I can’t believe all the unrest, riots and protests that we are experiencing today across the United States. I miss the times that Janet and I grew up in. Back in the day, we waved flags, stood up when the flag passed by during the 4th of July parades, obeyed our parents and teachers; and attended Sunday school each week.
Nowadays, the news is filled with reports of denigrating our country by disrespecting the American flag. We have sit-ins and demands by students for an equal voice in the education system, as well as attacks on teachers, our police forces and those in authority in general. The problem is that the students don’t run the institutions and I am at a loss to understand why they think they should be in charge of our universities.
This past week, more than 275 students and disrupters at Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis were arrested during protests and demands that the universities cut financial ties with Israel because of the Israel-Hamas war. They seemed surprised!
We even have U.S. citizens shouting “death to America.” Why don’t these people just leave the country if they don’t like it here? After all, we have been allies of Israel for many years and they have been one of most persecuted people groups ever in the history of mankind. Yes, they still survive. If you believe the Bible, they will survive because they are God’s chosen people. Throughout the ages, many groups have tried to destroy the Jewish people yet God has protected them. Even during World War II, when Hitler tried to destroy the Jewish nation through exterminating millions of people, the Jews persevered and survived.
I think it is important to realize that the Jewish nation, even if only a remnant, will always survive. That’s because God has put His hedge of protection around this special group that He has claimed as His own. As you may recall, it was originally thought that only Jews were favored by God. But the apostle Peter, after an encounter with God, finally realized that Gentiles were also able to become adopted sons and daughters of the most high God.
We are also told that Jesus died for all people, but this doesn’t negate the fact that God claims the Jewish nation as His possession. Make no mistake, I wish that Christians were the chosen people, and yes, we will get to heaven by professing Jesus as our Lord and Savior. But there is no denying that Israel is the favored group of people, of all the folks on the face of the earth, who have had a front row seat to the miracles, grace and mercy of God for thousands of years.
Tonight’s verse is from the book of Deuteronomy, written by Moses as a very long sermon. The book is a final recap of the history of the people of God, including the fact that they were highly favored by God. This book encapsulates all that Moses has been telling them for quite some time. You could say that it contains his final instructions and expectations before Moses was gathered up to his fathers.
Moses, the author of this great book, tells us, in Deuteronomy 14:2, “for you are a people holy to the LORD your God. Out of all the peoples on the face of the earth, the LORD has chosen you to be his treasured possession.” This sounds pretty straightforward to me. The Jewish nation enjoys a favored position with God.
My encouragement this evening is that we are also adopted sons and daughters and will have an equal share in the inheritance – spending eternity with Jesus. My prayer is that people across the country will realize that Israel is a favored nation and that our allegiance to this nation is in accordance with God’s plan. There is no reason that we should abandon this ally – especially when they have suffered so horrifically throughout the ages. They have a right to defend the homeland that God has given them, as has been evidenced by God’s instructions to them throughout the ages. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…