Part 4 of 5 –

AMBASSADORS ARE WITHDRAWN WHEN WAR IS DECLARED.

4. Ambassadors are withdrawn when war is declared. Just when it seemed that the relationship between God and Israel might become still closer; just when it seemed that Israel might become the very kingdom of Messiah , she showed the extent of her natural alienation from God and violently refused the long promised blessing.

We must never overlook God’s gracious condescension in seeking a closer relationship with Israel . Christ, indeed, was Immanuel—“God with us,” but in what sense was He “God with us?” We must remember that the Son of God became the Son of man—indeed, he Son of Abraham, the Son f David. Paul speaks of Israel , “of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came” (Rom. 9:5).

Our Lord had condescended to become one with man. He was actually Israel ’s flesh and bone, so that as King, He would not only be the Son of God, but one of themselves. But instead of the people of Israel being honored by this they scourged Him, beat Him, spit in His face, condemned Him to death as a criminal, and nailed Him to the cross. And even this was not the end of their hatred toward Him, for after the resurrection and ascension they still continued to vent their wrath against Him. They threatened the apostles and beat them and cast them into prison. They stoned Stephen and finally waged “a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem .” Saul of Tarsus was the leading persecutor. “As for Saul, he made havoc of the church” (Acts 8:3). He himself later confessed: “...beyond measure I persecuted the church of God and wasted it”2 (Gal. 1:13). Could Israel ’s acts be interpreted in any other way than as a declaration of war against God? They were joining hands with the Gentiles “against the Lord and against His Anointed,” and fast becoming, not merely aliens, but enemy aliens.

It is interesting to notice that at the trial of the Lord Jesus “the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses?” (Matt. 26:65). We should compare this verse with Leviticus 10:6 where Moses gives instructions concerning the priesthood: “And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his son, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people.”

This lends significance to Caiaphas’ act in tearing his garments, for as Israel crucified Christ and stood by that awful deed, not merely the priest, but the priesthood died and wrath came upon all the people. Israel had recalled her ambassadors and joined the Gentiles in a declaration of war on God and His Anointed. And God will recall us, His ambassadors, too, when He declares war on this Christ-rejecting world. “For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail “...God has left us here for one great purpose: to represent His Son.” upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (I Thes. 5:2-3).

But “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (I Thes. 5:9,10). Before God pours out the vials of His wrath upon the nations, “The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. “Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (I Thes. 4:16-18).