In my last post, I expounded on why the Jewish people have been the most persecuted group on the planet pretty much from their very inception to the present day.
The reason is simple.
It’s because the world is threatened by the undeniable fact that out of all the people groups in the world, it is only Israel who has been chosen by the Creator of the Universe.
And I’ve got news for you.
If you’ve been grafted into Israel through your faith in the Jewish Messiah, you too have just joined the most persecuted group on the planet.
It’s easy to be a believer when times are easy, but when times turn tough, that’s when your faith is really tested.
Unfortunately, throughout history, even the Jews themselves due to intense persecution have sometimes buckled under pressure and tried to erase their identity by doing their very best to to fit in and do away with the separation between them and the gentiles.
For example, many of the Jews who emigrated from Europe starting from around the 1800’s decided to forsake their Jewish identities by changing their family names so they would be indistinguishable from the Goyim.
The Messiah spoke about the persecutive the believer would face.
“How blessed you are when
people insult you and
persecute you and tell
all kinds of vicious lies about
you because you follow me!”
-Matthew 5:11
Yet notice that our savior also tells us that we are “blessed” when the persecution comes.
He then goes on to tell us how we should respond in the midst of such adversity.
“Rejoice, be glad,
because your reward in heaven is great
— they persecuted the prophets
before you in the same way.”
-Matthew 5:12
Yeshua then gives us practical advice on why we should NOT buckle under pressure and try to fit in with the world.
“You are salt for the Land.
But if salt becomes tasteless,
how can it be made salty again?
It is no longer good for anything
except being thrown out for people
to trample on.”
-Matthew 5:13
Yeshua’s making a good point.
If because of peer pressure or persecution, we decide to fit in and think and live like the world, at that moment we cease being a light and a positive witness for our Father in Heaven.
That is why we should rejoice and be happy when persecution comes instead of fearful.
Effective reverse psychology at work here folks.
Let’s move on to verse 39 in Deuteronomy 4.
“…know today, and establish
it in your heart,
that Adonai is God in heaven above
and on earth below
— there is no other”
-Deuteronomy 4:39
BOOM!!
Make no mistake about it folks
You’ve just read the one verse that marks the turning point in the history of mankind!!!
Prior to that one statement, the WHOLE world including the Israelites were firmly entrenched in polytheistic (the belief in many gods) thought.
Finally, I want you to notice another monumental thing Moses says.
“Therefore, you are to keep his laws and mitzvot which I am giving you today, so that it will go well with you and with your children after you, and so that you will prolong your days in the land Adonai your God is giving you forever.”
The reason Israel should obey God’s Torah is so that it will go well with them and their children.
In other words, it’s not for God’s benefit that He wants Israel to obey His commands.
It’s for their own selfish reasons so that they will not only survive but thrive and prosper in the land.
A lot of people mix this up.
Salvation and obeying God’s Torah is NOT for God’s benefit.
It’s for our benefit.
God doesn’t lose anything if we fail to observe His Commands.
We’re the ones who lose out.
Leave a Reply