THE GLORIOUS GOD OF ISRAEL

 

 

It is estimated by historians that the total number of the children of Israel who left Egypt would have been close to 2 million. That number would have increased over the 40 years of journeying. Just imagine people’s struggle with this ongoing travel and its associated frustrations, fears and doubts for 40 years. It’s like a camping trip from hell!

Imagine setting up tents and then tearing them down to continue from one point of distance to another and doing that for 40 years. Now imagine running out of food and water along the way and having to fight off the people who saw you as a threat to their land.

We who live in an age of sophisticated transportation could never relate to reaching any destination on foot. Jehovah instructed Moses the congregation should march in groups of 4, with each group consisting of 3 tribes, on the west, south, east and north surrounding the tabernacle with Levites who were consecrated to the service of caring for the tabernacle and priesthood ordinances within, to be in the middle.

The places of honour, at the head and immediately following the tabernacle and the Levites were held by Judah and Ephraim (Numbers 2). These were the choice tribes who presided over the two kingdoms in the promised land. Judah, because Christ was to come from that line and Ephraim, because He is God’s firstborn:”…for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9).

It was an eleven-day journey from Mt Sinai to the promised land but because of their rebellions that journey became 40 years of wandering (Clarke, “Bible Commentary” 1:737). Years ago when I was studying this, I came to the conclusion that the children of Israel were very spiritually immature. Their constant complaining and murmurings seemed like unnecessary faith defeating melt downs. Now that I have lived a life-time experiencing hardship, I have compassion for what they went through. I who abhor camping would not have lasted two days in such a situation.

Imagine being in charge of this whole operation.  No wonder Moses exclaimed: I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me!” (Numbers 11:14). But Moses did bear it because the God of Israel sent him Jethro, his father-in-law who taught him about delegation (Exodus 18:13-27). And that was not the only help He gave.

Jehovah also travelled with His chosen people (Numbers 9;21-23; 10:34; Psalm 78:14); sustained them with provisions; preserved their health and even the clothes upon their backs (Deuteronomy 8:4). He was there throughout the whole difficult experience refining them to become after 430 years in slavery, ‘a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people’ who could ‘show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light’ (1 Peter 2:9)

This life is like a wilderness through which we must pass to get home. I have often asked myself why it has to be this hard. The answer is the same for us as it was for the children of Israel: “…and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 16:12)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Artist Unknown)

 

 

 

BE GATHERED

 

The third needful step in preparation for the Second Coming according to Doctrine and Covenants 133:4 is for the House of Israel to be gathered. Two things are accomplished by this endeavour:

“Firstly, those who have thus chosen Christ as their Shepherd, those who have taken upon themselves his name in the waters of baptism; those who are seeking to enjoy his Spirit here and now and to be inheritors of eternal life hereafter – such people need to be gathered together to strengthen each other and to help one another perfect their lives.

“Secondly, those who are seeking the highest rewards in eternity need to be where they can receive the blessings of the house of the Lord, both for themselves and for their ancestors in Israel who died without a knowledge of the gospel, but who would have received it with all their heart had opportunity afforded.”

-       - Bruce R. McConkie, “Come: Let Israel Build Zion”, Ensign May 1977, p 117

No concept of the Gospel ignites my heart more than the House of Israel as the chosen people of God who has favoured Israel above all the nations of the world, the great Jehovah who has proclaimed: "I am a father to Israel and Ephraim is my firstborn" (Jeremiah 31:9).

The proclamations of Saviour’s love for Israel are prolific in the scriptures. Perhaps the greatest of them is this: “O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name, thou art mine….I have loved thee… Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east and gather thee from the west…..I will say to the north, give up; and to the south, keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth….” (Isaiah 43:1-6)

Numerous scriptures refer to Israel as Jehovah’s jewels (Exodus 28:17-21; Malachi 3:17; D&C 60:4; 101:3) and ‘the apple of His eye’  (Deut 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8). These are incredibly intimate and loving expressions.

It is simply not enough to physically be of the House of Israel. One must be so spiritually to be the 'apple of His eye'. Love is a two-way street. He loves us because we are the believing, the repentant, the obedient. And if not, then we should be.

We have accepted the Holy One of Israel to be our God. We are gathering from among all nations to be one people and one day we will kneel together at His feet and acknowledge Him as the God of miracles who has preserved us, loved us and brought us home to the kingdom of our God.

Thy love for Thy people is beyond compare,

Thy mercy affixed forever more.

Thy power delivers us and

Thy loving kindness gathers us;

We are restored by Thy merciful might,

We are Israel, children of light.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Love Everlasting by Youngsung Kim)

THE GOD OF THE COVENANT

 

This painting brought tears to my eyes when I saw it. The Saviour’s apparent power in it is breathtaking. The scene depicts the parting of the Red Sea with Moses on one side and the Saviour on the other. It is titled “I was there” by Danny Hahlbohm.

