Walking in Faith

¹⁸ But I say, surely they have never heard, have they? Indeed they have; “THEIR VOICE HAS GONE OUT INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS TO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD.” ¹⁹ But I say, surely Israel did not know, did they? First Moses says, “I WILL MAKE YOU JEALOUS BY THAT WHICH IS NOT A NATION, BY A NATION WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING WILL I ANGER YOU.” ²⁰ And Isaiah is very bold and says, “I WAS FOUND BY THOSE WHO DID NOT SEEK ME, I BECAME MANIFEST TO THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME.” ²¹ But as for Israel He says, “ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE.”

Was the good news limited to only a select group of people? Were others not able to hear the good news? Paul tells us that they were able to hear the gospel of Christ. The news was spread across the entire, known world. Jews were not exclusive in this, nor were they excluded. The gospel of Christ was, and still is, available for everyone.

During the time of Moses, the Jews were not obedient to the Laws given by God. They worshiped false idols, they did not have faith in His ultimate protection and love for them. God then speaks through Moses and tells the Jews that because they have rejected His word, He will anger them and make them jealous by allowing other nations, or the Gentiles, to come to Him and to find salvation. What a kick in the backside that had to be to the Jews.

God continued to be there for the Israelites — He continued to provide for them, even though they were disobedient to His Laws. Even now, as we live our daily lives, how often are we obedient to His teachings? How often do we live every moment for Him instead of ourselves? Our priorities demonstrate our true obedience to Him in many situations.