As I continue in my journey of understanding the bible, my studies in the Old Testament leaves me asking some really important questions – questions that I hope that you who are reading this would join me in conversation. For instance, Isaiah 56:6-8 says
6 “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord ,
who serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
and who hold fast to my covenant.
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
8 For the Sovereign Lord ,
who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too,
besides my people Israel.”
When I came across this I began to ask, “Why did all the pharisees and other experts in the law not understand that God’s grace extended outside of just the “chosen people of Israel?” From what I’ve gathered about the experts of the law was that in many cases, there were just some thing in scripture that:
a. They chose to ignore
b. Because of their unregenerate hearts could not or would not see
Then this made me ask the real important question…
Are there truths and standards from God’s word that I’m just not getting?