INHERITED
RESPONSIBILITY
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As the end of this age draws near, does
history show us any purpose for being called and
chosen? Have we been given any physical and
spiritual responsibilities? Why did Christ tell His
disciples, His learners, “....That except your
righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the
scribes and pharisees, you shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20).
In the Old Testament God choose Abraham and
his seed to carry out certain assigned tasks–
responsibilities. In Genesis 18 the first book in the
Bible, we will begin to see, that it was God's purpose
to establish a righteous nation of people. God selected
Abraham and his descendants. “The Lord said, shall I
hide from Abraham that thing which I do; seeing that
Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty
nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed
in him. For I know him, (in other words, Abraham
could be trusted) for I know him that he will command
his children and his household after him, and they shall
keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment;
that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which He
has spoken of him” (Gen 18: 17-19). God recognized
Abraham would not delegate his responsibilities to
other custodians or teachers when it came to training up
his children.
Reading the story of Abraham, we find God
found a man ready to yield with qualified obedience to
His divine will. God also recognized Abraham excelled
all others in rearing up his children, as well as
cultivating a Godly spirit in all his family. He
instructed them in both the law of the land, and the
practice of God's spiritual righteous laws. Abraham,
had a extremely good understanding and was not used
in a matter of superiority. He recognized his special gift
and talent were from God.
Keeping the Old Testament in mind we find in
Isaiah 41, evidence of how Abraham's seed was being
passed on to Isaac and Jacob to fulfil God's will. Keep
in mind, – Israel was selected and certified to be God's
chosen people, His servant race. “But you, Israel, art
My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of
Abraham My friend. You whom I have taken from the
ends of the earth, and called you from the chief men
thereof, and said unto you, you art My servant; I have
chosen you, and not cast you away” (Isa 41:8-9). The
term "My servant" is a Hebrew word– “ebed”, Strong's
# 5650. In the broad sense, it simply means: 1. one that
serves others; 2. a servant of God; meaning – one who
loves, obeys and serves Him.
There are those who object to being informed
that God selected a specific race to be His servants, and
they insist that He shows no favoritism. They
eventually will need to come to realize He made one
physical family of people, for His special care (and they
are called Israel). Israel's - Lord of host informs us
“For he that touches you touches the apple of His eye”
(Zech 2:8).
Back in Isaiah 43:10, we find it clearly stated
God choose Israel to be His servants. “You are My
witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have
chosen: that you may know and believe Me.” In verses
3 to 5, God declares Himself to be "the Holy One of
Israel." “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of
Israel, Since you were precious in My sight, you have
been honorable, and I have loved you: therefore will I
give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not: for
I am with you: I will bring your seed from the east, and
gather you from the west.” God is addressing physical
Israel here.
These blessings that we are reminded of, places
Israel above all other people and races. This protection
from God is guaranteed to His servant race. Why am
I bringing this up ? Because now it has become
spiritual Israel, no longer physical Israel’s,
responsibility to carry out God's will to other people
and nations today.
Without the English printed Bible, and English
speaking people, God's saving word would not have
gone out to the world. God’s truth, the true gospel
would not have been preached to this world!
We had a thousand “Postponements, Mystery of
the Ages” booklets printed in Spanish 14 years ago, and
we still have most of them. Speaking or writing in a
foreign language has never been the major door opener
for God’s gospel and truth to be preached around the
world. We are on our fourth edition of the
“Postponements Another Mystery of the Ages” booklet
in English. This booklet has been requested in more
than 45 nations.
We are told in Matt 21, that Christ rejected the
Jewish nation from sending His good news to the
world. Why ? Because they refused to submit to Him
as their Messiah and their God. “Therefore say I unto
you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, [
those who were in the house of Judah ] and given to a
nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matt 21:43).
What does this verse from Christ tell us? It tells us,
that in the future His plan to save the world would no
longer be dependent on the Jewish speaking nation or
the Jewish religion, but on the Christian nations that
speak God's word in English. English is the most
dominate language in the world. God did not bless the
house of Judah for preaching His gospel to the world,
but God did bless the house of Israel to preach His good
news to the world.
