Title: God Has a Greater Plan than Me
Israel also has some similarities with Korea. Israel was originally a unified kingdom, but it was divided into North and South. After division, the southern part is usually called Judah. It is orthodox because Judah in the south inherited the lineage of King David. The north, commonly called Israel after division, is a country founded by treason. In the Bible, northern Israel is also called Ephraim or Joseph, because the largest tribe in the north is Ephraim.
So, after the division of Israel, the name Israel is a secret name for northern Israel. The same goes for Ephraim and Joseph.
Israel in the north was destroyed and scattered by Assyria, and Judah in the south was taken captive to Babylon 100 years later and returned after 70 years. When Judah in the south came back after 70 years of losing the country, the pure blood was maintained, but in the north Israel, almost 200 years have passed after losing the country and being scattered, so the pure Israeli blood is weakening. After 200 years of immigration, it is not easy to keep the identity of one's people. Most will marry locals and forget their own language. Hundreds of years have passed, and after several generations have passed, they become single blooded people and are no different from foreigners.
Zechariah is the word of God that came after Israel in the north lost its kingdom and became almost a Gentile, and Judah in the south returned from captivity. If there is any hope for Judah who returned after 70 years of captivity, it is for more Jews to return and restore the glory of the old Davidic era. Northern Israel is of mixed race, so don't expect a return. have already given up. It was the word of God that came at that time.
6 I will fortify the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them back with compassion, as if they had not forsaken me. I am the LORD their God, and I will listen to them.
God is preaching the great gospel that He will strengthen the southern tribes of Judah and save Israel from the forgotten North Josephites.
The good news was that the northern tribes of Joseph, who had been enslaved for a long time and were scattered all over the world, would be saved when they could not be found again.
It's bigger than the news that you'll find a kid who forgot a kid in the park when he was a kid and 30 years later gave up because he didn't know where he was. It makes the almost impossible possible.
Everyone! In fact, God's plan is far greater than ours. Our thoughts and God's thoughts are more different than the earth and the heavens.
We only think about the things that are right in front of us. I only think of possible things. Our thought is that it would be good for the believers who were discouraged after only believing and repenting and returning. I wish our neighbors were saved too. That's how much I wish my best friend would believe in Jesus.
But God's plan is far greater. It will not only save those who become discouraged while believing, but also those who fall into heresy among heresy. Even those who dislike Jesus' disciples will return to them. It will not be enough to save the neighboring areas, but it will be used as a trumpet of the gospel for the whole world. The members of Sanseong Church will receive the power to evangelize their enemies, not their close friends. God's plan is far greater. To know the heart of God is to have the heart of a prophet.
Because of this great plan of God, God blesses the church and gives blessings and grace to the families of the members. Doesn't this make Judas stronger? Just as Israel, a mixed race that is being forgotten, is restored only when Judah is stronger, the church of God is strengthened with blessings in order to become a channel of salvation for those who have no possibility.
Therefore, we need to know the reason why the church is blessed and the saints are blessed just as Judas is getting stronger. If you think that God has made us prosperous and rich because we have a strong heart, it is for the sake of me and my family.
Therefore, we must learn the heart of God from the idea that we should do well. When calling missionaries, if you look closely, there are some who go out as missionaries after their entire missionary family is saved, but there are others who do not.
When I am called to be a missionary, I will save my family and friends first and go out as a missionary. If you had such a childish mindset, the gospel might not have reached Korea today.
Even if my family does not receive salvation, I follow the Lord's call. It is God's will to live for people who have no name or connection.
Verse 6 says that God has mercy on them. So I bring it back. as they had not given up on me; I am the LORD their God, and I will listen to them.
It is said that he will show mercy to the tribe of Joseph, who is not worthy of any mercy or favor, and bring them back, as if they had never abandoned them. It means that you are completely saved and completely healed. How great is the pain of being abandoned? The pain of being a slave for hundreds of years and being abandoned by people who suffered hardship is indescribable. It is said that he will save them so that they have no memory of being abandoned. It is a promise to completely wash away the wounds of the heart. It is a comforting promise that God will make us the covenant people again.
As long as you return to Jesus and receive mercy and grace, you will be blessed so that the pain and wounds of the past will not be remembered again. It's all about healing. How big is your plan? It is to bless the servants who first believe in this plan.
The northern Israel, whom God saves, becomes a warrior, not just a saved slave.
7 Ephraim will be like a mighty man, and his heart will rejoice as he drinks wine; his descendants will see and rejoice, and their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.
