Leviticus 26 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Yet in spite of this, while they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or abhor them, so as to destroy them and break my covenant with them, since I am the L_rd their G_d. For their sake, I will remember the covenant with their fathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their G_d; I am the L_rd.” Leviticus 26:44-45

Last week I was posed this question from some friends in Hawaii, who receive our daily Living Room devotions: Do the Jews believe in the same G_d as Christians?

The question stems from a great theological debate which suggests that, since “Non-believing” Jews have rejected Jesus (Yeshua), they are not accepting the “wholeness of G_d”; thus, the G_d whom non-believing Jews accept is not the same as the G_d Christians believe in.

The B’rit Hadashah (New Testament), speaking of Yeshua, informs us that there is “no other name under Heaven by which men must be saved”. Yeshua said, “I am the way and the truth and the Life, and no man comes to the Father, except through me.” Whether Jew of Gentile, accepting Messiah Yeshua is the essential component of Salvation. The first chapter of John speaks clearly of Yeshua’s deity. In that sense, knowing Who Yeshua is, brings the essential understanding of Who G_d is.

But since Yeshua is a member of the Trinity (G_d’s existence as three persons), wasn’t He present when Adonai spoke these (above) words to Moses?

Obviously, the “Christian” understanding of Israel’s understanding of G_d takes a back seat to G_d’s understanding of His plan for the redemption of Israel…and the world. This was the basis for Paul’s message to the Roman Messianic congregation.

“I ask, then, have they (Israel) stumbled so as to fall? Absolutely not! On the contrary, by their stumbling, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. Now if their stumbling brings riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full number bring? Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. In view of the fact that I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my own ministry, if I can somehow make my own people jealous and save some of them. For if their being rejected is World reconciliation, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?” Romans 11:11-15

G_d’s covenant with Israel is with those who, by faith, believe. His faithfulness is the foundation for the security of our salvation. Perhaps, a more important question than, “Do Jews believe in the G_d of the Christians?”, is the question: Does the G_d of all creation keep His covenants…and did He fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob through Messiah Yeshua? Scripture testifies that He did.

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins, Associate Leader, Worship Leader
Shuvah Yisrael
Daily Devotional, Tuesday, May 6, 2014