G-D’s Chosen People
I don’t follow replacement theology. God does not change, yesterday today or forever. Hebrews 13:8 says that of Jesus and I believe he has the character of the Father.
Jews are chosen by G-D. This was and is and always will be. That is my view, based upon my knowledge of the Bible and based on my faith in a GOD who is consistent to His Word.
But who are the spiritual Jews?
Is there such a person who is a non-Jew by blood but is grafted to the Hebraic fabric? I believe Ruth, the moabite and great grandmother of King David was one such person. I believe it is possible to be one who is a part of the Jewish fabric by choice rather than blood. In these days, I believe such people are dedicated Believers of Yeshua/Jesus.
BUT what of the right to live in Israel?
If there are spiritual Jews does that give them the right to be considered Jewish and therefore have they the right to live in Israel? Apparently at present, some Messianic Jews are being kept out of Israel because some in authority don’t want followers of Yeshua to be allowed to live in the Homeland of the Jewish people. Therefore, right now the thought of allowing Messianic Gentiles is irrelevant at best and unlikely for the current age.
Common Sense, Fear and History
One day, if those grafted into the Jewish heritage by faith in Yeshua as Messiah are permitted citizenship in Israel, then couldn’t that necessarily lead to those Jews who don’t believe in Yeshua as Messiah being turfed out? That perhaps is what current Jewish leaders are concerned could happen and therefore are trying to prevent the whole mess by making it very difficult for practicing Messianic Jews to migrate there in the first place. Personally, I would hope that no Jewish person would ever be turned away from their homeland. It was created for them and so needs to be available to them.
I do not subscribe to the view that a secular Jew could not be welcomed into Israel. Israel was re-formed in 1947-8 because the European majority felt guilty for the Holocaust and the anti-semitism that led up to it, and believed it overdue to give the Jewish people a nation of their own. So in human terms at least, to restrict Jews at all doesn’t seem right to me.
What is G-D’s Perspective
G-D will ultimately decide what to do with the Jewish person who does not acknowledge Him, but I trust every opportunity for a turning will be available to such a person. I believe G-D made a covenant with Abraham and He will keep it with his descendants, regardless of faith, until or unless He must separate as He did in the desert between those who stood with Moses and those who did not.
There has been huge grace afforded to Jewish people down through the Ages as evidenced by their significant contributions to society and their subsequent success and influence in the world. That is G-D’s blessing. And until G-D removes that blessing it is not for us to say differently.
But…
We who lack Jewish heritage yet follow the God of the Hebrews reap blessing from our faith. And so it is credible to think that one day we might have our home in Israel. What a wonder! And yet, even if that became a possibility, we must not take it for granted; just as He withdrew favour from unbelieving Jews, so too can he eliminate Gentiles from His Rest. In Romans 11, Paul discusses this at some length. And if you check out Hebrews 3 and 4, the writer speaks a great deal about the value of God’s rest and the consequence of disobedience.
Homeland for whom?
So…
The spiritual Jew is one who loves the LORD and is fully committed to him, recognising his full identity and his full purpose. (Isaiah 49:6)
Yes, I think there is such a thing as a spiritual Jew.
Whether or not his homeland will become Israel remains to be seen. Certainly we have our Home with the LORD, and ultimately, our citizenship is in Heaven. (Philippians 3:20) Perhaps on earth it will also be in Israel, but whether we would have that privilege, for my part, it is too soon to say.
Aliya
One thing is for sure, the Jewish person is to fulfil his call to Aliya and I am praying for the return of all Jews to their natural and spiritual Homeland of Israel, and that it will be in G-D’s perfect way and in His perfect time. Following that is the return of Jesus, the Saviour and Messiah. Perhaps then and not before will we know where he wants each and all of his people to reside.