“Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in Him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
‘Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ For this reason they could not believe, because as Isaiah says elsewhere, ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn – and would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about Him. Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue, for they loved human praise more than praise from God.” (John 12: 37 – 43)
Though He had performed miracles of healing, provision, even raising the dead in front of them, some of the Israelites did not believe He was the Messiah, Son of Man, The true Son of God. So it is for every generation. Why is that?
Here are some truths to consider. The Lord is Sovereign. His time to reveal Himself to us, and allow us to open our minds and hearts to Him is divine. His time – His purpose. He has a purpose for that particular time, and all that is going on during particular seasons. Peace is ours when we accept that fact. Jesus said, ‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them…’ (John 6:44) The Israelites were/are a chosen people. A Nation of people that was brought forth from a man and woman in a miraculous way, to be used to bring forth a visible relationship of love between man, and God Almighty, in the person of Jesus Christ. God has used that Nation to exhibit the inability of man to be good enough to have a relationship with a Holy God, but that He loves us anyway. He is still using it in this time of ‘grace’ for the Gentiles to come to know Jesus. For as Paul wrote in his letter to the Ephesians: ‘That through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.’ (Ephesians 3:6) Christ came through Israel. Even though as a Nation they deny Him, through Christ, our Abba Father has provided Salvation for all. Romans 11:25 tells us that includes the nation of Israel. Just as the Nation of Israel, each of us have a walk that is uniquely ours, and is a part of the plan God has for man. Let us rejoice, and be glad in that. Know that your life is filled with purpose.
Let us not judge Israel, or any person. We do not know what God is doing in that life or that Nation. We are to offer a relationship with Christ to our Brothers and Sisters as God opens the door. He opens the door when He chooses to. He has us where and when He needs us. As Paul said, “From one man He made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth and He marked our their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach our for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us. For in Him we live and move have our being. We are His offspring.’ (Acts 17: 26-28) We only see what is visible. We do not see what God is doing with that person’s life either within or without, or the purpose He has for them. This we know, God is Good. He is Love. We are His offspring. He loves us unconditionally. We are His Love personified. May we represent Him well.