and this in spite of the fact that he was intending to sacrifice his son. Now these things are written for our learning

and encouragement. The power that conquers death and that wrought so wondrously for Abraham has not changed.

It is indeed `to us-ward' who believe (Eph. 1:19,20). As this age draws nearer to its end and the times grow darker

with increasing difficulties and problems, the need for a practical experience of the inworking of this supreme power

grows greater and greater. There is scarcely a child of God to-day who is not being tested in one direction or

another and the only way that we can say with Paul that `in all these things (not exempt from them) we are more

than conquerors' (Rom. 8:37), is by drawing on the power of His resurrection (Phil. 3:10) resident in our ascended

Saviour and Head, by simple childlike faith. Then and only then, shall we be able to rise above the difficulties with

which we are beset and live to glorify Him in our daily life and witness.

(4) Resurrection and Prophecy.-The promises made to Abraham in Genesis 12 and 15 are revelations of the

Divine plan as regards the earth. This man's descendants were to be God's agents for world-wide blessing, with the

consequences that the Old Testament from this point onwards is really a record of God's preparation of this people

for the role they were to perform in His purpose and their reaction to His leading and guidance. The record is

largely a sad one, for God's revelation is one thing, and human response often quite another. Israel's failure under

the Judges and the Kings is black indeed, ending with seventy years' judgment in Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar.

The restoration under Ezra and Nehemiah was only a partial recovery spiritually and when in the fulness of time

their King came to them in the flesh, it was only a little flock who were ready to receive Him. The official verdict of

the nation was `we will not have this man to reign over us' (Luke 19:14) and they crucified their Saviour and their

King. Such was the greatness of the Lord's mercy that, in spite of the enormity of their crime, He was ready to

pardon their sin, and during the period covered by the Acts of the Apostles, His longsuffering again waited for their

response to the Divine offer of restoration through Peter's lips in Acts 3:19-26. The Lord's longsuffering waited in

vain and His verdict on Israel at this particular time is found in Romans 10:21, `all day long I have stretched forth

My hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people'. Acts 28 sees the terrible warning of Isaiah 6:9,10 at last

fulfilled with its consequent blinded eyes, deaf ears and a non-understanding heart, a condition which has

characterised the Jewish race all through this present dispensation. But is this the end of the story for Israel? There

are some who would not hesitate to say that it is. Such would assert that the promises to Israel are fulfilled in a

spiritual way through the Church. But do these people realise the consequences of what they teach? If this is so,

then the `I wills' of Genesis 12 and 15 have been broken and this cuts at the very foundation of our own faith, for it

means that God has broken His word and if this is true, what security have we as members of His Body, relying by

faith on the same word? We would rather believe God than man, however eminent he may be. The Scriptures

declare that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (i.e. change of mind on His part, Romans 11:29).

God has never varied His plan for world blessing through the Jew and not a single Scripture, taken in its context can

be brought forward to substantiate the idea that the Church has taken over this prerogative of Israel. Moreover such

a teaching nullifies the truth of the Ministry of the New Covenant which Jeremiah 31 emphatically asserts belongs to

Israel the nation, when at last they shall be given an understanding heart and shall be My people again (verses

32-36). Romans 11:27 alludes to this time and it is linked with the return of the Lord Jesus Who shall turn away

ungodliness from Jacob (26). But before this can happen, we find that a representative number of the earthly people

must return to their land, rebuild their temple and restore their sacrifices even though still in unbelief. As the

dispensation of the Mystery closes, this movement amongst the Jews begins and Ezekiel 37 foretells this period.

The people of Israel are likened to dry bones - withered and lifeless - and as Ezekiel prophesies, sinews and flesh

come upon them and finally `breath came into them and they lived and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great

army' (Ezek. 37:9,10). It is the spirit of resurrection that animates them, for we read in verses 12-14:

`Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your

graves ... and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened

your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put My spirit in you, and ye shall

live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed

it, saith the LORD'.

The quickening of Israel is by resurrection power and whether we deal with individuals or with the chosen

nation, we cannot get away from this fundamental fact.