A Light to the Nations, No Matter What

March 27th, 2019

Today we end our reading of the official Torah, the five books of Moshe. Throughout the readings I’ve been struck by Yehovah’s promises to His people and because Devarim is a synopsis of 40 years of wondering and preparation, I’ve noted those promises nearly every day.

I’m not sure I’m going to say this well, so I ask for grace.

At Mount Sinai, Yehovah gave the Hebrews and the mixed multitude with them a “Great Commission”, to obey the instructions of Yehovah and be a light to the nations, His witnesses. Throughout the desert wanderings we read about the promises of Yehovah to the people if they will do that and the curses if they don’t. Interestingly, no matter what they choose to do Yehovah will reveal Himself to the world through the chosen people. They will either be blessed in the land and the world will be in awe of the God they serve, or they will be cursed and scattered among the nations so that the world will know that Yehovah is not a man that He should lie; His blessings and cursings are both very real.

For nearly 2000 years, Israel has been dispersed among the nations. By all rights they should have disappeared, but they didn’t. As small in number as they are, the nation should at least be virtually ignored, and yet they are watched and talked about by nearly every other nation on the planet. And they are hated as no other religion or nationality is hated. I think it’s bizarre, but I also think I know why.

The continued existence of the Jewish people reminds the nations that they are not in control. They are not in control of nature, they are not in control of time, they are not in control of law, ultimately. The nations can’t fully ignore the One Who IS in control as long as His people are around to remind them of Him. They know that just like the Jews have suffered the promised curses, so will they if they do not repent, which they won’t do because they really do want to ignore the God of Creation.

Apparently, like the sin of Canaan, the sin of the nations is not yet complete, but when it is Yehovah’s army will once again be unleashed to mete out punishment, only this time it will be in the whole earth. The Jewish people are the target of all the fear the nations have for Yehovah, a fear that manifests as hatred. The world is not rejecting Israel, but her God, Yehovah, the Creator and King.

Praise Yah that His people exist as a message and example to us. May the World to Come be soon!