Lasting Lessons from Living Off the Land

During my growing-up years on the farm, I learned important moral and ethical lessons that became a foundation for my adult life.  As I explained in an earlier blog (Click HERE.), I was enlightened morally and ethically by the discipline of loving parents who pointed me on my path to God.  At first, I frequently needed the application of force to my back-end, both at home and at school.  Gradually, my growing respect for human authority led me to recognize my responsibility to an even higher Authority-- the God of all creation.

As I advanced in education, I learned that God reveals His dominion over creation in ways that are obvious to all.  For example, the existence of the Law of Gravity became obvious after several painful encounters.  Less obvious are laws of creation discoverable through scientific inquiry (e.g. laws of heredity and genetics).  These understandings eventually led me to recognize and adopt the principle of stewardship of my God-given gifts of time, talents, and treasures. 

At age 61, I became a blogger and named my blog, “Oikonomia.”  This odd word comes from the Greek word for stewardship, οἰκονομία, pronounced oy-kon-om-ee'-ah which combines oikos (Greek, “house”) and nomos (“to manage”).  This derivation gives us our English word, “economy,” suggesting that every “house” or “system” functions according to an “economy” based on certain laws or rules of order.  The “house” can be any system that requires management such as a farm, any private corporation, or civil government.

The concept of stewardship offers an ideal picture or model of how we ought to think and act; namely, as servant stewards and managers of God’s creation in keeping with His revelation in the Bible, and His natural revelation within the created order (Romans 1: 20).   Since 2008, Oikonomia has been addressing topics of science, faith, and culture based on the Christian stewardship model.  Here in this blog, we will consider whether principles of stewardship and free market capitalism are adequate to address what appear to be a widening gap between the materially rich and the poor.  Or, is it time for us to try another economic system, such as socialism and communism?

Back to my early life, what better place is there than a farm to learn that we are stewards within a “system” that operates by certain laws which require our respect in order to live and flourish?   Using the farm as our example, we will now enumerate some of the principles and values that should characterize good stewardship of any “house:”
1)  My Father’s World
2)  Hand of God’s Providence
3)  Respect for the Order of Creation
4)  Merit-based Privileges
5)  No Free Lunch
6)  Delayed Gratification
7)  Rewards of a Fruitful Harvest
8)  Responsibility to Share with Others

My Father’s World
When I was a young preschool farm boy, my physical world was the farm.  To me, my father was the “lord of the farm.”  He urged me politely and, if necessary, by “persuasion,” to join in the discipline of completing my farm chores responsibly.  My father taught me to work hard and live responsibly.  I was motivated by his example as I worked with him.  He was strong but he also worked with considerable arthritic pain which motivated me all the more to help him “carry the load” of farm work.

When Sunday came, we refrained as much as possible from our labor and our family worshiped God with other people of faith.  My father was accustomed to teach and pray within our assembly, and he tried to live a godly life during the week.  I now realize that my parents’ choice to lead us in faithfully attending church and serving God was a valuable example for me as I eventually married and established priorities in my family.

Among other things, my father taught me the necessary skills of feeding and caring for our large flock of chickens; and gathering, washing, grading, and boxing eggs to sell.  I kept meticulous records from day to day and tallied the income from each dozen sold either at our home or in local grocery stores.  Our farm also produced young Holstein heifers which we sold to dairy farmers; and we grew wheat, corn, oats, and cantaloupes which we sold either in town or at our roadside market.

Hand of God’s Providence
Gradually, I learned that while our family depended upon the income from our work on the farm, our farm in turn was part of the much larger world beyond our 200 acres of land.  Our income from the sale of the products of our labor depended upon the willingness and financial means of our buyers to purchase them.  Our buyers in turn were subjects of the conditions in the larger economy and policies within which they had to operate.  I was humbled to think of the complexity of the market economy and even more humbled to realize that my Father and our farm was only a tiny speck in the larger oikos operating under the providential hand of our Heavenly Father.

The concept of stewardship has no basis without a foundation of faith and recognition of our dependence upon a providential God who owns and sustains His creation.  He is the “Giver of every good and perfect gift that comes down from above” (James 1: 17).  It is this benevolent God who has appointed us to be good stewards of the Earth (Genesis 2: 15).  Psalm 65: 9 declares: 
You visit the earth and cause it to overflow;
   You greatly enrich it;
The stream of God is full of water;
   You prepare their grain, for thus You prepare the earth.

Respect for the Order of Creation
As we have discussed elsewhere [Click HERE.], God’s call to Adam was to till (serve) and keep (preserve) the Garden.  Even before I learned the Hebrew meaning of “till and keep,” I was privileged to be part of tilling and keeping the soil of our farm.  We practiced contour farming, crop rotation, and application of livestock and “green manure,” all of these in keeping with the created order and sound ecological principles.  By practicing sustainable farming as it is now called, we were blessed to receive a bountiful harvest during most years.

