His absolute ownership requires our faithful stewardship of all things. And the Psalmist has this to add, “When I consider Your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained” (Ps. 8:3).

2.       God preserves the world: “Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgment are a great deep; O Lord, You preserve man and beast” (Ps. 36:6).

3.       God governs the world: “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their reappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings” (Acts 17:26); “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Eph. 1:11).

4.       God redeems the world: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved”(Jn. 3:16-17); “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world” (Jn. 12:47).

5.       God is always at work in the world: “But Jesus answered them, ‘My Father has been working until now, and I have been working’ (Jn. 5:17).

GOD’S WORK DESCRIBED AS;

1.       Numerous: “O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions” (Ps. 104:24).

2.       Great: “O Lord, how great are Your works! Your thought are very deep” (Ps. 92:5).

3.       Awesome: “Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doings toward the sons of men” (Ps. 66:5).

4.       Marvelous: “They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying; “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” (Rev. 15:3).

5.       Wonderful: “I will praise You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Ps. 139:14).

6.       Trustworthy: “The works of His hands are variety and justice; All His precept are sure” (Ps. 111:7).

Everlasting Father, I bless and glorify Your Holy name for Your Marvelous work of creation and towards all men.

“Grace to You and Favor from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen and Amen and Amen.”