Yes, Israel has certainly been punished for her sins, her rebellion against God. In fact, Isaiah 40:2 says: “Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: FOR SHE HATH RECEIVED OF THE LORD’S HAND DOUBLE FOR ALL HER SINS.”

Wow!

Yes, God has (although temporarily) turned away from His people the Jews. He has “broken off” Israel from His Olive Tree and “grafted” (“graffed”) in us vile, polluted (but repentant, then cleansed) gentiles!

Absolutely, a “separation” demanded by Israel’s sins … “Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: BUT your INIQUITIES have SEPARATED between you and your God, and your SINS have HID his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1-2

Do not misunderstand. God is still saving lost Jews, likely every single day! But redeeming them as “individuals,” without consideration of their “national” status. “Whosoever will may come ….” Revelation 22:17

I am trying to lead up to this morning’s Bible Text!

A Passage where the Jews lament … “Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.” Isaiah 49:14, about the same thing Job thought in the middle of his trial by fire! But both Zion (the nation of Israel) and Job were wrong! God had not forgotten/forsaken either!

Whereupon (in our Text) God steps in and asks Zion … “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb?” An unlikely event, Isaiah 49:15

(Unless you live in the United States today, not even considering the rest of the world. Where over 1,700 babies in utero are murdered each day! That’s a Mom forgetting the son or daughter of her womb, I’d say! Murdering the unborn, an immoral act.)

But back to the Lord’s Question, to which He supplies an immediate answer: “Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? YES, THEY MAY FORGET.”

They “may” forget and they “do” forget!

Then God tells Israel, Zion in her desolation … “Yet will I not forget thee.” Still quoting Isaiah 49:15, the very end of the verse.

“I WILL NOT FORGET THEE,” Zion, Israel, the Jewish people!

And just when will God turn back to Israel the Nation? Graft her back into His Olive Tree? (Romans 11:23 … “God is able to graff them in again.”)

I’ll tell you when … at the end of Armageddon and the beginning of the Millennium!

Yes, Isaiah 66:8 suggests so: “Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth (give birth) in one day? or shall a NATION be BORN (born again) at once?”

Yes, Yes, Yes!

Then God will immediately tell Israel … “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands.” Isaiah 49:16, what a promise!

Not just one Palm, though it be Almighty! Plural … “Palms!” Implying “lots of names,” I think!

And that expression “have graven” is a Qal stem “perfect” verb (Hebrew grammar) showing us a one time Event! Once a name is engraved in God’s Hands … that’s it! It’s there permanently!

“Chaqaq” in Hebrew, undoubtedly means “to cut into.” So I have this morning learned a new way I am “in His Hands!” I am indelibly, eternally, once and for all “engraved” there!

Yes, prophetically this Promise belong to Israel. And it is Millennial, hermeneutically speaking.

But I’m personally going to enjoy it too!

If God in the future is doing this for His people Israel … perhaps God has already done this for me (and you.) The very second He saved us!

I’m going to rejoice in that fact, anyway!

We Bagwells were rather poor growing up as children, nothing to be ashamed of I might add. I don’t know of anything we had in our home that was truly engraved!

Except me … when I got saved! (Well, Mom and Dad were already saved before me. Then I guess I am wrong … there were several engravings in the house after all!

Hallelujah!

We believers now .. Israel later, her Believers!

Engraved in His Palms!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Amazing!

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