Reflecting back on my adolescent development as a farm boy under the influence of my father, I am thankful for how he respected the natural order as relates to what is fitting at each stage of my growth and development.  He refrained from requiring too much of me as an elementary school age laborer whether it be pacing my involvement in handling farm machinery or in my understanding of sexuality.  For example, during my pre-adolescent years, my father would assign chores to direct me away from the stable area where our prize Holstein bull was called into action to service a receptive heifer.  Part of my maturing as a young man was to be invited to help in this process as well as to have conversations about gender and sexuality. I now realize the importance of the family unit as God’s plan for helping young lives understand their identity and purpose.

Merit-Based Privileges
Most of the advancements that I experienced as I grew older on the farm were privileges afforded based on my being responsible for lesser assignments.  Today, we hear much about “merit-based” employment, pay, and promotion; and we also hear of the tragic consequences of employing unqualified or inexperienced individuals.  Jesus said, He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much (Luke 16: 10). 

Expectations placed upon me as a farm boy served in the development of my moral and ethical conscience.  When I shirked my duties or did not give my best effort, I was not afraid of physical punishment as much as dreading the sense that I had disappointed my father.  Since those days, I have come to believe that “the fear of the Lord” above all means to “fear causing grief to my Lord” by my moral failings without repentance.  “Working out our salvation” (Philippians 2: 12) does not mean that salvation is merit-based; Christ has already paid the price for our justification (Romans 5: 1).  He has set us free to walk in the power of His Spirit so that “His commands are not burdensome” and we can do those things pleasing in His sight (1 John 3: 22).

No Free Lunch
We have already cited Genesis 2: 15 which contains God’s command that humans are to “till and keep” the Garden.  Already in Genesis 1 we see God Himself working and then resting from His work.  The Judeo-Christian faith does not condone lazy or slothful behavior.  The Apostle Paul warned the Thessalonian church, if anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat (1 Thessalonians 3: 10b).

There was always work to do on our farm.  While we trusted God to provide the sunshine and rain for our crops, it was our responsibility to plow the soil, plant the seed, and provide the necessary nutrients and cultivation necessary for a successful harvest.  Our survival as a farm family depended upon the annual income from our harvests.  We were reminded of our daily dependence because our fields and garden provided much of the food for our kitchen table and income to purchase the rest.

I learned from farm life that there is no “free lunch” in this life.  I also learned this principle from a classic story, The Little Red Hen, which has been told and retold in different versions.  What follows is similar to the version I read as a boy:

“Once upon a time, there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat.

She called her neighbors and said, "If we plant this wheat, we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?"

"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.

The wheat grew tall and ripened into golden grain. "Who will help me reap my wheat?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.

At last, it came time to bake the bread. "Who will help me bake the bread?" asked the little red hen.

"Not I," said the cow.
"Not I," said the duck.
"Not I," said the pig.
"Not I," said the goose.
"Then I will," said the little red hen, and she did.

She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbors to see. Then, the little red hen as was her habit said,

"Who will help me eat the Bread?"
"I will," said the cow.
"I will," said the duck.
"I will," said the pig.
"I will," said the goose.
"I will," said the little red hen, but you will NOT!

The fundamental importance of being a diligent worker is realized not only on farm and factory; but it is also evident throughout the natural order of creation as we observe the creatures great and small.   Proverbs 6: 6 and following points us to the ant as a revelation of a “work ethic” in non-human creatures (see quote on Right):

Delayed Gratification
The farm is also a great place to learn the virtue of patience.  The Apostle James used a farm analogy to teach patience: The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains (James 5: 7).  The Middle Eastern farmer has to wait for the “early rains” to soften the soil for planting; then patiently wait for the “late rains” in the Spring to mature the crop.

When my farm chores were finished, I loved to read, so I loved to collect books.  I was thrilled when a local grocery chain began to sell The Golden Book Encyclopedia (Western Printing and Lithographing Company, 1960).  One volume was made available each week.  So, I had to patiently wait (sometimes straining to my limit) to get home from school to learn whether mom and dad had brought the next volume home.  My weekly wait was well worth it in the short-term and has taught me the blessing of delayed gratification in many areas of my marriage and professional life.  Indeed, now that I am old, my anticipation of Heaven’s glory has become my greatest joy.

Rewards of a Fruitful Harvest
Patiently waiting for gratification is a major part of crop farming.  For example, raising 4 acres of cantaloupes each year employed us in planting, thinning, hoeing and weeding from the time school ended in the spring until the harvest in August.  When we were tempted to sample a cantaloupe without waiting until it had ripened, we were greeted with a flat, unpleasant taste.  But when the melons were ripe, my cousin and I would whip out our pocket knives and feast on any delicious melon that was not perfect enough for market.  All of the blood, sweat, and tears of our summer labor in the fields was richly rewarded by the harvest.

