Not My People? Part Two

Fulfillment

Hosea's Tomb

Now we will look more closely at the fulfillment of these prophecies and what it says about God’s people today.

We will look at Romans chapter 9 where Paul explains the election of God. How the promise did not come upon all the seed of Abraham, but only through Isaac. This is the gospel in a nutshell, that Moshiach would come through Isaac, and those who believe become the Children of Abraham.

18: Therefore has he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardens.

19: Thou will say then to me, Why does he yet find fault? For who has resisted his will?

20: Nay but, O man, who are you that replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why have you made me thus?

21: Has not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22: What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24: Even us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25: As he saith also in Hosea, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26: And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

27: Isaiah also cries concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. (Isaiah 10:22)

The subject people is revealed in 24, “us, whom he has called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles”. Then he explains that the fulfillment of Hosea’s prophecy has come to pass. The people who became “Not my people” and “No mercy” have now come again into people-hood and received mercy. This is Israel. We are Israel. We were scattered only to be regathered. Those of us who heard the Messiah’s call, returned to Him and became again His people.

Then Paul turns to Isaiah who agrees with Hosea. Both prophets say this group who returned will “be as the sand of the sea”. This is the promise given to Abraham and its fulfillment! After being tested to offer his only son, God speaks to him through a messenger:

Genesis 22:15: And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,

16: And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:

17: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy Seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

18: And in thy Seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice.

Because of the obedience and faith of Abraham, we are called Israel.

But let every word be established by the mouth of two or three witnesses:

1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Peter quotes Hosea telling us that we are the People who were Not a People, we were the ones without mercy upon whom God has now shone mercy!

For those doubters who might say Peter was writing to Jewish believers, look at his introduction:

1: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

A “stranger” in Judaism is a convert, a former Gentile, who follows the God of Israel. Notice Peter calls us “elect”, a term which Paul uses in Romans to explain God’s mercy to Israel/us in the Latter Days.

For scriptures concerning the One Head of Hosea 1:11, please see Ephesians 1:22, 4:15; Colossians 1:18, 2:10,19; 1 Peter 2:7

Not convinced? Part Three to come!