Good morning,
Love is in the air. Valentine’s day is Thursday.
God reserved His greatest love for His covenant people, Israel. It is an unconditional love.
“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:8 But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)
What was the “oath” or covenant that God had sworn? That is what we will be looking at this week.
The Abrahamic covenant, God’s command to love the Lord, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s compassion, love, and restoration of Israel.
Israel rebels (Jeremiah 6:16-17)
“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” (Jeremiah 6:16-17)
Israel rebels against God. They chose to walk away from the covenant God made with them. They chose to give up God’s protection, love, leadership, wisdom, kindness, graciousness, mercy, blessings, and their Messiah, for the things of this world.
Israel’s rebellion caused them to be a nation under bondage. They did not have a homeland, freedom, or right standing with God.
Their situation looks grim. Is God done with Israel? Has God ended His covenant with Israel? Will Israel return to their God?
Tomorrow’s devotion will answer these questions.
What can we take away from Israel’s example?
Are we prone to rebel? Are we willing to forego God’s promises to us? Do we love the things of this world more than Jesus, who paid our sin debt, forgave all our sins, and promises us eternal life with Him in Heaven?
If so, repent and allow God to be completely in control of our lives.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001
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