THE GENTILES COURT

Tuesday 25 March

When they go out to the outer court, to the outer court to the people, they shall take off their garments in which they have ministered, leave them in the holy chambers, and put on other garments; and in their holy garments they shall not sanctify the people. Ezekiel 44:19

Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7 (NKJV)

All throughout the Bible, there are signs pointing to the fact that God’s plan was for the Gentile nations to come into Christ. The outer court in Herod’s temple was also known as the Gentiles court. Remember this was in Jesus’ time. You think it was a coincidence?

Let’s take a quick journey through the scriptures starting with Abraham. Do you remember the story of God telling Abraham to get a heifer, a goat and a ram of three years old, a dove and a pigeon? Here are some things to consider. Three here represents resurrection.

The three different offerings were a peace offering, a sin offering and a a burnt offering. The idea of this covenant is that God swore by Himself because He could find no one greater that if He broke the covenant he should be cut in pieces.

This is what is called an Epangelia or self fulfilling prophecy. The one who cut the covenant went guarantor and had the wherewithal to make good on his promise. This is why salvation is not based on our performance but on His.

We understand from this that salvation was not only for the Jews but also for the Gentiles. We should start to be able to tell what was on God’s mind.

Fast forward to the first Passover. The death angel was coming to kill the firstborn sons in Egypt. Only those who had the blood of a lamb on their lintels and doorposts had their firstborn sons spared. Certain Egyptians did the exact same actions as the Hebrews and their firstborn sons were also spared. This shows is the nature of God toward the Gentiles.

Remember a woman in Jericho named Rahab? She was a Gentile and was delivered by letting down the scarlet cord which represented the blood of Jesus also and was spared with her family and was brought into the lineage of Jesus even though she was a harlot.

Jesus Himself said my Father’s house is a house of prayer. He was quoting from the prophet Isaiah 56:7. Isaiah by the Spirit of prophecy said that this house of prayer would be for all nations. For that to be true, then the Gentile nations would have to be included here.

Caiaphas the High Priest in Jesus day also prophesied unknowingly that Jesus would not only die for the nation of Israel but that He would ‘gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.’ This is in direct reference to the Gentiles being brought into God’s family from every nation.

Something amazing happened when salvation was made available.

Ephesians 2:14 says; ‘For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us,’…

Apostle Paul says it this way about the new creation in Christ.

‘A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.’ Romans 2:28-29

There are many more examples of these types of clues scattered all through the Bible. God’s redemption plan for mankind has never changed He had to find one man to work with however and He found Him in Abraham and later in His seed Jesus Christ.

This is why God promised that ALL the nations (families) of the earth will be blessed.

When God said in John 3:16 ‘whosoever’ believes in Him would not perish’ He meant it. In Christ there is only inclusion into the family of God.

If you receive Him and become partakers of the commonwealth of Israel, He will in no way ever cast you out!

APPLICATION

Study the stories in this devotion and look for other examples in the Word where God was showing His intention to include everyone in His glorious redemption plan.