Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also. Romans 3:29
Idol worship as it was practiced in the ancient days is pretty much gone, with people no longer bowing down to inanimate objects that they believed held some form of mystic power. In fact, it’s difficult for us to imagine how idol worship functioned, with some large idols that had millions of worshippers and some small idols that were in individual homes. There were also the fanciful characters of Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology, with their counterparts in many other cultures. With all these, there were countless numbers of so-called gods among the Gentiles. Most people recognized more than one, and in some cases many, gods or higher beings of some kind. That is why the religion practiced by the Israelites was so distinct from that of the people around them. To worship one God, and a God that nobody could see, was something that the Gentiles were amazed at. Today, we are amazed that as Gentiles, we have come to know that same one true God Who the Jews worshipped.
Since the first century when the Gospel was presented first to the Jews before it was spread to the Gentiles and carried to the far corners of the world, the numbers of Jews among the believers in Jesus Christ has been very small. Today, only a few would identify themselves as Messianic Jews, those who accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah that the rest of the Jews are still seeking. When we consider the Jews today, we usually look at them as individual exceptions to a very firm rule among the Jews. And most Jews would agree. Ron Cantor of Messiah’s mandate International has written a book entitled Messianic Jews – the Most Hated People on Earth. He explains how people like him are despised in Israel and are not welcomed among Jewish or Gentile groups outside Israel. And yet, although most Christians are Gentiles, God still welcomes Jews who will come to trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour, Lord and Messiah.
With the door wide open to both Jew and Gentile, we look today at this opportunity with deep thankfulness. We Gentiles who never deserved even an opportunity to hear the Gospel are brought in, alongside the Jews who as a nation rejected the Gospel. Only the marvellous grace of God could do this. The believing Jews must look on this opportunity with relief that they are not condemned to pay the price of their nation’s rejection. The believing Gentiles must look on this opportunity with surprise that the dogs would be brought into the blessing of the children’s table.
Praise the Lord today for His grace that has brought us into a relationship that we share with all who have trusted Christ. -Jim MacIntosh