Today, let’s begin a new series exploring who exactly are “God’s people?” Some might argue that it’s Christians. Others might point to the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible/Old Testament) and say, “It’s the Jews.”
What comes next? Rapid finger pointing at maps and history books, Al Jazeera or the New York Times headlines, geopolitical realities, etc., and then chaos completely drowns out an actual discussion or learning anything helpful to this enduring problem in the Middle East. One thing I can say for sure, “the Church” has not replaced “the Jews” (Romans 11:19-23). Rather there’s been a divine pause until the full number of Gentiles have been included. But we’ll get to that later.
For now, Hosea, one of the minor prophets, has something to say about My People, Not My People. Enough, in fact, that he named one of his kids “Not My People” … but we’re going to see in this study, that the concept of “My People, Not My People” goes all the way back to Genesis and will continue to the very end of time.
Hosea 1: 2 When the LORD began to speak through Hosea, the LORD said to him, “Go, marry a promiscuous woman and have children with her, for like an adulterous wife this land is guilty of unfaithfulness to the LORD.” 3 So he married Gomer daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived… [time passes, two children later…]
8 After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son. 9 Then the LORD said, “Call him Lo-Ammi (which means “not my people”), for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
[Uh-oh. Sounds like Judgment…Not My People]
Reflection questions as we approach this study:
Is the modern state of Israel God’s people, a mixture of God’s people and Not My People, or Not My People at all? What characterizes each group?
What is the Christian’s response to the obvious and worldwide rise of antisemitism orchestrated by Satan? Do you think Satan especially hates the Jews or all people equally? Why do you think that is?
Has God stopped loving My People? If you have 26 minutes to watch or listen to Christian podcast host Carl Jackson discussing this topic with Ashkenazi Jewish author and podcaster Josh Hammer. They ask, “Can You Love America and Hate Jews?” Given what’s going on in American culture, it’s a very serious question.
What was God’s rationale for asking Hosea to marry a prostitute and naming a son “Not My People”?
Modern evangelical America risks becoming fractured over the very question “Who are God’s people?” and its natural follow-on (what does it mean to be God’s people?). Where do you stand on this question? Do you consider “the Jews” to be enemies, friends, or a mixture of both?
To be continued…