The challenge of the land of promise is for Jewish New Covenant believers no longer a theological question but a very practical one of faith being worked out in history. We know that Abraham did not immediately  take possession of the promised land; neither did he remain in a state of waiting  or expectation for the rest of his days. He journeyed toward the land , he built encampments and altars, made alliances with some of the local people. At one time in order to end a quarrel between his herdsmen and his nephew Lot’s herdsmen , a common problem to this day , he divided the territory for the sake of peace. When necessary, he engaged in war to recover his captive kinsman with the help  of his Amorite allies.
 Can all this serve as a paradigm for Messianic Jew today? We too have a promise, not only of a land but of a national New Covenant for the house of Israel and the house of Judah, “the all Israel" which one day will be saved unto the Lord, Meanwhile we are a small remnant within our people, perhaps larger than the remnant in Abraham’s day, but in Israel far fewer than the 7,000 hidden Elijah remnant to which the apostle once referred. (Romans 11:1-5) We haven’t always been wise in making alliances, in settling quarrels, in building our encampments, or in serious challenges from inside and outside our community.
 Abraham is still the father of the faithful in the spiritual realm for all believers, but in a special way the father of the Jewish people and the New Covenant remnant within it. The challenge we face is to hold on to the vision given to Abraham at the beginning of our national and religious history and to act upon it within the parameter of out day as he did within his time. We make alliance and even compromises to meet the needs of our community, as he did with the  Amorites and his nephew Lot. But out most vital work is to help build (or rebuild) the fallen tabernacle of David in our generation. We need allies, we need to make compromises, but the must not be dictated by convenience or comfort, but on the basis of their contribution to the life and growth of our community.
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Menachem Benhayim served as Israel Secretary for the International Messianic Jewish Alliance until his retirement.
He lives with his wife Chia in Jerusalem and is presently Israel correspondent of Messianic Jewish LIFE.
 

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