When I married Abby, God blessed us with a family, and eventually after patiently waiting, we were able to own enough land to have a large garden.  We were able to teach our children, Bradley and Melinda, some of the lessons we had learned from our farm backgrounds.  While digging potatoes and snapping beans were not their favorite chores, the rewards of fresh green beans, corn on the cob, and fried okra on our dinner table reminded us of God’s bountiful provision and reward for our labors.

Responsibility to Share with Others
The Christian faith calls us not only to be thankful for the bounty of God’s provision whether from the farm or from a garden in the city.  In rural communities like ours, it was common for neighbors to share the harvest of fruits, vegetables, etc. with one another or even pay for services with products from farm or garden.

In recent times, churches in our experience offer a harvest table where members can share from their bounty with others in the Body of Christ.  The account of the early church in the Book of Acts describes how the believers were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need (Acts 2: 44-45).  These believers faced considerable rejection and persecution but their selfless, voluntary generosity became a powerful testimony to unbelievers and the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved (v. 47).

Christianity and Capitalism
I have shared eight (8) stewardship principles contained within the lessons that I began to learn during my experience on the farm.  I am still learning from such character-building experiences.  These principles have followed me into my old age and into a culture that is vastly different from that of my growing-up years.  Our family farm was nested in an agrarian community in which the majority of families at least professed faith in God and loved the freedoms and opportunities offered in our country.  I have explained how important our faith in God’s providence was to our family values, worship, and work ethic.

Many of these truths are among those our Founding Fathers considered “self-evident truths” which are famously listed in the Declaration of Independence; namely “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness.”  Our Founders understood that it is God who established the created order and desires that each person flourish by practicing personal initiative and good stewardship of their time, talents, and treasures in order to benefit from the opportunities they receive from the hand of Providence and from caring people serving in various capacities.  When these stewardship qualities are exercised, they have resulted in an economy based on free market capitalism—an economy based on individual freedom of choice, right to hold private property, advancement based on merit, profit motive, competition, and justice and the rule of law.

Christianity Counterfeited?
God has revealed in His Word that we are created in His image (Genesis 1: 27) with the capacity to express love toward Him and to our neighbor.  But Genesis 3 reveals that we are fallen creatures who although professing to be wise, act like fools (Romans 1:  22).  We are capable of loving God and others, and we discern when there is injustice and inequity among us.  But our efforts to solve our problems often ignore our need for transformation of heart and mind (Romans 12: 1-3).  Our well-meaning intentions lead us into a godless, humanistic approach to solving perceived social injustices.  One consequence of excluding God’s truth from the equation is to focus on the material world as expressed in an atheistic, materialistic worldview.   

Those who aspire to a materialistic worldview point to free market capitalism as the cause of the widening gap between the rich and the poor.  They propose to close the gap and remove class distinctions by replacing private ownership of goods and services with a collective ownership and means of production.  The principles of stewardship which I learned from the farm no longer apply:
1)  NOT My Father’s World:  Far from being “lord” or owner of our farm, my father is just a worker of land that is part of a collective; family members are workers, or “comrades.”
2)  NOT the Providential Hand of God:  Rather, we must look to the economic planners who decide what is best based on a supposed scientific understanding of Earth’s climate and weather.
3)  NO Respect for the Order of Creation:   There is no Creator; human needs and behaviors are understood as instincts that have evolved to favor survival.
4)  “NO Free Lunch” is replaced with “Free Lunch” for those who are deemed the oppressed and who deserve special “help” and, retribution if deemed necessary.
5)  NO Delayed Gratification as long as the collective can supply our material wants “now.”
6)  NO Merit-based Privileges:  they are the cause of unwanted class distinctions
7)  Rewards of a Fruitful Harvest consist of equal returns for all regardless of the labor invested.
8)  Responsibility to Share with Others – NOT from generous hearts, but enforced by the collective

Ben Shapiro has pointed out that socialism has its own moral flaws: “Socialism violates at least three of the Ten Commandments: It turns government into God, it legalizes thievery, and it elevates covetousness.  Discussions of income inequality, after all, aren't about prosperity but about petty spite. Why should you care how much money I make, so long as you are happy?”

But Hasn’t Capitalism Failed?
In spite of known failings of socialism and communism, many today have lost faith in free market capitalism.  After all, the rich seem to get richer while affordability of housing and other basic needs seem more and more a distant dream.  Many who profess faith in God condemn the wealthy and corporations while calling for a more just distribution of wealth.  How can a sincere Christ-follower believe in capitalism?  Where is the church of Christ in the face of so much inequity in our society and around the world?

