Bible Reading: Acts 15:1-21; Job 34 & 35
“And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” Acts 15:9 (KJV)
For many years since the time of Moses, God Himself handpicked Israel as His chosen one in fulfilment of His promise to their forefathers. He even told Pharoah that Israel is His firstborn (Exodus 4:22). He protected and defended them. He fed them for forty years in the wilderness all through their journey in the wilderness till the promised land. All these He did to show them that He is their God.
God, through His own chosen people, decided to show the world His power and might. First, He brought plagues upon the Egyptians, who were the world power then, for refusing to let His people go and worship Him. He killed all firstborn in Egypt, both of man and cattle, and finally drowned Pharoah and his army in the Red Sea. All these God did to make His name known among the nations of the world.
These events in Egypt put great fear among the nations of the world as God gave Israel cities after cities. When the spies went to Jericho, Rahab confessed that the fear of the Israelites is upon all her people and other nations (Joshua 2:9-10). God used Israel as a people to make Himself known to the world. At His own time, God, the creator of all souls sent Jesus Christ, His Son, to die for this sinful world and draw all men to Him.
The bible says in Isaiah 55:8 (NLT), “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts, says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Today, there is no difference, whether Jews or Greeks, He is the God of all who accepts His Son, Jesus Christ. He seals this acceptance with the baptism of the Holy Ghost, like in the case of Cornelius and his gentile household (Acts 10:44). Those who went with Peter were surprised at this.
It all started with God choosing Israel, using them to set a standard for all nations, then extending the love to the whole world through His Son , Jesus Christ.
Prayer: Father thank you for the opportunity given to all souls to come unto you.
Bro. Onyema Aghanenu