God’s Vineyard · Isra’el · the Jews
The biblical identity, calling and history of the original Covenant Community, the People of God known as Isra’el, latterly the Jews and the biblical, vocational connection between this national people and their spiritual progeny: the Messianic Covenant Community (as explored in Resource 1). A profound metaphor circumscribes this connection: God’s ‘vineyard’ and his cultivation of it, including the extraordinary incorporation of Gentiles, through ingrafting; the unprecedented schism and tragedy that ensues; culminating in a consideration of the potential of Isra’el’s ‘fullness’.
Contents
Study 1 | Isra’el’s Identity
The Messianic Community has a special vocation towards the Jewish people. Fulfilling this calling requires appropriately understanding the identity and history of the Jewish people; who they are and how they came to be.
Topics
Who is Isra'el?
Isra'el's uniqueness
Isra'el's history in the land
Isra'el's history in exile
Study 2 | Israel's Stumbling
Isra'el stumbles repeatedly by disobeying God and failing to listen to his prophets. Finally, the leaders of Isra'el stumble over the cornerstone, God's beloved Son, Yeshua the Messiah. Through Isra'el's stumbling, Gentiles are incorporated into the covenant community.
Topics
Israel cultivation
Israel and the Messiah
Israel and the Gentiles
One household
Study 3 | Israel's Provocation
The incorporation of Gentiles into the covenant community is intended to provoke Isra'el to jealousy. Instead, a deep chasm opens between Christianity and Judaism, evoking a terrible history of anti-Semitism.
Topics
God's intention
Anti-Semitism
The Shoah
Study 4 | Israel's Fullness
Biblical prophets and the messianic apostles predict a dramatic restoration of Isra'el. Form, manner and timing of restoration remains a mystery — and often a source of controversy.
Topics
In the wake of the Shoah
Modern Nation State
Vocational restoration
