I will make you into a great nation… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
—Genesis 12:2-3, NIV

Reflection:
I wonder if Peter, James, Barnabas, Paul, and the other believers gathered in Jerusalem knew the ramifications their decision would have. God had already proved He longed for Gentiles to know Him and to have an eternal, saving relationship with Him through His Son. The Holy Spirit was at work throughout the surrounding regions, and thousands of Gentiles were saved.

The Jewish believers saw God’s extensive plans unfold before their eyes, plans God had revealed to their father Abraham generations before when He said, I will make you into a great nation, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. What was happening among the Gentiles was not an accident. It was not a departure from God’s covenant purposes. It was the unfolding of what God had spoken from the beginning.

Many Jews in the church embraced their newfound Gentile brothers and sisters. Despite being raised to not associate with unclean Gentiles, they treated them like family. The early church grew in numbers with a spirit of unity and love, to such a degree that nonbelievers recognized those of the Way by their extreme compassion and willingness to help those in need. Surely this was a wonderful time for the young body of Christ.

Indeed it was. But unfortunately what began as a glorious time for the church eventually turned into an era of conflict with those outside of it. Although a brand-new era had emerged where Jewish and Gentile believers were living together in unity, the opposition against this new movement continued to escalate.

The Pharisees, Sadducees, and temple leaders continued to persecute the Nazarenes, as Jewish believers were known, whenever they could. Throughout Barnabas and Paul’s first missionary journey, Jewish leaders and commoners alike repeatedly tried to sabotage their preaching efforts and eventually stirred up the crowds into such a frenzy that they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing he was dead.

In the eyes of traditional Jews, it was bad enough for followers of Yeshua to claim the dead rabbi was Israel’s Messiah. But associating with Gentiles took their movement to another level of defilement. How could any group associate with the unclean heathen and still call themselves God’s people?

Apparently the Jewish religious leaders were not the only ones attacking Jewish believers for their association with Gentiles. Israel was filled with Jewish nationalistic groups at the time, and among these were radicals who persecuted any Jews connected with Gentiles. Even Peter felt the pressure. He had no problem eating with the Gentiles in normal circumstances, but when those who belonged to the circumcision group arrived, Peter pulled away from the Gentiles and only ate with Jews. Paul confronted Peter for his hypocrisy.

The conflict shows just how much outside pressure could influence even those in the early church’s leadership. Once again, religious and political attacks were used to further the lie that following Jesus somehow made you less Jewish. But God’s promise stood firm. Through Abraham, all peoples on earth would be blessed. In Yeshua, that blessing had come.

Application:

• Refuse the fear of man when God is calling you to walk in His covenant purpose.
• Honor the family God is forming in Messiah, even when unity brings opposition.

Prayer:
Father, thank You that Your promise to Abraham was always bigger than one people alone. Thank You that through Yeshua, all peoples on earth can be blessed. Keep me from yielding to pressure that pulls me away from Your heart. Give me courage to walk in unity, love, and truth, even when opposition increases. Let me recognize and honor the work of Your Holy Spirit wherever You are moving.