The Lord said to Moses ... “Then say to
Pharaoh, 'This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son ... ‘” Exodus 4:22
We have all struggled with God, haven't we? All mankind has struggled with God. That's what “Israel” means: “he struggles with God”!
Yet God commanded Moses to refer to these struggling people – this Israel – as “my firstborn son,” a phrase that would echo throughout centuries, promises and proclamations to come. So then, who is Israel? Who is it that the God of all creation declares to be “my firstborn son”? Incrementally over time, God has shown us ...
As God began to reveal himself and his promises to the ancients, “Israel” referred to the people of a race, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And God called them, collectively, “my firstborn son.” Yet God would show us more.
For born of that lineage, was Jesus, the promised Messiah. This was the one of whom God had proclaimed in advance, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor (Isaiah 49:3).” There through the prophet, Isaiah, God called the Messiah, “Israel.” He was God’s “one and only son (John 3:16)” and “the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).” Yet God would show us more.
For it was God’s will that all who believe in this promised Servant should live forever as one in him, with him and through him. And what do all who believe in him have in common? We are “the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16)” and included in “citizenship in Israel (Ephesians 2:12-13).” And we are “the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23).” And God will show us more.
For Jesus has gone to prepare a new place for us, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.
And there we, the Israel of God, will struggle no more.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
From "O come, O come, Emmanuel"
Author Unknown
We have all struggled with God, haven't we? All mankind has struggled with God. That's what “Israel” means: “he struggles with God”!
Yet God commanded Moses to refer to these struggling people – this Israel – as “my firstborn son,” a phrase that would echo throughout centuries, promises and proclamations to come. So then, who is Israel? Who is it that the God of all creation declares to be “my firstborn son”? Incrementally over time, God has shown us ...
As God began to reveal himself and his promises to the ancients, “Israel” referred to the people of a race, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And God called them, collectively, “my firstborn son.” Yet God would show us more.
For born of that lineage, was Jesus, the promised Messiah. This was the one of whom God had proclaimed in advance, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor (Isaiah 49:3).” There through the prophet, Isaiah, God called the Messiah, “Israel.” He was God’s “one and only son (John 3:16)” and “the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1:15).” Yet God would show us more.
For it was God’s will that all who believe in this promised Servant should live forever as one in him, with him and through him. And what do all who believe in him have in common? We are “the Israel of God (Galatians 6:16)” and included in “citizenship in Israel (Ephesians 2:12-13).” And we are “the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven (Hebrews 12:23).” And God will show us more.
For Jesus has gone to prepare a new place for us, where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.
And there we, the Israel of God, will struggle no more.
O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
From "O come, O come, Emmanuel"
Author Unknown
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