Daily Rhema: Israel- A shadow of the Church

James 3:17 NKJV
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

You will not find the major part of God’s wisdom on the surface of the Bible, but hidden by the Holy Spirit, in many allegorical forms, scattered throughout the scriptures (Gal. 4:24; Isa. 28:9-10).

1Cor. 2:7 (KJV)
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory.

Such allegories, often called types and shadows, reveal to us the eternal purpose and present mind of God, as foreshadowed in various biblical narrations. Since this wisdom of God is hidden and scattered in scripture, it can easily be misinterpreted or wrongly applied; (Gal. 4:22-26; Isa. 28:13).

In fact, God has deliberately hidden His wisdom and truth in His Word in this way to trap the scornful, dishonest and rebellious (Prov. 14:6), so that His wisdom will only be revealed to those who are meek and lowly in mind.

Prov 11:2 (KJV)
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Therefore, the interpretation and application of these allegories, of course, must never contradict the character and purpose of God, as defined by the Spirit and the letter of the Word of God:

James 3:17
But the wisdom [application of types and shadows] that is from above is first pure [does not contradict any principle in any other part of the Word of God, Psalms 12:6], then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits [i.e. the character of God], without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Other than this, however, these interpretations and applications of types and shadows are as unlimited as God Himself, having sometimes overlapping (but not contradictory) interpretations, because the wisdom of God is both manifold (many-sided) and deep (Eph. 3:10; 1Cor. 2:10).

The basis for applying and interpreting the scriptures in this way can be found plainly stated in the New Testament (Rom. 15:4, Col. 2:16-17).

1 Corinthians 10:11 (KJV)
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

With this understanding, we will now begin to explore the analogy between the Church today and Old Testament Israel. The Bible refers to Israel on their journey to the promised land, as:

Acts 7:38 (KJV)
… the Church in the wilderness….

Everything that God has done, and is still going to do, concerning the Church before the Rapture, is concealed in the history of Old Testament Israel in several different ways.

For example, the history and future of the Church is concealed in Israel’s journey from Egypt to the promised land. It is also concealed in the Jewish religious calendar and the feasts of the Lord. Many other stories also contain aspects of the Church’s history and future.

By studying carefully under the Holy Spirit, the stories of the history of Israel, we can locate where the Church is presently in the eternal plan and purpose of God and also see where the Holy Spirit is taking the Church to in the immediate future.

This revelation of the present mind of God for the Church, through the types and shadows concealed in the scriptures, is what we call present truth.

2Pet. 1:12 (KJV)
Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

For more on today’s study visit:
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