2002-01-01
Good Morning Faithful Ones,
I am led to continue discussing the traits of a kinsman-redeemer. The first five are: 1) He must be a blood relative; 2) He must be able to pay the price of redemption; 3) He must desire to redeem; 4) He must be willing to redeem; 5) He must be the judicial executioner of his relative’s murderer. Today, we will begin looking at the sixth trait. 6) He has the responsibility and authority to redeem the land and remove all squatters and invaders. To understand this from its foundation, we will take another look at LV 25: 23-25, “Your land must not be sold on a permanent basis, because you do not own it; it belongs to God, and you are like foreigners who are allowed to make use of it. When land is sold, the right of the original owner to buy it back must be recognized. If an Israelite becomes poor and is forced to sell his land, his closest relative is to buy it back.” It is clear from this that ownership of the land by divine decree is to remain in the hands of an Israelite’s family. There are very important reasons for this which, if we think about it, reveal why the modern-day practice that Israel engaged in of trading land for peace is not in keeping with God’s will. If we are to believe the Bible, and I do, then God’s will has never changed in this matter, and that as the real Owner of the land, He alone has the right to determine in whose hands it should be. His will is that that land should remain in Jewish hands and in the hands of the same family to which the right to use it was given by Him. Understandably, it means that the Jewish family to which it is given has the right to oust squatters and invaders from their land.
Now, we need to look at this issue from the point of view of the larger picture as well, not just the geographical territory of Israel. This is what the OT foreshadows. Remember that the earth was created by God, and that mankind was created to do God’s will and to please Him [GN 1: 26; PS 24: 1]. Originally, God had dominion over the earth and all His creation. He gave authority over it to Adam and Eve in GN 1: 26-27. However, at the time of the original sin, Satan (in the form of the serpent) deceived Adam and Eve, thus wresting dominion over earth into his own control [GN 3: 6]. God was furious about this which is why He leveled judgment on both mankind and the serpent in GN 3: 14-19].
God’s will concerning this situation has been made clear in a myriad of citations in the Scriptures. We know that Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer, will eventually wrest dominion over the earth from Satan’s hands and will return it to the Father [REV 5: 5]. We also know that the mankind will be separated into two groups, those who accept God and those who reject Him [MT 25: 32]. Those who accept Him will be raised to share in God’s glory and rule as joint-heirs to His Kingdom with Christ [RO 18: 17, COL 1: 12; EPH 2: 6]. Those who reject Him will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur to experience eternal torment [REV 19: 19-21; REV 20: 10]. We have also learned that our Kinsman-Redeemer is able to carry out this crucial task, because Satan has no power over Him [MT 1: 18; JN 14: 30]. The Lord has told us in JN 12: 31 that the ruler of this world will be overthrown.
That nagging question of why don’t some people see the truth is answered in two important citations. 1 COR 2: 14, Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God’s Sprit. Such a person really does not understand them; they are foolishness to him, because their value can only be judged on a spiritual basis.” 2 COR 4: 3-4, “For if the Gospel we preach is hidden, it is hidden only from those who are being lost. They do not believe, because their minds have been keep in the dark by the evil god of this world. He keeps them from seeing the light shining on them, the light that comes from the Good News about the glory of Christ, Who is the exact likeness of God.” Christ tells us in JN 12: 25-26, “Whoever loves his own life will lose it; whoever hates his own life in this world will keep it for life eternal. Whoever wants to serve Me must follow Me, so that My servant will be with Me wherever I am. And My Father will honor anyone who serves Me.”
Satan can’t keep his hold over earth forever, because He is a murderer of human spirits, a liar, and has created squatters in the form of those who steadfastly reject the Lord, whom He has given Christ, our Kinsman-Redeemer, the authority to remove. Remember, GN 3: 15 which told us that the serpent’s head would be crushed? Well, Dear Ones, that began at Calvary. Note REV 21: 27, “But nothing that is impure will enter the city [the new Jerusalem], nor anyone who does shameful things or tells lies. Only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of the living will enter the city.” A careful examination of all the citations in this message can be a tremendous motivator to enduring in one’s faith. They give hope that God will eventually bring Satan and his followers to justice, impart direction to how we should lead our lives in order to remain “in Christ,” and serve as motivation to endure whatever pain, loss, and suffering that Satan sends by allowing us not to lose sight of the big picture of God’s life-giving goals for His children.
PRAYER: O Lord, we acknowledge that You gave given Your Son authority to judge and that His decisions are always righteous. PS 75: 6-7, 10 gives us insight into what we must understand. “Judgement does not come from the east or from the west, from the north or from the south; it is God Who is the Judge condemning some and acquitting others…He will break the power of the wicked, but the power of the righteous will be increased.” You know that those who reject You are squatters on the land, and it is Your will that the land should be returned to the people whom You have chosen. Because believing Jews and Gentiles are now united in the Body of Christ, they are to inherit Your Kingdom. Your judgments will be fair and full of compassion, but they will be made with righteous wrath against the evil. GA 5: 5-6 helps us to gain insight into Your purpose and attitude. “As for us, our hope is that God will put us right with Him; and this is what we wait for by the power of God’s Spirit working through our faith. For when we are in union with Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor the lack of it makes any difference at all; what matter is faith that works through love.” Your Son commanded us to: “Love one another. As I have loved you, then love one another…” in JN 13: 33-14. We dedicate ourselves to obeying that command and all Your other commands. Accepting Your judgments is our measure of reverence for You. You are our awesome God, Who deserves nothing less than our adoration, worship, loyalty, diligence, glory, honor, trust, obedience, praise and thanksgiving. We humbly offer them to You along with the confession of any sins we have committed. These things we pray. In Christ’s name, amen.
There is more to say about this sixth trait of a kinsman-redeemer, so that will be subject of tomorrow’s message. We can stand in utter gratitude that our God loves each and every one of us. When we are troubled, we can and should turn to Him first. He will not abandon us or allow Satan to keep the upper hand with us. He has imparted us with the power to fend off Satan’s lies and attempts to destroy our faith. This wouldn’t be possible were it not for the extraordinary love God has for us. Peter and I send you our love too.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn