This article, by Hélène Dallaire of Denver Seminary, was eye-opening and important for me to read as a Gentile believer. It gave me important historical context of how the Jewish people have been mistreated by the Christian church. If any of us have a heart for reconciliation, let us not forget to be reconciled to the Jews in our communities. Let us give voice to Messianic believers and all Jews alike. Let us hear their stories, learn from them, and celebrate our Hebraic roots, together.
Reading Dallaire’s recounting of the experience Jewish believers have had over the past millennium and a half calls to mind the encouragement Moses gave to the children of Israel before entering into the land He had promised to their fathers. Judaism is fond of looking back to remember the past, and in fact, the Lord set that precedent in the Tanakh. It is important to look back and remember where we have been to see how we have gotten where we are. As a Jewish believer in Yeshua, this look back on history helped me to remember that there has been, and always will be a remnant of Jewish men and women who have believed in the Lord, just as He had promised. Although it may not always look like it, God is always in control.
When I met Jesus in my teens, I started to read the Bible and, of course, learned the truth for the first time about the Jewish people. I knew of Jesus, but the thought never entered my mind that He was Jewish or that He loved His people and came to bring them the gospel first. This was all new to my thinking.
I thank God that He still loves the Jews and has a future and a plan for them. But I also thank God that I live in the West Bank now and I have the privilege of telling the Jewish people of Jesus’ love for them. It shakes them up when I tell them I’m from Gaza and that I used to hate them. But now, God has flooded my heart with love for them! Jesus gave this love to me after I confessed my true feelings of resentment and hatred for the Jews. I read the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus said to “love your enemies,” but I hated the Jewish people. I then committed to be a “full disciple” and not just pick “some” of the things that I wanted to obey of Jesus’ teachings. He replaced my hatred with love.
