Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, March 4, 2023
Shabbat Shalom,
Day 30: Morning
The God Who More Than Fulfills His Redemptive Plans
by David Harwood
This truth helps win my heart: God’s purposes are redemptive. Let’s meditate on that.
There will come a day when a totally new foundation will be laid in creation. Romans 8:28 will be fully fulfilled. Every ransomed soul shall look with wonder on the handiwork of the Potter and be astounded at the revelation of His goodness.
One might meditate on the following verse every day for the rest of one’s life and never appropriate all of the goodness that it contains. Talk about love inspiring! Please read Romans 8:28 again.
Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28 TLV)
All things… all of them, as in “every single one of them,” shall be worked out for the good. And that is just the beginning. The coming ages will be built upon that great accomplishment. Note, it’s ages. Ages!
But God was rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us… seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua— to show in the olam ha-ba the measureless richness of His grace in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua. (Ephesians 2:4, 6b-7 TLV)
The entirety of our lives has been, and shall be, redeemed. The pattern of our redemption can be seen in promises made to Israel regarding His house.
The glory of this latter House will be greater than the former,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “In this place, I will grant shalom”—it is a declaration of Adonai-Tzva’ot. (Haggai 2:9 TLV)
He is a redeeming God. The results of His restoration will surpass the original plan.
Practically every person I know has regrets, as do I. We have made some wrong decisions, or we did not seize certain opportunities. Perhaps we did not watch over the motives of our hearts. Some of what we sowed in our lives is similar to the tares described by the Messiah, and we’ve reaped the results of our errors. Things could have been better.
Your Father is not content to leave things as they are. Let’s continue to use God’s redemptive purposes with His covenant people Israel to illustrate this aspect of His ways.
The following is an example that is close to my heart. Please read Paul’s remarkably vulnerable self-disclosure.
My sorrow is great and the anguish in my heart unending. For I would pray that I myself were cursed, banished from Messiah for the sake of my people—my own flesh and blood, who are Israelites. (Romans 9:2-4a TLV)
Majority Israel followed corrupt leaders and rejected our Messiah. This was a tragedy that has immediate and eternal ramifications. However, God immediately began to work things out for the good and will ultimately outdo Himself in fulfilling His redemptive plans for Israel. Please read about the way He immediately adjusted this heartbreaking disaster and of the ultimate adjustment summarized in two verses in Romans 11.
Now if their transgression leads to riches for the world, and their loss riches for the Gentiles, then how much more their fullness! (Romans 11:12 TLV)
The disaster: Israel’s transgression. The redemptive adjustments: riches for the world and greater riches to come.
For if their rejection leads to the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? (Romans 11:15 TLV)
The disaster: their rejection. The adjustments: their acceptance, reconciliation of the world and, ultimately, life from the dead.
Israel is the priestly, prophetic pattern people. What is true for the Jewish people is a significant hint concerning the outcome of God’s plans for every individual. How is that outcome described? Looking at a different example, and considering a worst-case scenario, James/Jacob concluded this:
You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the outcome of Adonai—that Adonai is full of compassion and mercy. (James/Jacob 5:11b TLV)
When we see the goodness of God’s motives, and the promised outcome of His dealings, the lover of God exercises patient loyalty toward their Creator. They have tasted and seen that He is good. They love Him and believe the best of Him. Our love for God keeps us faithful within the redemptive process. The Foremost Command can be cherished as an empowering encouragement.
Pray: Our Father, reveal Yourself to me as the redeeming God. May that truth inspire greater love in me for You.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarsson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 4 Mar-2023 11th of Adar, 5783
Parashat Tetzaveh Shabbat Zachor
Ex 30:1-10, De 25:17-19 1 Sa 15:2-34 Rev 18:1-24