We have addressed the strengths and weaknesses of capitalism and socialism in an earlier blog entitled “There’s No Such Thing as Private Property” [Click HERE.]  However, we believe it is correct to say that God’s purpose for His Church through Christ’s death and resurrection is His best and only plan for redemption of fallen man.  Likewise, there is no better economic system than capitalism to allow the freedom in which humans can respond to their calling to steward their God-given abilities in creative and cooperative ways for the betterment of others and their own livelihood.  But like the church, capitalism can become corrupt and fall into ill repute when the principles of God's Word are ignored and selfishness rules.

John R.W. Stott, in writing about authentic Christianity, gave this example: 

"There was a Hindu professor in India who once identified one of his students as a Christian and said to him: “If you Christians lived like Jesus Christ, India would be at your feet tomorrow.” I think India would be at their feet today if we Christians lived like Christ.  From the Islamic world, the Reverend Iskandar Jadeed, a former Arab Muslim, has said “If all Christians were Christians—that is, Christlike—there would be no more Islam today.”²

 Perhaps we could add, “If all Christians were Christians—that is, Christlike, there would be no need for government welfare programs and no fascination toward socialism or communism."

Today, relatively few boys and girls have the opportunity to grow up on a farm where they can learn the basic principles I have outlined in this blog.  However, if children are introduced to Jesus Christ and their faith is nurtured in a Christian home with the aid of a healthy local church, they will have opportunity to mature in like manner regardless of their culture.  May we who profess Christ be truly Christlike in our needy world.

Reference:
¹ The Little Red Hen, An Old English Folk Tale was modified from The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Little Red Hen, by Florence White Williams

² Stott, John R.W. 2009.  “Becoming More Like Christ.”   C.S. Lewis Institute.  Click HERE.

    Read or listen to a more expanded version of The Little Red Hen.  Click HERE.

Why Pray for Israel? Part 2 – The “Israel of God”

Do you know which nation besides the United States is most frequently included in the geopolitical, economic, and religious headlines?”   [Ready with your answer?]  According to the Pew Research Center and Gallup Polls, next to the United States, the most frequently mentioned nations are Israel and China.  No surprise that China ranks so high; but Israel?  Not only is she ranked second or third between two world superpowers; the tiny nation of Israel has survived among neighbors and their proxies that have repeatedly called for her annihilation!  Might we suggest that the answers to this anomaly lie in the providential hand of God?

Why Should We Care About Israel?

In Part 1 of this series (See HERE.), we asked, “Why Pray for Israel?”   We concluded that one cannot account for either the prominence of Israel geopolitically or the long-term historic record of social and spiritual hostilities against the Jewish people without exploring the relationship of Israel to God’s sovereign plan of the salvation and restoration of His fallen creation.  We explained that to understand “Israel” in God’s plan, we must distinguish three meanings of this name.  “Israel” often refers to
(a) the “State of Israel,” but also can mean
(b) people of Jewish ethnicity worldwide; or,
(c) "the Israel of God" (Galatians 6: 16) which includes all people, both Jew and Gentile, whose faith identifies them as “spiritual seed of Abraham" (Romans 9: 6-7).  

Genesis 12: 1-3 records God's covenant with Abraham in which He promised three things: land, descendants, and blessings.  God repeated these promises to Abraham in Genesis 15:5-7 and 17:4-8; and later, to Abraham’s son Isaac by faith whom his wife Sarah had borne in her old age (Genesis 22: 16-18).  In turn, God gave Isaac’s son Jacob the assurance of God’s “Abrahamic covenant” (Genesis 28: 1-4).  But how does God’s promise of land, descendants, and blessings relate to His plan of salvation and restoration through the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Part 1 concludes with partial answers to this question from within the writings of the Apostle Paul in his epistles to the first century churches after the death and resurrection of Christ.  In Romans 1: 16-17, Paul quotes the Prophet Habakkuk in stating that THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (Habakkuk 2:4).  The patriarch Abraham demonstrated this faith when he ...believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness (Galatians 3: 6).  Wonderfully, God’s salvation is a gift to those who surrender their “works of righteousness” and by faith receive salvation as His “love gift” through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, His Sin-Bearer (Romans 6: 23; Titus 3: 5-6).

But, if the way of salvation is through faith in Christ and His Gospel, what obligation do Christians (Christ-followers) have toward Israel?  Again, the Apostle Paul, answers this question as we noted in Part 1 (Click HERE.).  There, we used a series of questions with Scripture references that provide answers.  We will now revisit these questions; and then, continue with more questions relating to God's plan for "Israel."
Note:  Our aim is not to present the "final word" on questions of God's sovereign plan. We could not presume to do this anyway based on our theological expertise.  But hopefully, our chosen format will provide a scaffolding for meaningful thought and dialog.

