Two Nations

August 1-Jeremiah 24-27

“Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the captives of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans. . .but like the bad figs which cannot be eaten due to rottenness. . .so I will abandon Zedekiah. . .and his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain. . . and ones who dwell in Egypt’ “(24:5,8).

It is a common mistake of the secular mind. The world assumes that all men have the same standing with God. That we all are equally His children.

Scripture denies it. We are not ONE nation under God. No nation ever is. After the disaster on the Titanic, there are two groups. Saved. Lost. So with the human race.

Years later, Paul will make the same assertion. Not everyone who belongs to national Israel was (is) a member of Spiritual Israel. (See Romans 9). True Israel (see Philippians 3:3) is a deeper designation. A Spiritual reality. Invisible identity known to God.

As the long-predicted destruction of Jerusalem began, God revealed this truth to Jeremiah. Looking at Judah, God saw two nations. One group represented by over-ripe, to-be-thrown-away figs. Another group (those sent into exile early) represented by the just-ripe, still useful figs. See Jeremiah 24:1-10. The Great Judge had different verdicts for these groups. They were not the same in His eyes.

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah was reminded of this reality. Even in a nation that for years had drifted toward immorality and unbelief, God still had, “8000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal.” Same truth in Genesis 18. God told Abraham that His eyes were on the righteous, even as He reached a decision for wrath on the sinful city.

National, racial, language distinctions are superficial. The only truly significant thing about a man is his standing with God. In Christ, God redeems people for Himself and covers their lives with care and favor. These are God’s elect, God’s children.

Friend, are you His?

“All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats”(Matthew 25:32).

“The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgement”(2 Peter 2:9).

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!”(2 Corinthians 13:5).