Jesus Trusted The Father, Not Man

What Did Jesus Do?

But Jesus did not entrust himself to them, for he himself knew what was in man.
John 2:24-25

While I hardly expect the modern political state of Israel to put its trust in Jesus, I hope it can be true to its heritage of faith in the One whom Jesus trusted. Jesus could have trusted in those who enthusiastically believed in his name by virtue of his show of power (“signs”; John 2:23), but he knew better than to do that because he knew what was in man. So Jesus placed his trust completely in the Father.

Though its lapses have been many and tragic, historically Israel has always been delivered when it has trusted in the one whom Jesus called “Father.” Today, modern Israel, surrounded by many nations who would like to see it destroyed, much the same as ancient Israel had many enemies, must decide where it will place its trust. Truly, the IAF and IDF (Israeli Air Force and Israel Defense Forces) are exceptionally fine “Chariots” and “horses” in which to trust. But they’re still “chariots” and “horses,” and Israel has always been called to place its trust rather in the name of the LORD its God (Psalm 20:7).

All this is to say that the admittedly extremely volatile political situation in the Middle East is more than merely political for Israel, and, I believe, she must look to more than political survival and military deliverance. In a similar way, though the United States is not Israel, and has no national covenant history to call upon, many Christian Americans who lament the current political and economic condition of this nation, need to ask ourselves in whom, or in what, do we trust, and seek more than political and economic deliverance.

Modern political Israel is not to be confused with the ancient theocracy. Yet, there can be no hope or future for modern political Israel apart from trust in the LORD and his deliverance. Similarly, there can be no hope or future for 21st Century America apart from trust in the one whom Jesus called Father, and Israel called LORD. Should Israel maintain the highest possible levels of military vigilance? Absolutely! But it must even more vigilantly call upon the LORD its God. Should Americans exercise our responsibility to be an informed and active electorate? Absolutely! But we must also vigorously call upon the Father, in and through Jesus who put his trust in God, and not in man. Deliverance may, for a time, come to Israel through its arms, and to America through the ballot. But true and lasting deliverance will only come by placing all our trust in God.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37:4