What should be our attitude toward “Israel” and “Jews?” 

1) Does the Gospel apply to Israel?  - Romans 1: 16-17
Paul's calling as an apostle and his testimony following his conversion made him a passionate and bold preacher of the Gospel to all people --"to the Jew first and also the Gentile."
Application: The Gospel is for all people to hear and respond.

2) Do both Jews and Gentiles face judgment without Christ?
     - Romans 2: 4, 9-11
Both Jews and Gentiles are subjects of God's kindness which ought to lead to repentance (turning from our sin) and pursuit of God's righteousness.  Otherwise, neither Jew nor Gentile can be saved from eternal damnation.
Application:  This truth is reason for us to pray for all people (1 Timothy 2: 1).

3) What example does the Apostle Paul leave for us?
     - Romans 9: 1-5
Paul was so burdened for the salvation of his Jewish countrymen that he could wish that he himself would be ...accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh... (v. 2-3).   
Consider:  Paul's example is reason for us to pray for Israel and the Jewish people.  But, we will need to distinguish what is meant by "Israel" to inform our prayers.  Read on, please.

What should be our attitude toward God's sovereign plan?

4) Does God have the right to define "righteousness?"

...the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” - Romans 1: 16-17 (quoted by Paul from Habakkuk 2: 4)
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. - Hebrews 11: 6
Consider:  Although God is patient toward mankind, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Peter 3: 9), yet by God's standard of justice, it is ...not because of any works of righteousness that we have done, but because of His own compassion and mercy He saves us...(Titus 3: 5).  God alone defines righteousness.

5) Does God have the right to dispense mercy?
The Scriptures say, "Yes, He does."  ...as it is written, there is none righteous, not even one...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3: 10, 23).  So then, God has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens* whom He desires (Romans 9: 18; and see v. 19-21).
Consider:  God's exercise of His choice to whom He will extend mercy and grace is illustrated throughout the descendants of Abraham, beginning with Abraham through Isaac, and made very clear in His choice of Jacob the second-born twin son of Isaac rather than the firstborn, Esau (see Romans 9: 10-16).  So then, it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy (v. 16).  Praise God for His unmerited favor!  [We will address "hardening" in Question 9.]

6) Does God have the right to call Gentiles as well as Jews?
The short answer is "Yes.!" As established in Question 4 above, God has the right to define both His righteousness and to dispense His mercy (Question 5) as He wills.  Romans 9: 22-24 extends this logic by stating that the same God who ...endured with much patience objects of His wrath prepared for destruction...did so to make known the riches of His glory upon objects of mercy which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not from among the Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.  The Apostle Paul continues describing God's sovereign plan by referencing Hosea 2: 23:  I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, "MY PEOPLE," AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, "BELOVED."

Consider:  We can see from these Scriptures the ramification of God's covenant with Abraham which we discussed in Part 1 and reviewed above.  God had promised to Abraham that ALL THE NATIONS SHALL BE BLESSED IN YOU (Genesis 12: 3).  Even though God had chosen Abraham and his descendants through Isaac and Jacob to make up His "chosen people" in the Old Testament (O.T.) era, it was also clear that God was extending His mercy and grace to Gentiles.  For example, God had extended mercy to the Canaanite prostitute, Rahab (Joshua 6: 25), and the Moabite widow, Ruth (Ruth 4: 13-17), who became the great-grandmother of King David.  And so, Paul could write in Galatians 3: 8:  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand to Abraham.... The faith calling of the Gospel of Christ was already evident in the Abrahamic covenant which foreshadowed God's plan to call people of faith from "all nations," both Jew and Gentile.
Question:  Does the message of Scriptures like Hosea 2: 23 and Galatians 3: 8 (above) suggest that God has given up on His "chosen people?"  Please continue reading.

Did God abandon His covenant with Abraham?

7) Or has God been working instead through a “remnant?”
The Old Testament Scripture in Hosea 2: 23, quoted by the Apostle Paul (See (6)), suggests that God extends His sovereign mercy and salvation to people outside of the descendants of Abraham.  You may ask, what will happen to God's "chosen people?"  Paul answers this question in Romans 9: 27 by quoting from another O.T. prophet, Isaiah, who lived 700 years BC when Israel was being threatened by Assyria:
For though your people, O Israel,
may be like the sand of the sea,
Only a remnant within them will return;
A destruction is determined,
overflowing with righteousness (Isaiah 10: 22).
In Romans 11: 1-5, Paul elaborates on “the remnant.”  First, he asks if God has rejected His people (v. 1) and concludes that He has not (v. 1-2); but instead, quotes God’s response to the prophet Elijah who was fearful and discouraged when he thought he was the only faithful person left in Israel (1 Kings 19: 18):  God replied, No!  But instead, …I HAVE KEPT FOR MYSELF 7,000 MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL (Romans 11: 4).  Paul then connects this O.T. reference to a the first-century remnant of his own time (v. 5) writing as follows:  In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.
Consider: The notion of a “remnant” runs like a thread throughout the Old and New Testament Scriptures, pointing to God’s sovereignty and covenant love (Heb. hesed, or, “lovingkindness, mercy”).  In spite of the apostasy of both within Israel and among the Gentile nations, a remnant “remained steadfast in covenant loyalty. 

