Rabbi’s Reflections – Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Shalom,
Pillar Ten: The Kingdom will be Expressed in the Coming Fullness – part 2
Last Friday I wrote how the coming “fullness” is an expression of the coming “restoration of all things.” This is not entirely true. For something to be “restored,’ it must be brought back to original condition. The original condition of humanity took place before any of us who are alive today were born, way before. Near the end of God’s week of creation, God created man (Adam) and placed him in the Garden of Eden. Then God created Eve from Adam’s rib. That was all of humanity; in perfect relationship with God. That perfect relationship was lost in the “fall” and nothing has been the same since.
The restoration of that will once again involve all of humanity coming into perfect relationship with the creator, God; only this time it’s a lot more complicated by billions of people who now make up “all of humanity.” The Bible speaks to this….
Ephesians 4:11 He Himself gave some to be emissaries, some as prophets, some as proclaimers of the Good News, and some as shepherds and teachers— 12 to equip the kedoshim for the work of service, for building up the body of Messiah. 13 This will continue until we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of Ben-Elohim—to mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of Messiah’s fullness.
God is growing us up into His Bride. Our calling is to continue to mature until the day of His return. Revelation 1:7 “Look, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him. Yes, amen!”
God affirmed this in both the Hebrew Scriptures and in the New Testament. Isaiah 45:23 By Myself I have sworn— the word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness, and is irrevocable: that to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear.
And there is more… Philippians 2:9 For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Yeshua every knee should bow, in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue profess that Yeshua the Messiah is Lord— to the glory of God the Father.
And now, to refute “replacement theology” (those who believe the church replaces Israel to become the real recipients of God’s blessings originally promised to Israel), let’s read the promise from God that the hardening of Israel’s heart will come to an end.…
Romans 11:25 For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer shall come out of Zion. He shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. 27 And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.”
Yes, the end is going to be greater than the beginning. That’s more than restoration; that’s the coming fullness.
Week 11
Memory Verse: Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation is there that has gods so near to them, as Adonai our God is whenever we call on Him?
51 3/9 Monday: Numbers 20; 27:12-23
* 52 3/10 Tuesday: Numbers 34-35
53 3/11 Wednesday: Deuteronomy 1-2
54 3/12 Thursday: Deuteronomy 3-4
55 3/13 Friday: Deuteronomy 6-7
Question of the day: After reading these two chapters, tell me please, what is the wisdom of God?
Answer: Chapter 34 is a geography lesson on the original intended borders of Israel. Then chapter 35 is an expression of God’s justice. Numbers 35:29 “These are to be statutes of justice for your generations in all your dwelling places.” We should pause to appreciate this truth… Isaiah 55:8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” It is a declaration of Adonai. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
When Yeshua returns, He will establish His government. His government will be wise beyond our highest expectation. Dan Juster has written a book titled “Social Justice.” We have some available in our congregational book store.
In the book, Dan puts forth the idea that man’s idea of justice is equality. (And sometimes that means everyone being equally miserable or equally impoverished.) Dan then makes the case that God’s idea of justice is everything (and every one) fulfilling its/his/her God intended purpose or God-given destiny. We (followers of Yeshua) all share a destiny in Messiah Yeshua. God has placed all of His followers on the Road to Jerusalem. Have a blessed trip. This is why we end every major holiday with the phrase, “Next year in Jerusalem.”
The idea of sanctuary cities is brilliant, along with the associated laws. And the establishment of cities and pastures for the Levites is also brilliant. God has thought of everything, we just haven’t been very good at following His wisdom.