Where are His Witnesses?
The Jews were to be the Almighty’s witnesses to the Gentile heathen nations proclaiming, “that Yahveh is the One True Living God. They were to be a holy people who walked according to all of His Commandments in complete compliance, obedience, in steadfast wholehearted love, and devotion. Because of their wholehearted love and obedience to His Commandments, the heathens would come to know the Righteous One and walk in righteousness. They would be joined to Israel and be considered as natural-born Israelites (see Ezekiel 47:22).
But, Israel failed. Yahveh (the Lord) said the promises were to Israel, but they did not bear the fruit to be His witnesses, so He says, “I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I,’ to a nation which did not call on My name” (Isaiah 65:1). In essence the Almighty was saying, “Maybe the Gentiles will uphold My righteous Commandments and maybe they will be My witnesses declaring that Yahveh, the Holy One of Israel, is the One True Living God. Maybe through My power, made perfect in their weakness, they will show the world what righteousness is.” We have all failed, Jew and Gentile.
“Because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality; eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath, and indignation. There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek [Gentile], but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality [favoritism] with Yahveh … for it is not the hearers of the Law [Torah] who are just before Yahveh, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, … they show the work of the Law written in their hearts …” (Romans 2:5-11,13-15).
The slate is leveled. Judgments fell on Israel. All things, blessings and curses, come to the firstborn of Yahveh (the Lord) first. Paul warned, “But if some of the [Jewish] branches were broken off, and you [a Gentile], being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the [Jewish] branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you [the Gentiles] who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if Yahveh did not spare the natural [Jewish] branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of Yahveh (the Lord); to those who fell, severity, but to you, Yahveh’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:17-22). This Scripture is also a warning against judging Israel.
Paul continued, “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). “Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of Yahveh (the LORD) rightly falls upon those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment … and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of Yahveh God?” (Romans 2:1-3).
Our purpose is not to pass judgment on Israel, but rather it is that we learn from Israel’s error. We need to understand the Holy One of Israel’s merciful covenant to His firstborn, regardless of her sin. Yahveh says, “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the Lord Yahveh’s hand double for all her sins” (Isaiah 40:2).
“… Do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of Yahveh leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4).
