God and Israel? (for those who actually read the Bible)?

Question

Someone said "God divorced Israel"? Is that a correct analogy? In a way I could understand becuse Israel was unfaithful, so it would not be wrong. But I would have never thought to say that. That sounds wierd. What do you think?

I know the Bible says God hates divorce. It doesn't make sense to say he would, plus the "wedding has not yet happened. And God hasn't rejected anyone. People reject Him.

Thanks for the great answers. Thanks Brianinchina and Hogie for giving me something to think about. Lots of other great answers too.

Answer 1

God doesn't break covenant and God's covenant with Israel will not be broken.

Romans 11:25
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in."

It goes on to say that all Israel will be saved. Read it for yourself. God has not forgotten Israel, the apple of His eye.
Israel has always been our example to show us what happens to us who are disobedient to God. Scripture even tells us that they are the original branch and we Gentiles are the wild branch grafted in. Scripture lets the Gentiles know not to get high and mighty, because we are only saved because they rejected the Savior. When God removes the blinders from Israel, they will mourn for Jesus like they mourn for the loss of an only son.

Answer 2

Here's the passage that idea likely comes from (Jeremiah 3):

God says, "If a husband divorces his wife and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD.

Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no spring rain. Yet you had a harlot's forehead; You refused to be ashamed.

Then the LORD said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Have you seen what faithless Israel did? She went up on every high hill and under every green tree, and she was a harlot there.

And I saw that for all the adulteries of faithless Israel, I had sent her away and given her a writ of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear; but she went and was a harlot also. (Jeremiah 3:1,3,6,8)

First you need to remember the time of Jeremiah. This is right before the Babylonian captivity and Idolatry is rampant in the land.

The prophet uses figurative language to describe Israel's unfaithfulness to God (you will see similar language in Hosea).

Again to say that God hates divorce is to miss the point of what is being said here. This language is meant for human benefit. It is a metaphor so that we can understand the seriousness of the situation.

Now go back to the last verse I quoted notice how it says God sent Israel away, but Judah did not fear. This distinction is because Israel had been broken into two kingdoms (after Solomon's son Rehoboam made some bad decisions)--10 tribes in the north Israel, and 2 tribes in the south Judah. At the time of Jeremiah the 10 tribes were in Assyrian captivity--in a sense out of the land (divorced from the promises). This was a warning to Judah not to act in the same way as Israel--a warning they didn't listen to.

I hope that helps clear up the divorce language

Answer 3

Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.

The analogy is correct. The old covenant is viewed as being a marriage covenant between God and Israel.

Furthermore, God in the personage of Jesus died, thus freeing God to marry the church, i.e. be bound to Christians now (see Romans 7).

Israel in the future will be brought into this relationship as Christians are now; it is not a case of God going back to the "old" mate.


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Answer 4

I've heard the same analogy, but I'm not sure it's 100% aaccurate since the Scripture also says in part, "And I will turn again My face unto My chosen people (Israel)....." A person who has a Biblical RIGHT to divorce usually doesn't go back to that person! But, since God is ever gracious and merciful, it's not inconceivable that He would "remarry" Israel in that regard.

Answer 5

Read Romans chapters 9 to 11 and it tells you all you need to know about God's relationship with Israel, past, present and future.

He had me reading this just before I went to Israel, where He sent me and I ended up staying for 8 1/2 months and returning later for three months.

There are two extremes of Christian thinking about Israel: one is what your "someone" said, that God is finished with Israel and they are no longer His chosen people, the Church having taken over the promises instead; the other that of the Christian Zionists, too complex to go into here and too extreme in its unconditional support of Israel, both the people and the modern nation state.

Use Wikipedia or Google to research Christian Zionism with its condemnation of so-called "replacement theology" which we all apparently need to repent in tears before God will forgive the Church and allow it to be effective.

By reading all three chapters I mention above, and not putting one of them above another, you will get the true picture.

Be blessed by the Truth.

Answer 6

Israel, or at least a remnant, will have a place in the end times. Paul reinforces that in Romans. I don't know if I'd say divorce but they have been separated from him for now. Either way, we can see what their sin has done to them even today.

Answer 7

Do not know of any specific area in Bible that says exactly this. I do know of areas in especially Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel that God is extremely unhappy with Israel and Judah and were it is written that He said through the prophets that He will destroy them. If you know I would like to know to so let me know please. Thanks
God Bless

Answer 8

God rejects anyone who rejects Jesus as the Christ. That isn't based on being a certain nation any more.

Answer 9

No!

There will be many Jewish converts in the very last days......this is an absolutely false doctrine. All prophecy still centers around Jerusalem. Jesus will return there and the Jews will find him (prophetically speaking) as their Messiah.