What is the distinct role of ethnic Israel?

[Matthehitmanhart]

I definitely believe that ethnic Israel is still called by God, as Romans 11:28 assures us. But that is not what I want to discuss in this thread. My question is this: if ethnic Israel has a calling that is distinct from the calling of the Jew-plus-Gentile family of God in Christ, then what exactly is that special calling? This seems to be something that is fought for with a lot of conviction by many who have a heart for Israel, but there doesn't seem to be much clarity on what it is that we are fighting for.

If what we mean by saying that Israel has a “different calling” within the unity of the body of Christ is simply that they, as a particular ethnicity, have a gift mix that some other ethnicities don’t share to the same degree (1 Cor 12 style) – well in that case I would agree wholeheartedly. Jews have a knack for business, for instance, that most Hawaiians don’t share. That’s a gift we can track all the way back to the patriarchs in Genesis. But it seems to me that there’s a big difference between all of the various gifts that individuals, families, and whole ethnicities hold respectfully and the one great covenantal calling which incorporates each of those respective gifts, the call to be the people of God for the world. Distinction with regard to the former obviously stands true now as it ever has for ethnic Israel, but with regard to the latter it obviously does not.

And here lies the problem, IMO, with saying that Israel still holds a “different calling” from Gentiles in Christ: it’s a statement seeking to maintain Israel’s separateness and singular covenantal role as seen in the OT, which was precisely the one great calling to be the people of God for the world, under the false assumption that such a separateness is coherent with the NT, which consistently declares that through Christ God has opened the door of the covenant for the Gentiles to be the people of God themselves. In other words, it’s not simply saying that Jews have a distinct role from Chinese who have a distinct role from Russians who have a distinct role from Americans, as if this were a holistic “diversity within unity” where everyone is special in their own way; rather it’s inescapably saying that Jews have a distinct role from everyone else, that they are, not as the redeemed but as Jews, a “peculiar treasure above all people” (Ex 19:5; Deut 14:2; cf., Tit 2:14).

But perhaps someone on here has more clarity on this subject. If you believe that ethnic Israel has a distinct role from that of the multi-ethnic family of God, then what exactly is that role?

[John146]

I definitely believe that ethnic Israel is still called by God, as Romans 11:28 assures us. But that is not what I want to discuss in this thread. My question is this: if ethnic Israel has a calling that is distinct from the calling of the Jew-plus-Gentile family of God in Christ, then what exactly is that special calling? This seems to be something that is fought for with a lot of conviction by many who have a heart for Israel, but there doesn't seem to be much clarity on what it is that we are fighting for.

If what we mean by saying that Israel has a “different calling” within the unity of the body of Christ is simply that they, as a particular ethnicity, have a gift mix that some other ethnicities don’t share to the same degree (1 Cor 12 style) – well in that case I would agree wholeheartedly. Jews have a knack for business, for instance, that most Hawaiians don’t share. That’s a gift we can track all the way back to the patriarchs in Genesis. But it seems to me that there’s a big difference between all of the various gifts that individuals, families, and whole ethnicities hold respectfully and the one great covenantal calling which incorporates each of those respective gifts, the call to be the people of God for the world. Distinction with regard to the former obviously stands true now as it ever has for ethnic Israel, but with regard to the latter it obviously does not.

And here lies the problem, IMO, with saying that Israel still holds a “different calling” from Gentiles in Christ: it’s a statement seeking to maintain Israel’s separateness and singular covenantal role as seen in the OT, which was precisely the one great calling to be the people of God for the world, under the false assumption that such a separateness is coherent with the NT, which consistently declares that through Christ God has opened the door of the covenant for the Gentiles to be the people of God themselves. In other words, it’s not simply saying that Jews have a distinct role from Chinese who have a distinct role from Russians who have a distinct role from Americans, as if this were a holistic “diversity within unity” where everyone is special in their own way; rather it’s inescapably saying that Jews have a distinct role from everyone else, that they are, not as the redeemed but as Jews, a “peculiar treasure above all people” (Ex 19:5; Deut 14:2; cf., Tit 2:14).

But perhaps someone on here has more clarity on this subject. If you believe that ethnic Israel has a distinct role from that of the multi-ethnic family of God, then what exactly is that role?

I don't see that God has separate roles for different nations. That isn't taught anywhere in the NT. God is interested in working through individuals from every nation and does not favor any nation or any person because of their nationality.

Acts 10
34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

[billy-brown 2]

I don't see that God has separate roles for different nations. That isn't taught anywhere in the NT. God is interested in working through individuals from every nation and does not favor any nation or any person because of their nationality.

Acts 10
34Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Yep . . . as confirmed also by the following:

Romans 2 (Paul is writing)
1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?
5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:
7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;
8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,
10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
11 For there is no partiality with God.

[Mark F]

Matthehitmanhart,
I think that there is evidence that Israel and the Church have differing roles and callings in the plan of God. This is not to say that we have differing ways of salvation though.

I will attempt to explain my point of veiw.

This also influences my pre-trib belief. Immeadiately following the tribulation, Jesus is to rule from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. The New Testament promises to us, since the cross, are heavenly---not earthly or material. If you look at the promises to Israel, they are good crops, prosperity, safety, etc. These promises from God were forever. They are promised a Messiah who will sit on David's throne and rule them living under His protection and blessing. We are promised to rule with Him as kings and preists.

Israel was to be a witness Nation to the world, they will enter the millenium as that Nation fulfilling what God had wanted them to do from the beginning. There will be Gentile nations that were spared in the sheep/goat judgment at Jesus glorious return. Israel will be the evangelists throughout the millenium, we who were raptured and given glorified bodies will rule and reign with Christ.

Israel needs to be converted, which they will when all hope is gone and they cry out for Him and see Him. They continue on as saved mortals, the Church has been raptured and are in glorified bodies. Who knows what will be different in the millenium but I am sure that God has wonderful things in store for those who trust Him and are obedient.

I don't believe that anyone who has ever died believing is in the Church, I do believe all are saved by faith in Christ's shed blood but that God has a variety of roles and rewards for those of different ages.

I know there are those who will take the oportunity to tell me how delusional I am so save your time I am not interested in debate.

[T W Taylor]

The redeemed (bought) from among men, are all from Israel, and are THE FIRSTFRUITS to God.

Re 14:4 These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. TWT

[Stormfreak1]

Before I give my answer (on a post to come), we need to get out of our American mindset that emphasizes individuality in an exclusive sense. Otherwise my answer will not make any sense if we have purely an individualistic mindset.

Yes, God sees individuals (see Luke 15; Psalm 139 etc. etc.). However, to begin to understand Israel's distinct role, we need to understand the corporate dimension of how God sees the Church. In the 7 letters to the Churches, Jesus was always addressing the Church as a corporate entity- the Body of Christ in that city.

Most of Paul's epistles (with the exception of Philemon, Titus, 1-2 Timothy) were always addressing the Body of Christ corporately- in a city or a region (such as Ephesus; Corinth, Rome). There were many congregations in the city of Ephesus (probably meeting in homes or in other hidden places) but they were the same Body of Christ in Ephesus.

Just as individuals have different personalities, different congregations will also have different corporate "social cultures". For example, the present ministry I am involved in has a distinctly different culture than that of Willow Creek. I am sure both of these congregations differ from John Piper's church; Bethlehem Baptist.

Just as individuals have different spiritual gifts, different ministries will also corporately have different gifts as well. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and Romans 12:4-8. For example, the local congregation I was sent from has a spiritual strength in ministering to children and sending people into missions. Willow Creek has a real emphasis (and corporate cultural gift) related to seeker-sensitive communication of the Gospel. The current ministry I am involved in has a corporate culture related to corporate worship and prayer, focused primarily on young adults.

I believe the principles extend beyond the congregational level to a city-wide level and a national level. On the national level the corporate Church of Egypt has differing challenges than the Corporate church of South Korea, than the Church in the United States.

