Blessings or Hostility
Leviticus 26 contains a prophecy concerning Israel's long term history. It shares some basic elements with the preceding chapter, 25 which describes the Jubilee arrangement. The most central concept is ownership and blessings of the land that YHWH gave to Israel. Lev 26 adds prophetic (predictive and reactive) dimensions to Israel's occupation of the land.
On a very basic level the disobedience of Israel that Moses warned against would have direct reactive consequences. Israel's disobedience got them involved in many conflicts that resulted in several national disasters. On a higher level they also followed the predicted prophetic scheme that Moses relates in Lev 26. They were scattered from their land after a troubled history that started with the wilderness wanderings, continued to the capture of the 10 tribes by Assyria and ended with their deportation by Babylon. The prophet Daniel mentions the desolations of the land in Dan 9. The land of Israel suffered several times in many long centuries Even with a restoration in the period of the Persians, the people and the land eventually fell victim to a nearly complete scattering and desolation at the hands of Rome. That desolation was noticed in many European explorations of the holy land during the 19th century.
The lesson of Moses ends with a hopeful note, God would remember his covenant with the people of Israel, he will bring them back to the land. It's not comfortable assimilation among the nations. God says he will not reject them, vs 44, that's a long term promise that bridges over the long diaspora to modern times. He wants them in the land that he gave to the fathers. God says to Israel:
40 If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me--
41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies--or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity,
42then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.
This has been happening during the past century. The increase of even greater blessings will follow the repentance of the people of Israel. These are the words of the Torah. To the Jewish people, now is the time of opportunity.
On a very basic level the disobedience of Israel that Moses warned against would have direct reactive consequences. Israel's disobedience got them involved in many conflicts that resulted in several national disasters. On a higher level they also followed the predicted prophetic scheme that Moses relates in Lev 26. They were scattered from their land after a troubled history that started with the wilderness wanderings, continued to the capture of the 10 tribes by Assyria and ended with their deportation by Babylon. The prophet Daniel mentions the desolations of the land in Dan 9. The land of Israel suffered several times in many long centuries Even with a restoration in the period of the Persians, the people and the land eventually fell victim to a nearly complete scattering and desolation at the hands of Rome. That desolation was noticed in many European explorations of the holy land during the 19th century.
The lesson of Moses ends with a hopeful note, God would remember his covenant with the people of Israel, he will bring them back to the land. It's not comfortable assimilation among the nations. God says he will not reject them, vs 44, that's a long term promise that bridges over the long diaspora to modern times. He wants them in the land that he gave to the fathers. God says to Israel:
40 If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their forefathers, in their unfaithfulness which they committed against Me, and also in their acting with hostility against Me--
41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies--or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity,
42then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land.
This has been happening during the past century. The increase of even greater blessings will follow the repentance of the people of Israel. These are the words of the Torah. To the Jewish people, now is the time of opportunity.
posted by J B at
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
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