Acting in Gratefulness that God Opened the Flood Gates

Israel, God’s Darling Son at the First

“In communicating his Word them, he joined them to himself, that he might be called and esteemed their God. In the meantime, ‘he allowed all other nations to walk’ in vanity (Acts 14:16), as if they had nothing whatsoever to do with him. Nor did he give them the sole remedy for their deadly disease—the preaching of his Word. Israel was then the Lord’s darling son; the others were strangers. Israel was recognized and received into confidence and safekeeping; the others were left to their own darkness. Israel was hallowed by God; the others were profaned. Israel was honored with God’s presence; the others were excluded from all approach to him. ‘But when the fullness of time came,’ (Gal. 4:4) which was appointed for the restoration of all things, he was revealed as the reconciler of God and men; ‘the wall’ that for so long had confined God’s mercy within the boundaries of Israel ‘was broken down’ (Eph. 2:14).”

From Calvin’s Institutes, p. 460

Israel—so privileged—needed to follow her Lord in her life in the world. She was to be His witness to the varied nations of the Mediterranean theater and beyond. Instead her privileged hallowing became perverted hardening. She was to be a servant—Isaiah 49, 50, 52-53. She listened with physical ears, but the testimonies of the Lord were not heard with the mixture of faith. She grew dull, wickedly dull of hearing.

So, in God’s activity of raising up His new Israel, His own Son, to be the faithful servant and witness unto the nations, He accomplishes the reality that privileged Israel was in fact to be and do. Christ’s own heeding His Father’s words meant His decreasing—to be a servant (Philippians 2), so that others would increase. Jesus did that—amen!

Moreover, in light of Calvin’s quote above, I am not at all certain that I see the significance of the broken wall (Eph. 2:14). For example, with Acts 2-3 (the outpouring of the Spirit), Acts 8 (Philip with an Ethiopian), Acts 10 (Cornelius, a Greek), and Acts 11, 13 (Antioch—a beachhead for Gentile expansion), do I see the barrier-conquering work of God’s ways? Really see it? God tramples down the prejudices of men—skin color, food and dress practices, economic situations, intellectual capacities, and familial habits which encompass ways, traditions and special days. This is the work of the fruit of His gospel for His church. He broke the wall; in what ways of self-trust, self-comfort and pride do I seek to keep up the walls? Am I genuinely grateful?

G. Mark Sumpter