As I have traveled a bit into other nations, hosted other visitors from other nations, and visited congregations different than mine, the corporate Church in a nation has different gifts to contribute to the Global-Body of Christ. The corporate church of Korea has excelled in intercession. Meanwhile, the Church in China corporately has a leadership role to send missionaries into the Islamic unreached people groups in the Middle East. In watching videos from revivals in Latin America, a primary feature that strikes me is their demonstrative exuberance in worship and praise.

The national Church of Israel (Messianic Jews) has a key role related to Matthew 23:37-39 as we near the return of Jesus. However, it is critical that we first understand that on an individual level, a congregational level, a city-wide level, and on a national level that we deeply need each other in humility without bitter envy or conceit (and each other's special gifts on a personal and corporate level).

[slightlypuzzled]

There distinct role is to accept Jesus Christ as there Messiah and Savior. Luke records, at the end of Acts 28, the consequences of the Jewish rejection of Jesus at every step across the Roman Empire from Jerusalem to Rome...the nation now has one more chance to accept their true Messiah....

[DurbanDude]

I believe their distinct role is to be God's manifestation to the nations. The church also has that role since the crucifixion, but this did not mean that the role of the nation of Israel (ethnic Jews) fell away. The destruction in 70 AD spoke of thier judgment, and this example can bring the nations to the fear of God, if opento it. Their continued survival speaks of God's intervention to mankind. Their re-gathering as predicted in Ezekiel speaks of God's prophecy being foretold. Although this re-gathering is clearly not the predicted Davidic Kingdom, it is still a sign of prophetic fulfilment.

The very troubles and blessings of ethnic Jews (as a nation) , their ascendancy to high positions in academics and commerce, and other signs of blessing mixed with their terrible persecutions are all a sign that this is a different nation. Their very difference speaks to us of God himself.

So on this earth we have the two witnesses of God. The one is true Israel, those whose hearts have been circumsized (the church). The other is ethnic Israel , who unwittingly, by their good behaviour or bad behaviour, continuously testify to God's intervention and plans for earth.

[Hawk]

Before I give my answer (on a post to come), we need to get out of our American mindset that emphasizes individuality in an exclusive sense. Otherwise my answer will not make any sense if we have purely an individualistic mindset.

Yes, God sees individuals (see Luke 15; Psalm 139 etc. etc.). However, to begin to understand Israel's distinct role, we need to understand the corporate dimension of how God sees the Church. In the 7 letters to the Churches, Jesus was always addressing the Church as a corporate entity- the Body of Christ in that city.

Most of Paul's epistles (with the exception of Philemon, Titus, 1-2 Timothy) were always addressing the Body of Christ corporately- in a city or a region (such as Ephesus; Corinth, Rome). There were many congregations in the city of Ephesus (probably meeting in homes or in other hidden places) but they were the same Body of Christ in Ephesus.

Just as individuals have different personalities, different congregations will also have different corporate "social cultures". For example, the present ministry I am involved in has a distinctly different culture than that of Willow Creek. I am sure both of these congregations differ from John Piper's church; Bethlehem Baptist.

Just as individuals have different spiritual gifts, different ministries will also corporately have different gifts as well. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and Romans 12:4-8. For example, the local congregation I was sent from has a spiritual strength in ministering to children and sending people into missions. Willow Creek has a real emphasis (and corporate cultural gift) related to seeker-sensitive communication of the Gospel. The current ministry I am involved in has a corporate culture related to corporate worship and prayer, focused primarily on young adults.

I believe the principles extend beyond the congregational level to a city-wide level and a national level. On the national level the corporate Church of Egypt has differing challenges than the Corporate church of South Korea, than the Church in the United States.

As I have traveled a bit into other nations, hosted other visitors from other nations, and visited congregations different than mine, the corporate Church in a nation has different gifts to contribute to the Global-Body of Christ. The corporate church of Korea has excelled in intercession. Meanwhile, the Church in China corporately has a leadership role to send missionaries into the Islamic unreached people groups in the Middle East. In watching videos from revivals in Latin America, a primary feature that strikes me is their demonstrative exuberance in worship and praise.

