Comment on The Bible teaches a temporary spiritual hardening of Israel by sonatime

Parent Post: The Bible teaches a temporary spiritual hardening of Israel · In Reply To

sonatime · 2/20/2026, 4:14:11 PM · permalink

Genesis says Adam and Eve had many sons and daughters beyond Cain, Abel, and Seth (Genesis 5:4), and early generations lived hundreds of years with large families (no genetic issues like today because the gene pool was fresh and uncorrupted). Sibling incest wasn't forbidden until much later (Leviticus 18, after the population grew). It's not impossible biologically in that context, God designed it to start that way. Some Christians see parts of Genesis as having symbolic layers (teaching deep truths about sin, humanity, etc.), but the core is that all humans descend from one pair, showing we're united in sin and need redemption.   
  
The Bible doesn't hide that God chose Israel (the Jews) as His special people, not because others were worthless, but to make Himself known to the whole world through them. Right from the start with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3), God promises: "I will bless those who bless you... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." That's repeated (Genesis 18:18, 22:18), the blessing isn't just for Jews; it's for all nations/families/peoples through Abraham's descendant (the Messiah). Isaiah confirms this again: the Servant (Messiah) brings salvation "to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6), and nations stream to God (Isaiah 2, 60). Even in the OT, foreigners like Rahab, Ruth (a Moabite), and Naaman are included in God's story and blessings.  
  
The OT God isn't "only for Jews", He uses Israel as the channel to reach everyone. The focus is on Israel because that's where the Messiah would come (from the tribe of Judah, line of David). Jesus Himself says "salvation is from the Jews" (John 4:22), meaning the plan/purpose starts there, but it's not limited there. The NT isn't "some people adding stuff later", it's the fulfillment of OT promises. Jesus commissions going to "all nations" (Matthew 28:19), Peter quotes Joel about the Spirit poured on "all flesh" (Acts 2), and Paul makes it clear that in Christ there's no Jew/Gentile divide, salvation by grace through faith for anyone (Romans 1:16; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:11-22).  
  
So the God of the OT is the God who came to save the world, not just Jews, through the Jewish Messiah. The story builds progressively: God starts with one family (Abraham) to bless all families. The Law shows sin; sacrifices point forward; prophecies (like Daniel's timeline) set the stage. Jesus arrives, dies for sins once for all, rises, and opens the door to everyone. That's why the NT proclaims it openly to Gentiles too.

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