Rabbi’s Reflections – Monday, August 7, 2023
Shalom,

One In Messiah part 32 – Romans, part 143

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Messiah. 18 But I say, have they never heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

This shook me up!  I read Paul’s words in verse 18 as if for the first time.  “…Have they never heard?  Indeed they have….”  We know for sure Paul is referring to Jewish people… Romans 10:1b “…my prayer to God for Israel….”  Why did it shake me up?  Because I’ve always thought Jewish people have an unfair burden when it comes to receiving Yeshua.  Let me explain.

It’s possible I’m going to make both sides of the same argument here.  The first side is that it is hard for Jewish people to receive the Gospel.  There is much “baked into” Jewish culture that is anti-Yeshua.  When you grow up in that culture, it presents a barrier that other cultures don’t have to overcome.

(As Tevye would say…)  But on the other hand, Yeshua’s culture is Jewish culture.  He is one of us and is teaching the world what it means to follow our God (not the false god of many other cultures).  So in that sense, it is easier for Jewish people to follow the Jewish Messiah than it is for people from any other nation.

The Scripture also says there is no excuse (In Romans 10:18, Paul is quoting this verse from Psalms)…  Psalm 19:5 Their voice has gone out to all the earth and their words to the end of the world.  Whose voice?  Psalm 19:2 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky shows His handiwork.  He says as much in Romans 1 as well… Romans 1:19 because what can be known about God is plain to them—for God has shown it to them. 20 His invisible attributes—His eternal power and His divine nature—have been clearly seen ever since the creation of the world, being understood through the things that have been made. So people are without excuse—

Let me help Paul with his point… Look up at the stars (as God commanded Abraham).  There is order in the heavens above and in the earth beneath.  It is impossible that this order just happened, and keeps happening without One giving and maintaining the order.  The entire Bible (from Genesis to Revelation) is a written testimony of this truth.

Revelation 4:10  the twenty-four elders fall down before the One seated on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever. And they throw their crowns down before the throne, chanting, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, For You created all things, and because of Your will they existed and were created!”

Let’s bring this to a close for today.  Jewish people need to say “yes and amen” to this truth… Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.” And to this truth as well… 1Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and there is one Mediator between God and men—a human, Messiah Yeshua, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony at the proper time.  And this last one for today….

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. 

Shalom shalom.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Mon 7 Aug 2023 20th of Av, 5783
De 12:11-28 Ez 41 1 Ch 20 1 Ti 4 (Jn 8:31-59)