They say they are not slaves, they are like warriors. Now Ephraim is scattered like slaves. Slaves have no dreams, no hopes, and no ability to judge for themselves. do whatever it is you do. You only need to get through one day. I don't try to do hard work. If you do, it is unavoidable. It is trying not to be beaten by looking into the eyes of the owner. If you give me food and clothes, I am just grateful.
However, the hero fights voluntarily even if he is not ordered. They risk their lives and fight for the will of God. I am willing to do hard work. I do it with a smile because I know that I have to do it. Not annoying at all. It is said that saved Israel is not a slave but a warrior.
You've been a slave for a long time, how do you work like a warrior? Because the heart is as rejoicing as drinking wine. He is like a warrior who risk his life to do his work with a happy heart, even if he does not ask him to do it because his heart is happy because of the Lord.
Rejoicing in the heart as drinking wine means being filled with the Holy Spirit. It is said that on the day of Pentecost, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, people drank new wine. New wine is drunk early. Because they are filled with the Holy Spirit and have a joyful heart, they volunteer to work like a warrior.
You must receive this grace. It is not because you are forced to serve like a slave, but because your heart is happy with Jehovah. Because there is the uncontrollable joy of the Holy Spirit, we must ask for and receive this grace to serve to accomplish the Lord's will with joy like a warrior. Even if there is no money or any benefit, we work hard because of the joy that comes from Jehovah. Even if it is hard and difficult, it is working hard because it overflows with joy. Being a child of God, a sinner like me, is a joy and joy in itself. That's why I volunteer to work like a warrior.
How do you summon people who have no chance like this and make them heroes?
8 I will whistle against them and gather them, for I have redeemed them, and they will multiply as they did before.
It is said that when they gather Israel, who are scattered and do not know where they are, they are gathered together by blowing a whistle. Whistle is a method that shepherds use to gather their sheep. We don't go by one by one. If they run away again, how can you catch them one by one? If you whistle, it will bring you all the moon in the evening.
God will call people who do not know the Gospel at all and blow the whistle of the Gospel to use them as warriors. When the whistle of the gospel is blown, all those who are moved by the Holy Spirit will come. Those who have no chance will become champions.
We must hold onto these words and pray. On the day of Pentecost, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit and blow the whistle of the gospel, just as the work of revival and world evangelization took place, we must pray for the work of revival and restoration to take place once again by being filled with the Holy Spirit, and we must pray hard for our church and our members to be used in this work. do.
At that time, you will receive the blessing of prosperity and restoration once again. Let's look at the history of God.
9 I will sow them among the nations, but they will remember me from afar, and they will all come back alive with their children.
Because of sin, God made the world captive. I threw it away like a sprinkle. But God never forsakes them. Bring them back from far away. Therefore, we should not become discouraged or discouraged when receiving the Lord's discipline. It seems that you have been abandoned by the Lord, but if you purify and become clean there, the Lord will bring you back.
When we remember the love of the Lord, when we remember the grace of the Lord, like the prodigal son, when we remember the love of the father, we will come back and be restored.
Wherever you are, no matter what obstacles you face, God restores and blesses you. 10 I will bring them back from the land of Egypt, I will gather them from Assyria, and I will lead them into the land of Gilead and into Lebanon, and there will be no place for them to dwell.
Whether a powerful country like Egypt blocks it or a strong tribe like Assyria blocks it, it will restore it no matter what kind of circumstance there is. Complete treatment and full recovery. The land of Gilead is to the east of Canaan and Lebanon is to the north. It refers to the overflowing and overflowing land of Canaan. When the Lord restores us, we can overcome any obstacles and receive abundant blessings. Enjoy, shake, and receive overflowing blessings. Of course, we have to go through the sea of suffering, but God is with us.
11 I will make them pass through confession, and I will strike the waves of the sea, and the depths of the Nile shall be dried up, and the pride of Assyria will be humbled, and the scepter of Egypt will be no more.
God's warriors also pass through the sea of suffering, but all obstacles are dried up, pride is lowered, and the staff of the king of Egypt disappears. It will be as if Hussein's power has been broken in Iraq and he is living a life of faith to his heart's content.
The sufferings of the saints are a kind of test. Neither the pride of Assyria nor the scepter of King Pharaoh can stop it if you rely on it endlessly. No obstacle can stop the blessings of God's servants. Because we depend on the Lord.
12 I will establish them in the LORD, and they will come and go in my name, saith the LORD.
A characteristic of a saved warrior is to rely on the Lord. It is to come and go in the name of the Lord. You will be miserable. Let's become warriors who depend on the Lord and gain strength in His name. Amen