The national Church of Israel (Messianic Jews) has a key role related to Matthew 23:37-39 as we near the return of Jesus. However, it is critical that we first understand that on an individual level, a congregational level, a city-wide level, and on a national level that we deeply need each other in humility without bitter envy or conceit (and each other's special gifts on a personal and corporate level).

Great post, Stormfreak. The distinction of individual calling and corporate calling is an important one.

Hawk

[Steven3]

Hi Mattthehitmanhart

But perhaps someone on here has more clarity on this subject. If you believe that ethnic Israel has a distinct role from that of the multi-ethnic family of God, then what exactly is that role?

Difficult for Christians to understand that God can separate the role of being saved from the role of prophetic witness. Without being funny I have seriously heard it argued that America is a Christian country so by rights God should stop using Israel in prophecy and switch to using America, for example.

But that clearly isn't how God sees things. So Israel has the same secondary role as they've always had, when obedient or not = a vehicle for prophecy, a proof to Gentiles (and to themselves) that God has a plan and purpose in history, and rules in the kingdoms of men.

If Israel (obedient or not) didn't have a continuing role in prophecy then God wouldn't have brought them back to Israel. Christ would also not have used Israel and Jerusalem as the major signs in the Olivet prophecy.

Unless God doesn't rule in the kingdoms of men, and Israel came back in 1948 and 1967 against his wishes. Which is the only other alternative I can see?

[Stormfreak1]

I thought about posting my understanding of Israel's specific role but I think I will wait another night.

Steven3 brings up a really crucial point (and one that frankly scares the living daylights out of me). "Difficult for Christians to understand that God can separate the role of being saved from the role of prophetic witness." The Church of Israel's corporate role doesn't mean that they are more (or less) Spiritual or beloved of God than the corporate Body of Christ in another nation with a different role.

American Christian culture tells us the bigger and more prominant our role that is given to us as Christians, it must mean that we are then in "good graces" with God. One guy said it sort of this way (not an exact quote): Those who operate in signs and wonders must be super spiritual, those who are pastors are a little less spiritual, all the way down to the person who cleans the church's bathroom toilets. In otherwords we attach assume that some one in a key leadership role, or who God is anointing with public demonstrations of overt Holy Spirit power must be super-spiritual in terms closeness to God or whether they are right with God in terms of holiness or humility.

If we assume those (individually or corporately) playing biggest role in this age means they have the greatest favor with God, it produces all sorts of self-centered ambition or conceit. Taken to it's absurd extreme, this logic would then make us conclude that the Anti-Christ must be ultra, "super-spiritual" (as he has one of the biggest roles in the Book of Revelation).

That being said, Messianic Jews have a very important role in the end-times related to Matthew 23:37-39. Why does the dragon particularly single them out in Revelation 12 (if the woman represents Israel)?

[Matthehitmanhart]

Before I give my answer (on a post to come), we need to get out of our American mindset that emphasizes individuality in an exclusive sense. Otherwise my answer will not make any sense if we have purely an individualistic mindset.

Yes, God sees individuals (see Luke 15; Psalm 139 etc. etc.). However, to begin to understand Israel's distinct role, we need to understand the corporate dimension of how God sees the Church. In the 7 letters to the Churches, Jesus was always addressing the Church as a corporate entity- the Body of Christ in that city.

Most of Paul's epistles (with the exception of Philemon, Titus, 1-2 Timothy) were always addressing the Body of Christ corporately- in a city or a region (such as Ephesus; Corinth, Rome). There were many congregations in the city of Ephesus (probably meeting in homes or in other hidden places) but they were the same Body of Christ in Ephesus.

Just as individuals have different personalities, different congregations will also have different corporate "social cultures". For example, the present ministry I am involved in has a distinctly different culture than that of Willow Creek. I am sure both of these congregations differ from John Piper's church; Bethlehem Baptist.