Besides the Saviour’s power, I see something else in this picture. I see the strength of will of a God who will move heaven and earth for His covenant people Israel. This is a God who has throughout history led them in mercy through the valley of shadow of death and has preserved them to be a favoured people.

Who are these favoured people? They are the Twelve Tribes of Israel, their posterity, and the adopted believing Gentiles who have accepted Christ through baptism. They are God’s people, a ‘peculiar people’ (Exodus 19:5), meaning ‘valued treasure’, ‘made or selected by God’. (Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant”, Ensign May 1995, 34)

And this is why they are peculiar:  “…….the house of Israel is composed of spirits from pre-existence who there developed a talent for spirituality, and who are therefore entitled to the blessings of heaven in this life on a preferential basis” (McConkie, “Mortal Messiah 3, p 11).”

Not only are these people favoured but they are also important. The House of Israel is the guardian of the Abrahamic covenant. This is the covenant between Jehovah and Abraham through which the House of Israel carries its priesthood blessings to the inhabitants of the world. This is the covenant that the Saviour has foresworn He will never, ever break or forget. It will stand forever (Deuternonomy 4:31; Leviticus 26:44,46; Isaiah 49:15,16; 2 Kings 13:23).

And this is the power of commitment and this is the strength of His love for His chosen people:

·        Thou art my chosen servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified (Isaiah 49:3; Abraham 2:11)

·        I will write my law into your hearts and I will be your God and you shall be my people and your sins I will remember no more (Hebrews 8:10, 12)

·        I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God (Exodus 6:7; Jeremiah 10:4)

·        I have redeemed thee, thou art mine, I will be with thee, I am the holy one of Israel, I will sacrifice others for thee (Isaiah 43:1-7)

·        Thou art the everlasting bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2,9)

·        I have chosen thee to be a special people unto me, above all people that are upon the face of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:6)

·        O Israel thou art ‘the apple of His eye’: Deuteronomy 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8; Psalm 17:8

In today’s day of ‘inclusion’, it would appear unthinkable that God would love and consider His children on preferential basis. However, because of their righteousness, collectively and not individually, and as descendants of righteous Abraham, The House of Israel was ‘chosen’ to be favoured of God. After all, He attests to the fact that there has to be a reward for being good: “….he that is righteous is favored of God” (1 Nephi 17:35).

Thy love for Thy people is beyond compare,

Thy mercy affixed forever more.

Thy power delivers us and

Thy loving kindness gathers us;

We are restored by Thy merciful might,

We are Israel, children of light.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: I Was There by Danny Hahlbohm)

A GOD OF INTEGRITY

 

I wanted to weep as I finished studying the book of Judges. The closing chapters moved away from accounts of Israel’s heroes to demonstrate the low state of religion and morality as Israel forsook her covenant with Jehovah and ‘every man did that which was right in his own eyes’ (Judges 17:6; 21:25). As I studied this book, I lost count of how many times I came across this heartbreaking sentence: ‘and the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord’ indicating their return to idolatry at the end of the reign of each military leader and hero that they called ‘judge’. 

 

The saddest lesson that Israelites missed is repeated in this sentence: ‘In those days there was no king in Israel’ (Judges 17:6; 18:1; 21:25).  But there was…..the one and only true King who they kept rejecting through their broken covenant. I have often asked myself why Jehovah did not just annihilate the whole House of Israel because of their continual backsliding. I was overcome today as I was reminded of the answer I already knew: He  would NEVER break His covenant with US (Deuteronomy 4:31; Leviticus 26:44,46; Isaiah 49:15,16). We knew this truth as we stood in the councils of heaven and sustained Him as one who would never break His promise to save our pitiful souls.  Tears overcame me as I saw the integrity of His heart and understood the longsuffering, the mercy and the grace of our Saviour, Our God, our King, our all…..

 

We are noble men and women of the covenant. We are the strong ones whom He has sent in these the last days to preserve the House of Israel. We are:

 

·      His people (Exodus 6:7; Jeremiah 10:4)

·      His favoured people above all (Isaiah 43:1-7; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2,9; Deuteronomy 7:6)

·      His servant (1 Nephi 21:3)

·      His light unto the world (D&C 103:9)

·      His inheritance (Deuteronomy 32:9)

·      His jewels (Exodus 28:17-21; Malachi 3:17; D&C 60:4; 101:3)

·      The apple of His eye (Deuteronomy 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8)

 

Hurrah, hurrah for Israel and her eternal King!

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Faith Has Saved You by Randy Friemel)