God’s Love for IsraelSample

Day 5 – Israel’s response

God made His covenant with Israel at Mount Horeb, and Israel accepted that covenant with all their hearts: “We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.”In this covenant, the Lord gave instructions to make it possible for us to live with Him and with each other. These instructions are all written in the Torah, the first five books of our Bible. But the Bible also shows that the people of Israel were often disobedient. They even followed after other gods.

The Bible often refers to this idol worship as prostitution. Prophets such as Amos and Jeremiah were extremely critical of the injustices that were taking place in Jerusalem. Malachi abhorred the lack of dedication to the temple service. Few religious texts are as honest and confrontational as the Bible. This idolatry led to the division of Israel into two kingdoms, Judah and Israel (1 Kings 11). Ultimately, both kingdoms fell and the inhabitants were carried away into exile. Yet all the prophets predict the return, reunification, and restoration of the people of Israel in the Promised Land.

The prophet Isaiah prays for God’s mercy: “You, LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is Your name.” In that desperate situation, Israel rediscovers intimacy with God: God is our Father who has always saved and will save us again now.

Pray today: God of Israel, help Your people and help me follow You, obey and do what You ask of us.