Just as individuals have different spiritual gifts, different ministries will also corporately have different gifts as well. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and Romans 12:4-8. For example, the local congregation I was sent from has a spiritual strength in ministering to children and sending people into missions. Willow Creek has a real emphasis (and corporate cultural gift) related to seeker-sensitive communication of the Gospel. The current ministry I am involved in has a corporate culture related to corporate worship and prayer, focused primarily on young adults.

I believe the principles extend beyond the congregational level to a city-wide level and a national level. On the national level the corporate Church of Egypt has differing challenges than the Corporate church of South Korea, than the Church in the United States.

As I have traveled a bit into other nations, hosted other visitors from other nations, and visited congregations different than mine, the corporate Church in a nation has different gifts to contribute to the Global-Body of Christ. The corporate church of Korea has excelled in intercession. Meanwhile, the Church in China corporately has a leadership role to send missionaries into the Islamic unreached people groups in the Middle East. In watching videos from revivals in Latin America, a primary feature that strikes me is their demonstrative exuberance in worship and praise.

The national Church of Israel (Messianic Jews) has a key role related to Matthew 23:37-39 as we near the return of Jesus. However, it is critical that we first understand that on an individual level, a congregational level, a city-wide level, and on a national level that we deeply need each other in humility without bitter envy or conceit (and each other's special gifts on a personal and corporate level).

I agree with Hawk, great post! But let me clarify my question in the OP. I totally understand and agree that there are different callings, gifts and functions for everyone in Christ, and that this is just as true for whole ethnic groups as it is for individuals, but it seems to me that when we talk about "the separate calling of Israel", we aren't really talking about those kinds of distinctions that exist within the body of Christ, but that we are actually talking about the calling that ethnic Israel carried alone under the Old Covenant, the BIG calling to be being the people of God for the world, the city set on a hill, the kingdom of priests.

The problem I've found myself faced with is that I wanted to reserve a special place and calling for Israel in the millennium, thinking that this would sort out all the seeming discord between the Old and New Testaments, but I hadn’t really thought about what exactly that calling would be. Then I realized that Israel’s calling under the Old Covenant and the place which the prophets declare she will have in the future was not just a sub-calling or one-place-among-many within the covenant, like the “hand”, “foot” and “eye” illustration which Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 12, but was in fact the overarching call of the redeemed to be the light of the world – the place and calling of the faithful Israel which Jesus opened up for the Gentiles.

So, to sharpen up my question, given the fact that the New Testament continually quotes the OT in regards to the covenantal calling of Israel and consistently applies that calling to the renewed Jew-plus-Gentile family of God in Christ, what really is the "separate calling" that we say Israel still carries and which we emphasize so much? Are we really just talking about their specialness as an everyone-is-special-in-their-own-way kind of specialness, or are we confusing the great covenantal calling of the whole family of God, which includes Jew and Gentile alike, with the kinds of sub-callings, gifts and roles that apply distinctly to individuals and groups within the family of God?

[Matthehitmanhart]

Setting the various agendas to the side and reading the NT honestly, it seems to me that it’s abundantly clear about the fact that we Gentiles who were once strangers and aliens have now been grafted into Abraham’s family through Jesus, who is the perfect "Seed", the representative of Israel, so that we too are God’s "Israel", the "Sons of God", "heirs of the promise". To reject that is to outright ignore huge portions of the NT – not only bits of Romans, Galatians and Ephesians, but also Matthew, Hebrews, Revelation, etc. In telling Jesus’ story as the climax of Israel’s history, the NT writers proclaim that it was he who walked out Israel’s calling and that therefore the covenant has been reconstituted around him. That’s the reason why all of those aspects of the law that were meant to keep Israel separate from other ethnicities (e.g., circumcision, dietary laws, etc) are no longer necessary – because the covenant is no longer ethnocentric and the calling of Israel to be the light of the world, the city on a hill, the ministers of God’s covenant faithfulness to the earth, is now the calling of everyone in Jesus, both Jew and Gentile alike (Gal 3; Eph 2).

