I am saying, then, does not God thrust away His people? May it never be coming to that! For I am also an Israelite, out of Abrahams seed, Benjamin's tribe. God does not thrust away His people whom He foreknew. Or have you not perceived in Elijah what the scripture is saying, as he is pleading with God against Israel? Lord, Thy prophets they kill, Thine altars they dig down, and I was left alone, and they are seeking my soul.
Romans 11: 1-3, Concordant New Testament
They are places that are etched into the memory of all who experienced them. From the survivors to the soldiers who liberated them. Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau and Bergen. For those who survived these German death camps, it was hell on earth. For those who liberated the survivors, it was unimaginable that men could sink to such a level of depravity. There were even locals of the German population who claimed that they were unaware of the horrors taking place so close to their homes. Nevertheless, the allied liberators made sure that each and every German bore witness to the horrors brought about by one mans vision of hate. It is well known that the European Jewish population suffered greatly at the hands of Adolf Hitler and his nazi ideology. It has come to be known by one word, the holocaust. Yet even today, despite eye witness historical testimony, there are many who would deny that these events of world war two ever took place. Still more would deny the recent events of October 7, 2023 in Israel. On this day, the nation of Israel was suddenly attacked by numerous Hamas terrorists crossing over from the Gaza Strip into Israel (yes, I call them for what they are, terrorists!). Once again, the world has born witness to the brutality of one ideologies hatred against the Jewish people. This time, a radical Muslim belief brought death unto the people of Israel. Witnesses continue to tell of the terror brought forth by the soldiers of Hamas. The killing and infants. The massacre of hundreds of innocents. One of the questions which I have heard tossed around a lot this week is, how could God allow this to happen to His people once again? But is the nation of Israel the Lords chosen, or simply one the many members of the family of the Lord? For we know that church of Christ Jesus is composed of many, Jew and Gentile alike {Romans 1:16}. Therefore, we can rightly see this brutal attack as an attack on all believers.
Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.
George Santayana
The idea that God would use this brutal attack upon Israel in order to punish her smacks of institutional church theology. Many a believer has been there, where they have been told that difficult circumstances in their lives are in fact due to Gods punishment. As a good friend told me recently, there is a profound difference between punishment, and correction. Do I believe that the Lord, the God of Israel used these Hamas terrorists to bring punishment upon the nation of Israel? No! Do I think the Lord could indeed use these circumstances in order to return the hearts of His people to Him? Absolutely. The difficulty with events such as we witnessed this week is that our minds automatically start to think about an angry God and His punishment upon us. I've been there. As I said, much of this is due to an ages old institutional church theology which preaches that despite the Lord forgiving us our sins through the sacrifice of His Son, that our own actions may, on occasion, continue to warrant His punishment. People, that ship has sailed! As Jesus hung on that cross and cried out "It is finished," He meant it. It is Christ Jesus who, as the apostle Paul proclaims, died "Once for all" {Romans 6:10}. We also know that the Father works all for the good for those who are in Christ {Romans 8:28}. So, many will ask, what "Good" can possibly come from such a tragedy? I cannot proclaim to know the answer to such questions, but can we agree that Father would use events such as this to lead His children back to Him? I feel that is entirely possible. Of course, in a nation suffering with the aftermath of a terror attack, this may not be the answer many are looking for. Whatever the case, looking at these events through our own perspective might only produce more questions than answers.
~Scott~
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