Before the split up of these two households God
selected one family, Abraham and his wife Sarah and
their seed to serve Him and fulfill His purpose. The
work and responsibility assigned to Abraham's seed
(Israel) was for the establishment of national
righteousness! And the execution of judgment and
justice for all mankind. The facts in history has shown
that the Anglo-Saxon-Celtic people excelled all other
races, because it is in their desire to establish peace and
righteousness, not self righteousness, but God’s
righteousness.
The United State, Britain, Canada, Australia,
New Zealand and all the Anglo-Saxon nations have
been involved in peaceable talks in one way or another.
Why is that ? Because Israel has been committed
through Abraham’s seed to strongly emphasize, what
God requires of us, spiritual Israel His servant people.
Abraham and his descendants were called to
fulfill a purpose in this plan of God. We today, as
Abrahams descendants and inheritors of the promise
and covenants of God, are given the job of carrying out
an assigned part in the plans for this age. We do this,
not as a superior race, but as God's chosen servant
nations, charged with a responsibility that cannot be
evaded.
In Genesis 26, Abraham covenant was confirm
to Isaac. God tells him, “...........and I will be with you,
and will bless you; for unto you, and unto your seed, I
will give all these countries, and I will perform the oath
which I swear unto Abraham your father; And I will
make your seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and
will give unto your seed all these countries; and in your
seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My
charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws”
(Gen 26:3 -5).
The blessings of Abraham were passed on in
their entirety to both Isaac and Jacob. In blessing
Jacob's family each son received his individual portion
of the covenant blessings. And Jacob's son Joseph
inherited the birthright. The material blessings of
greatness were not given to Judah, but to Joseph, and
through him to his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh.
Evidence to this fact is found in 1 Chron. 5:1,
“Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he
was the firstborn; but, for as much as he defiled his
father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of
Joseph the son of Israel: And the genealogy is not to be
reckoned after the birthright.” Reuben, as the firstborn
should have appeared first in the Genealogical list, but
that place went to Joseph because of Reuben's sin.
This clear evidence shows the birthright
promises went to Joseph and his two sons. All the
material possessions of wealth and this included
territorial expansion went to Ephraim and Manasseh.
Judah never inherited these same type of blessings nor
do the Jew today possess these types of blessings! Our
daily news about the State of Israel confirms that !!
“Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment,
and do justice: for My salvation is near to
come, and My righteousness to be
revealed. Blessed is the man that doeth
this, and the son of man that layeth hold on
it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting
it, and keepeth his hand from doing any
evil”(Isa 56:1-2).
Following history:
Jacob and his sons emerged
as a great company of people
known as Israel under the
leadership of Moses. In the
19th and 20th chapters of
Exodus God established His
government with Israel at
Mount Sinai. He delivered
to them His commandments,
statutes and judgments, to
which they agreed to obey
and do!! “Now therefore, if you will obey My voice
indeed, and keep My Covenant, then you shall be a
peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the
earth is mine: And you shall be unto Me a kingdom of
priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which
you shalt speak unto the children of Israel. And Moses
came and called for the elders of the people, and laid
before their faces all these words which the Lord
commanded him. And all the people answered
together, and said, all that the Lord had spoken we will
do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto
the Lord” (Exo 19:5-8).
This confirmed a marriage covenant with God
and physical Israel. The importance of this marriage
vow or oath cannot be overlooked! We read in Deut.
23, where instruction are given about vows. “When
you shalt vow a vow unto the Lord your God, you shalt
not slack to pay it: for the Lord your God will surely
require it of you; and it would be sin in you. But if you
shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in you. That
which is gone out of your lips you shalt keep and
perform; even a freewill offering, according as you
have vowed unto the Lord your God, which you have
promised with your mouth” (Deut 23:21-23).
