The Problem of Israel

They had disobeyed God, broken their covenant with Him and been sorely punished for their sin. Nor was this the first time. The history of Israel under the Covenant of the Law is a history of their failing time and time again. This was the Covenant they had agreed to keep in a face-to-face meeting with God when they stood beneath the glory of God at Mt. Sinai.

Israel had promised God they would obey and keep the covenant. Exodus 19:5–8 5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6 and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

“All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.” But they did not, sin after sin, failure after failure, idol after idol until they were taken from the land of Promise. The prophets like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Habakkuk warned and watched as the punishment of God drew closer and then is measured out upon their beloved nation and city.

The Problem of Me

What can I learn from Israel’s failure and not being able to keep the covenant of the Law? How can such a tragedy, that took place so long ago, help me today in my life and in my walk with God?

To fully understand this I must know something of the covenants of God. There are 7 covenants that we find in the Bible

Of all the covenants only two are conditional or dependent upon what man would do, the Adamic and the Mosaic. All the other covenants were unconditional and relied solely on upon God’s power and word. I probably don’t have to tell you which covenants failed. Those which relied on man’s power and promise failed. Those which were solely dependent upon God never failed and are still in effect today.

Here is the lesson I should learn. If my relationship with God, my walk with God, is dependent upon me, then it will fail. We can look with disdain at Israel’s failure but mine is just as complete. I can blame Adam for all the problems in this world, but had I been in the Garden, I would have failed just as badly.

The problem is not in the Covenant of the Law but in us. Paul stated it this way in Romans 7:14-20 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

When it comes to my spiritual life, when it comes to my moral life, when it comes to my eternal life, if I am depending on my strength, or goodness or power at all, then I will fail, just as Israel failed.

If you are trusting in your goodness to save your soul from hell, you will fail. If you are trusting in your own ability or willpower to not sin after salvation, you will fail. If you think you can do any of the things God requires of us, on your own then you will fail. And in that failure, you will fail your family, your church and those in the future who needed you to not fail.

Paul concluded his struggle with the law by saying, Romans 7:24 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” and if we don’t learn the lesson we need to learn from Israel’s failure or Paul’s struggle then that same plea will be ours, “O wretched man that I am!”

No Problem for God

If it depends on me, then it will fail. How then can anyone not fail especially in the most important, eternal things of life?

Remember the story of Jesus trying to get the rich young man to follow him? When the man walked away, Jesus made an astonishing statement and that is the very word the Bible uses to describe it.

Look at Mark 10:25-27 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

That is the answer for us as well, with me success in these spiritual, eternal things is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible. Now look at what God tells Ezekiel in vs 22-24. It is time for God to act and God will not fail.