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The Bible is an epic story of family redemption. Unfortunately, the family focus gets lost when the Bible is viewed as merely an academic work. The narrative turns into a debate over established doctrines rather than a discussion about healthy family life. This academic approach has divided God’s family more than unified it.
Understanding Israel’s place in God’s family helps us gain insight into the extravagant love of God as our Father and the significance of our identity as His sons and daughters.
Central to God's family story is His firstborn son, Israel (Exodus 4:22). However, throughout church history, Israel has frequently been treated as an academic subject but rarely considered as the firstborn son in Father’s family. Regrettably, the division extends far beyond intellectual debate. There has been a long history of antisemitism toward Jews, even within the Church. Additionally, some Jewish people have animosity toward Gentiles. Only when we see the relationship between Jews and Gentiles as a family can we begin to address the dynamics affecting our ability to love one another.