Through them, God’s purposes move forward…” (Bible Hub Commentary, click HERE).  Indeed, God’s remnant does not mean His plan of redemption is a small thing, as we shall now see.

8) What determines who becomes part of the remnant of Israel?
We have established that God’s covenant love and mercy does not include all of Abraham’s offspring, but only through the line of Isaac, Abraham’s son by faith (Genesis 22: 16-18), and through Isaac’s son, Jacob, renamed Israel.  Furthermore, as noted in Question 7 above, only a remnant of Israel will be saved (Romans 11: 5). The Apostle Paul explains why only a remnant of Israel were chosen. 

Summarizing his explanation in Romans 10: 1-5, Paul repeats his desire and prayer for his Jewish countrymen (v. 1) and commends their zeal for God (v.2).  But then, Paul laments that Israel by and large, …not knowing about God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own (by depending on “keeping a law of righteousness” of their own (Romans 9: 30-31) they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10: 3).

And what is the “righteousness of God?” Short answer:  Jesus Christ!  For Christ is the termination of the law for [human-based] righteousness to everyone who believes (v. 4).  The alternative is to place confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3: 4) as many in Israel did, seeking to please God by their own works but failing to reach the standard of the righteousness of God which is only attained by Jesus Christ.  Instead, Israel …did not pursue [righteousness] by faith, but… stumbled over the stumbling stone…Jesus Christ (Romans 9: 30-33).  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and [even] that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast (Ephesians 2: 8-9).
Consider: In addressing Question 7 above, we stated that the notion of the “remnant” runs like a thread throughout Scripture.  Hopefully, we now understand that the proper "boast" of all who are the elect is a humble response to God's calling in repentance and in recognition of our need for the gift of the righteousness of Christ.
Question:  Can you see how the contrast between "human-based right standing" (i.e. "works of righteousness") before God and submitting to God's call to His righteousness is evident throughout the Bible?  The contrast began with Adam and Eve hiding behind fig leaves in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3: 7-8); then, continued between Cain and Able (Genesis 4: 1-8; Hebrews 11: 4).  Abraham produced a son, Ishmael, by his own works before Isaac was born as a son of faith (Romans 9: 7-9).  The same pattern continues through the history of Israel from the period of Moses through Joshua and the judges, the kings, the prophets, and into the current age.
Application:  The responsibility to yield to God's calling through the Gospel is one that every person must either accept or reject.  But how does that work?

9) What determines submission of heart to God’s calling?
Earlier, we explained that God reserves His sovereign right to define righteousness (Question 4) and to dispense mercy as He wishes (Question 5).  These biblical claims are predicated upon the central truth that ...without Christ, [we are] excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2: 12), and we are ...dead in our trespasses and sins...(Ephesians 2: 1).  Our "default condition" as a descendant of Adam is death and separation from God.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)... (Ephesians 2: 4-5).

How is it that the same God, rich in mercy, also chooses to cause hardening of hearts?  Scripture supports God's sovereign right to extend to anyone, Jew or Gentile...mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires (Romans 9: 18).  Later, in Romans 11: 7, Paul applies "hardening" to Israel, writing, ...that which Israel is seeking for [based on human-based righteousness; see Question 8), it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

Consider:  Logically, we can conclude that God reserves the sovereign right to allow hardening.  This divinely permitted spiritual dullness is God's judicial response to persistent unbelief.  Paul uses the example of the Egyptian Pharaoh who became hardened as he resisted Moses's pleas to free God's people from slavery (Exodus 9: 16; Romans 9: 17).  But God hardened not only Gentiles like Pharaoh but many within Israel as we noted above. Both were ...A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE  (Romans 9: 17).
Application:  What lesson is here for us to apply to our spiritual lives?  See Hebrews 3: 13.

10)  If God dispenses mercy or hardening, how can He find fault?
The Apostle Paul anticipates this question (Romans 9:18-19) and does not answer it, but simply warns readers not to question the Creator (v. 20-26).  To us, there appears to be a mysterious interdependency between God's sovereign call and election of those who will be saved, on the one hand; and on the other hand, the responsibility of each individual to hear and respond to God's call in repentance and faith in God's salvation through Christ.  In Romans 10: 8, Paul takes away the excuse that God's call is too faint or distant to hear: But what does [righteousness of God] say?  "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH  [to confess] AND IN YOUR HEART [to believe]" -- that is, the word of faith which we are preaching...  Upon hearing the word of faith being preached in the power of God's Spirit, our individual responsibility is to ...confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord  ["supreme Authority, Master; and if we ...believe in your heart [core being; mind, will, affections] that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved... (v. 9).