As the nation Israel made a vow to the Lord
their God and as a nation God will require performance
of that oath. “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay
your vows unto the Most High: And call upon Me in
the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shalt
glorify Me” (Psalms 50:14-15). These words should
make a deep penetrating impression on our minds and
in our hearts. Israel has failed to perform the oath of
their fore fathers and this has been the cause of Israel's
national sin today.
Spiritual Israelites today who have God Holy
Spirit, that have this knowledge will not be held
guiltless if they fail to warn
those who are breaking
God's laws-
commandments-statutes and
judgments. They could face
death!
Through the prophet
Ezekiel, God has warned
us– you and me of the
churches responsibilities
and our individual
responsibilities as His
ambassadors. “Son of man, I have made you a
watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the
word at My mouth, and give them warning from Me.
When I say unto the wicked, you shalt surely die; and
you give him not warning, nor speak to warn the
wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same
wicked man shall die in his iniquity; But his blood will
I require at your hand. Yet if you warn the wicked, and
he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked
way, he shall die in his iniquity; But you have delivered
your soul” (Ezek 3:17-19).
This is a life saving warning and responsibility
that all of us have to take seriously! Ezekiel's message
is national and personal in scope and contains three
important clauses: One – It warns the house of Israel
that tribulation and trouble are the results of
disobedience and rebellion; Two- It declares nationally
and personally that man is to turn from their evil ways;
Three– It summons the nation and its people to repent
and make restitution, fulfilling its solemn vow made at
Mount Sinai. The preaching of the gospel and the
obeying of God's laws for salvation - is personal! And
the call to righteous administration is national!
We are given another clear warning in the
pages of Isaiah. “Thus saith the Lord, keep you
judgment, and do justice: for My salvation is near to
come, and My righteousness to be revealed. Blessed is
the man that does this, and the son of man that lays hold
on it; that keeps the Sabbath from polluting it, and keep
His hand from doing any evil” (Isa 56:1-2).
God's Sabbath is no less important today than it
was then! We find in Deu. 30, Moses set two ways
before Israel–the way of life and the way of death.
“See, I have set before you this day life and good, and
death and evil; in that I command you this day to love
the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep
His commandments and His statutes and His
judgments, that you may live and multiply: and the
Lord your God shall bless you in the land whither you
go to possess it. But if your heart turn away, so that
you wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship
other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this
day, that you shall surely perish, and that you shall not
prolong your days upon the land, whither you pass over
Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to
record this day against you, that I have set before you
life and death, blessing and cursing: Therefore choose
life, that both you and your seed may live: that you may
love the Lord your God, and that you may obey His
voice, and that you may cleave unto Him for He is your
life, and the length of your days: that you may dwell in
the land which the Lord swear unto your fathers, to
Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them” (Deut
30:15 - 20).
This personal responsibility of a watchman has
to be in tune with God's truth and that can only happen
through fasting, prayer, study, meditating and obeying
God's life giving words. Solomon recognized that God
in His wisdom conceals many things in His word, when
he said: “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but
the honour of Kings is to search out a matter” (Prov
25:2). The mysteries of the Bible which are beyond our
full comprehension are proofs that it is indeed the word
of God! The pity of all is that today men of scholarly
attainment are more interested in destructive criticism
of scriptures, than in intensified application, in research
that they may discover hidden new truth! A skeptical
approach to the word of God is a sure bar against
discovery of its great life giving truth concealed from
the mind and is lacking spiritual discernment.
The Bible enumerates a multitude of
blessings which will be showered upon Israel when
they turns to God with their whole heart. The
Eternal says: “For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and
not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall
you call upon Me, and you shall go and pray unto
Me, and I will hearken unto you. And you shall
seek Me, and find Me, when you shall search for
Me with all your heart” (Jer 29:11-13).
If we
are to be
more
righteous
than the
scribes and
pharisees,
than we
need to
search out God's truth with our whole heart and
put it into practice! As Watchmen and
Ambassadors of the house of Israel we must
proclaim God's requirements! “Cry aloud,
spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and
show My people [spiritual Israel] their
transgression, and the house of Jacob their
sins” (Isa 58:1). ☜ James Russell