(Please scroll down to read parts 1-8)
AVOIDING
THE PITFALLS
When we allow our predetermined view of
theology, which may be based only upon a small part of the Scriptures, to change
the intent of other writings in the Scriptures, it affects even the way we view
what is happening in our contemporary world.
We run the great danger of making
the same mistakes as did Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel in the 17th
century (post #6). He believed so strongly that
the ten missing tribes would be found that he allowed himself to be unduly
persuaded by contemporary events and assertions that were of questionable
credibility.
One does not need to be unlearned to be
misguided. Rabbi Menasseh ben Israel was one
of the most highly regarded scholars of his day, greatly respected in both the
Jewish and the Christian communities.
And, I dare say, Oliver Cromwell was also a man not easily deluded (Please also see post #6).
It may be true enough that, mistaken or
not, the results of the decisions of these two men were positive, for the Jews
were allowed to return to England.
However, one must wonder about the thinking that led up to that
decision. Linking the name for England
with a Biblical meaning in order to advance one’s own political purpose might
cause some to be suspicious of the motivations behind such a teaching. Are we advancing the cause of Scripture, or
are we using Scripture to advance a cause that is our own?
In Our Present Day
We have a situation in our own day that
is, in some ways, of the same kind that was presented to Cromwell. Since the year of 1948, we have seen the
Jewish nation once again present in the original Promised Land.
The rebirth of the Jewish homeland has been
viewed by many to be a modern-day miracle. What is more, considering the fact
that many of their neighboring countries are so hostile to the nation of Israel’s
existence that they have vowed to wipe them off the face of the map, one might
say the fact that Israel has endured as a nation
is also a miracle. Regarding the reality
of this present-day phenomenon, we wonder to what extent this fits into the
prophetic Word of God.
Some have hailed this situation as
evidence that God is bringing His people back to the Holy Land and that He will
soon bring history to its conclusion. The Jews are returning to the Promised
Land.
Many people have seen the birth of the
nation of Israel in its homeland as a harbinger to the return of Jesus Christ. I
understand the perspective where some say, “The Jewish people are back in the
Promised Land. It may be true that they
are now largely a secular nation, but God will bring them to understand and
come to believe that Jesus Christ was their long-awaited Messiah.”
However, before we become too carried
away by speculation, would it not be wise to consider also all of the New Testament
writings concerning the spiritual aspect of Israel, rather than only the physical? By focusing only on the Old Testament
promises, we are likely to draw inconclusive or erroneous conclusions. We would not be the first to do so.
God’s Remnant People
We return then to our simplistic
answer. God has preserved His remnant. The
plain fact is that we do not know how God has done this nor the ethnic identity
of this people. Even if one believes that they must only be the blood
descendants of the original twelve tribes of Israel, all is not so clear.
With the probable scattering of the Ten
Lost Tribes to the many corners of our world, I have sometimes asked the
question of individuals what percentage of heritage was required classify
someone as being “Jewish?” With all of the unknown movements of people and
settlers throughout history, along with conquering societies who regularly made
brides of those whom they have conquered in distant lands, a little of the
original Jewish blood may flow in the veins of societies that we would never
suspect.
The question I have asked is this; “To
be a direct descendant of the tribes of Israel, is it a requirement to have
100% original Jewish heritage?” If so, that would mean if even one ancestor
married outside of the Jewish race, all of their descendants would not be
Jewish.
If not 100%, then what is the
percentage necessary? 99%? 90%? 50%? You can see that the whole subject begins
to become very murky. Nevertheless, notwithstanding all of our uncertainties,
we can be certain that all the deeds
and plans of God proceed according to the way that God has designed.
The questions surrounding God’s
specific fulfillment of His promises are great indeed, and the answers are
shrouded in much that we cannot see and cannot know. In spite of the fact that our inquiry must
remain largely inconclusive, our study and investigation is not fruitless, for
it exposes some pitfalls of premature, impetuous and reckless conclusions. We have seen that these conclusions are
commonly governed more by personal views than by Scripture.
Words of Scripture that are meant to
give us only a partial revealing of the complete picture of the ways of God and
what He is doing should never cause us to speculate beyond what has been
written. The danger comes when we assume more.
It is wise not to be dogmatic on
matters about which we know little. We sometimes rather take the little that we
know and bend and mold it to support some personal or political agenda. These
are pitfalls we would do well to avoid.
We do better to remain faithful to God
in our personal lives, and to be watchful. We only marvel as we see God’s plan
begin to unfold.
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