Consider:   Only God knows how many out of all humanity have heard His call to repentance and faith; and still, they did not respond.  Can you remember times when you heard God speaking so near and inviting to your spiritual ears and tugging on your heart?  Then, hopefully you yielded to God's love in repentance and faith.  The Apostle Paul writes about the mysterious interdependency between God's choice of ...us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him (Ephesians 1: 4); and then, our responsibility to respond ...after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise...(Ephesians 1: 13).  
Application:  Although we do not fully understand how God's mercy and grace interacts with our stubborn wills, hopefully we can worship and praise Him for saving us and sealing us for eternity in the body of Christ which is His church, the community of faith in Christ composed of both Jew and Gentile.  To answer our overarching question above, God did not abandon His covenant with Abraham but expanded it through a "new covenant" inaugurated in the blood of Christ who is our Great High Priest through whom we have personal access to the throne of God (Hebrews 4: 16).

11) Who or what is "the Israel of God?"
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian Christians who were being drawn away from the righteousness of Christ back into "law-based righteousness."  He exhorted them with these words:  But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God (Galatians 6: 14-16).  Our understanding is that the "Israel of God" is Jesus Christ, God's perfect Israel.  Because of His perfect life, sacrificial death, and resurrection, Jesus is everything that fallen Jacob (renamed Israel) and his Jewish descendants of the nation of Israel had failed to become.  God gave His exalted Son, Jesus Christ ...as head over all things to the church which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1: 22-23).  Christ, the "Israel of God, "fills all" of His creation with His glory, being Himself the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan through His covenant with Israel and the new covenant in the blood of the Lamb which establishes His church.
Consider this!  God gave His Son who has all authority (Matthew 28: 18) to serve as bridegroom and husbandman of His church (Ephesians 5: 25-27).  When the eyes of the body of Christ, the church, the Israel of God, are focused on Him, the old covenant promise of land fades in comparison to the promise of our  "citizenship in Heaven" (Philippians 3: 20).  The ethnic divisions of Jew, Greek, Roman, etc., gender, and social class also dissolve:  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise (Galatians 3: 27-29).
Application:  What do the claims of these Scriptures mean to you?  Take time to meditate on them.  Don't let the apparent theological complexity distract you from exalting Christ ...who fills all in all with His glory.

How then, should Christians pray for Israel?

12) Why has Israel seemingly "missed the boat?"
Given the prominent role of Israel in God's redemptive plan throughout the Old Testament, doesn't it seem odd that His "chosen people" should be so scattered and apparently abandoned?  The Apostle Paul anticipated this notion when he asked, God has not rejected His people, has He (Romans 11: 1a)?  Recall that we discussed how God gave Israel over to spiritual dullness (hardening) as His judicial response to their persistent unbelief (Question 9).  Then, in Romans 11: 11a, Paul asks more specifically, ...they [Israel] did not stumble as to fall did they?  Paul answers his question, emphatically "No!"  Rather, he explains that because of unbelief,  Israel was hardened, what produced a dual effect--  ...salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them [Jews] jealous (v. 11b).  The duel benefits are first, that by giving the Jews a "spirit of stupor (v. 8)...until the fullness of the Gentiles come in; and thus, all Israel will be saved...(v. 25-26a); and second, by the salvation of Gentiles, the Jews are moved to jealousy (v. 14).  It followed that if Paul could capitalize on their jealousy, at least some Jews might be saved (v. 14).

Application:  Again, if we are honest, we are no strangers to spiritual dullness.  May we not take it lightly as Hebrews 13: 3 cautions.  But also, may we be prayerfully sensitive toward others regardless of ethnicity or religious persuasion when we encounter spiritual dullness in them, realizing the miracle of God's grace that awakened us from spiritual death (Ephesians 2: 1ff).  Read on as we address what might be a prideful attitude toward the Jewish people.

13) As a Gentile, am I prideful over the spiritually dull?
Redeemed Gentiles such as us who realize that God still graciously allows His chosen people to experience a spiritual dullness while He calls lovingly to others to be saved (such as we were), it is easy to become prideful.   The Apostle Paul anticipates this unbiblical attitude and counters it with a wonderful botanical analogy to humble the prideful.  Many horticultural varieties from apples to olives have been enhanced over the years by grafting the branches (scions) that bear more promising fruit onto common, or wild, rootstocks.  No one wanting to improve a variety would graft a wild olive rootstock onto a rich-yielding rootstock.  Yet, Paul applies this unlikely scenario when he writes to bring humility to Gentile hearers:  But if some of the branches were broken off [to make room for you], and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either (Romans 11: 17-21). 

