Do You See Yourself in the Israel of Old Testament?

A small group of us have been reading through the Bible using the Chronological Reading Plan. An email goes out each morning, showing the passages to be read for that day. Frequently, one of us will weigh in with a comment or two. Here are a few observations from today's readings, Isaiah 40-43.

There is good news and bad news in these chapters. First, the bad news; Israel and Judah will pay for their sin and rebellion, pay dearly. There will be war and suffering. God will not tolerate sin and idol-worship in His people. He will refine them and remove all that is unholy. Then the good news; God is holy, but He is also gracious. In time, God will redeem His people from the captivity they brought upon themselves and bring them back home. Not only will He deliver them, He will punish those who oppose them. 

By the time we work our way to Isaiah in the OT, we're beginning to see that God always delivers His people when they turn back toward Him and repent, truly repent. No matter how many times they fall away, He shows them grace when they cry out to Him with authentically contrite hearts. When we arrive at Isaiah 43:45, we see that God

does this, not for their sake, but for His. 

Why? 

They are clearly unworthy of such grace and continue to demonstrate this by their long history of being redeemed from suffering then turning away when times get better. Why does God put up with this? God's intention is to reveal, through the redemptive work He does in His people, His glory, His patience and His mercy. He's all about showing the world His transforming power and incredible grace toward those who are His, not becasue of their behavior, but in spite of it. His redemption is always predicated on their hearts turning toward Him, a work He alone does (Luke 1:8-17, John 1:12-13). 

We should see ourselves in the stories of Israel and Judah.

Like Abraham, who was wandering through life when God chose him to demonstrate to the world that He can transform and redeem anyone He desires, regardless of his estate in life, God chose us (John 15:16). Like Abraham, we are totally incapable of saving ourselves. Furthermore, just like Abraham, once chosen, we continue to stumble, incapable of sustaining, on our own, neither our eternal status nor holiness . 

Doesn't that pattern we see in Abraham continue through the history of Israel and in our lives as well? Abraham is chosen then stumbles but God redeems. Israel is chosen, makes its way to the Promised Land, loses it to their own lack of godliness and is restored by the miraculous hand of God? We, are called, redeemed, continue to stumble but still receive blessing and grace as long as we repent and rely on the Lord.

 Abraham, The two kingdoms...and each of us...are totally dependent upon the grace of God and His faithfulness if we are to have any hope. God reaches down out of heaven and supernaturally changes our hearts and spirits. Then, by his sustaining power and grace, enables us to continue in our walk of sanctification, all the while guaranteeing our home with Him in heaven, in spite of our weaknesses and failings, just as He delivered the Hebrews to Canaan in spite of theirs.

Praise God, He is faithful, powerful and true. Praise God, He was patient with His chosen people 3,000 years ago...just as He is patient with us today (2 Pet 3:9).  

If we fail to see ourselves in the story of Abraham and the Jews, we will fail to understand the magnitude of His grace.