Now, since the kingdom is no longer ethnocentric, but is instead Jesus-centric with the "middle wall of separation" broken down – making us Gentiles partakers of the "commonwealth of Israel", fellow heirs of the "covenants of promise", and thus nullifying the civil ordinances which were once meant to keep Israel separate from the Gentiles – then the OT promises made to Israel must now be understood, in light of what Jesus has done, to include saved Gentiles in every respect. Through Christ we have been brought into God’s family, a family which was once limited to one ethnicity but which has now opened up to include many, all on equal footing with the first, so that whatever promises pertain to the family corporately pertain to each and every individual as well.

I don’t see how a distinction could be made between God’s calling to Gentile believers and His calling to Israel as a nation and people, because God’s calling to Israel as a nation and people is precisely that they would be the light of the world, and his promises of exaltation and prosperity are for that vocational purpose, that His name might be declared in all the earth, that His people would partner with Him in redeeming the earth (Isa 42; 49; Matt 5:14). And it was precisely this commission which Jesus gave to his followers after the resurrection (Matt 28:18-20). As the people of God, the new community of Christ, we are, as Revelation 1:6 says, a “kingdom of priests” – meaning that all who participate in the kingdom share in God’s great mediatory task of reconciling everything in heaven and on earth in Christ. That is the one calling of “Israel,” to Jew and Gentile alike, for that is the one purpose of the covenant (I say the to include every covenant, assuming one great overarching story in Scripture), spanning across the ages from the patriarchs to Christ to the new heavens and new earth.

[undercover]

These are the obvious verses that come to mind, providing a distinct role for ethnic Israel, at least as a catalyst if nothing else.

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened,
...
Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean!
...
For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?
(Romans 11:7,12,15 ESV)

It's a big topic, but I believe that ethnic Israel has a clear role as the stewards of the land of Israel, specifically after that point, as described in Malachi 3 and also elsewhere. This is not to completely excluding saved Gentiles (Spiritual Israel or whatever you would like to call them), but as Malachi 3 and other places specifically mention the offspring of Levi, Judah, Jerusalem, and Jacob, I believe it is a role specifically for them in which the other nations (again, who are saved), will be blessed.

Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
...
Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
...
Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.
(Malachi 3:4,10,12 ESV)

Obviously the Lord is also laying out a universal principle here, and I don't deny that this applies in certain ways to ancient Israel, as well as modern Christians, but I believe it is also a specific prophetic promise which can be found elsewhere when it says "you will be a land of delight."

Another interesting concept that has been bouncing around my head lately is the way that the Lord treated OT Israel when she was not faithful to Him. As a nation, it seems that He treated her in a very specific way in order to demonstrate His faithfulness, even during her unfaithfulness. Hosea 2 reveals some interesting dynamics of that relationship which are worth noting. Again, this lays out a principle that we as individual believers can grab hold of, but it was a national principle in their day that did not necessarily apply to other nations. This wouldn't be that big of a deal, except for the seemingly eschatological phrases ingrained in these passages.

Plead with your mother, plead—
for she is not my wife,
and I am not her husband—
that she put away her whoring from her face,
and her adultery from between her breasts;
...
Now I will uncover her lewdness
in the sight of her lovers,
and no one shall rescue her out of my hand.
...
“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.
And there I will give her her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.
“And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me My Husband, and no longer will you call me My Baal.
...
and I will sow her for myself in the land.
And I will have mercy on No Mercy,
and I will say to Not My People, You are my people;
and he shall say, You are my God.
(Hosea 2:2,10,14–16,23 ESV)

[undercover]

To summarize that last post, my hypothesis at this point is that the specific role of Israel, which will really not be seen in a major way until the second coming, are:

1. To be the catalyst and center point of the resurrection, according to Romans 11:15.
2. To be the primary stewards of the land of Israel in a way which will bless other nations, not excluding the possibility of others assisting.