As noted in Question 12, here we see the olive tree as the place of privilege of the Jews while the wild branches are the Gentiles grafted in (saved) by God's grace.  But God is not finished with unbelieving Israel and will be grafting them back into the olive tree as "natural branches" if they forsake their unbelief (Romans 11: 23) --another reason the Gentiles (like us as "wild branches") should not be prideful.

Consider:  According to Paul's analogy, the rich root of the olive tree is believed to represent the Abrahamic covenant in which God promised Abraham many descendants (Genesis 12: 1-3; Gen. 17: 1-2).  The blessings of this covenant (See introduction above) were extended through Abraham's son, Isaac, and to his son, Jacob (renamed Israel).  Significantly, God affirmed His covenant with Jacob (Israel) twice (Genesis 28: 3; 35: 11).  In the latter instance, God appeared to Jacob, changed his name to "Israel," and said, 'I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company (or "congregation, assembly") of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you.'"  Near his death, Israel repeated the covenant in the hearing of his sons (Genesis 48: 4).  

According to John B. Carpenter (Click HERE.), God was promising more than just that an ethnic (Jewish) line will come from Israel.  Much more, there will be a "company of nations" (Hebrew, k’hal goyim) which many interpret as the Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word, ekklesia, meaning “church” or “assembly.”  In Carpenter's interpretation, "The Church did not replace Israel because Israel was always and already the Church, the promised “assembly of peoples." When the Apostle Paul speaks of the “Israel of God” (Gal 6:16), he is not speaking of a replacement entity; he is describing the continuum of God's ancient gathering of believers from all kinds of peoples and nations.  [Note that early in Israel's history, this "continuum" had included Gentiles such as Rahab and Ruth (See Question 6).]  Believers in Christ are the “children of Abraham,” and the true Israel is the one olive tree into which believing Gentiles are grafted."
Application:  Far from a prideful attitude over those who are spiritually dull, let us give humble praise to God and to Jesus Christ who is the ...head of the body, the church (Colossians 1: 18).  How will this understanding affect your attitude and prayers for those of Jewish ethnicity, and toward the Gentiles?

14) How should we focus our prayers for Israel? 
We have interpreted the command of Psalm 122: 6 to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem,” to mean that we should pray for the whole nation of Israel.  We have found no Scriptural prohibition of praying for Israel whether it be praying for the State of Israel, or praying for all who have Jewish ethnicity, or for “spiritual Israel,” the "Israel of God" (Galatians 6: 16).  In fact, given the ongoing Middle East conflict surrounding the Nation of Israel and its leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, we ought to pray for that nation.  Also, given the current rise in Antisemitism, it is important that we pray for ethnic Jews and all who hate them.

As we have considered whether and how to pray for Israel or for any nation, there is an important biblical consideration.  Based on our reasoning in Questions 7-10, we can assert that ...they are not all Israel who are descendants of Israel (Romans 9: 7).  Many Jews within the State of Israel and worldwide are apostates just as there are multitudes of Gentiles in the United States and beyond who do not live by faith in God.  Still, a remnant remains steadfast in covenant dependence upon the righteousness of God through faith.  Through the true "Israel of God," Jesus Christ, God's sovereign purposes are unfolding daily on the path toward an eternal "peace of Jerusalem."  God's spiritual remnant, "spiritual Israel" looks forward to gathering in the New Jerusalem on ...Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven (Hebrews 12: 22-23).

Application: We understand that ...our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ (Philippians 3: 20).  But, in the meantime, the Scriptures urge us to pray for ...all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity (1 Timothy 2: 1b-2).  When we obey these commands and pray for one another and for leaders like President Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu, and their administrations, we understand that God has always worked through the hearts of a remnant of godly people.  Nations are only as godly as their leaders and citizens.  When we use the prayer format taught by Jesus, we pray, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6: 10).  Our primary focus is not for the glory of any earthly nation or political leader.  Instead, we bow humbly before Jesus Christ, the true “Israel of God,” the One whom God has made …head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (Ephesians 1: 22-23).   It is in the Body of Christ, the church, that our hope for the Earth should rest because …Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.  Amen!
Question:  How will you pray after having read and considered the 14 questions we have raised?  We trust that your faith is being strengthened because you are more able to evaluate the current geopolitical, economic, and spiritual forces at work through the lens of a correct biblical worldview.

Comments Welcome:  Hopefully, we have stirred some questions in your mind and we'd love to hear from you.  Just click the "Comment" link below and share your questions and insights on what we have offered in Part 2, or from Part 1 (Click HERE).  You can respond privately by writing to silviusj@gmail.com