My Journey to Life, Step 22—The Remnant
9. What connection is there between Israel as the chosen covenant people of God and the concept of the end-time remnant?
From Genesis to Revelation, the emphasis is on God’s desire to establish covenant relationship with the people He loves with an everlasting love and for whom He died. The election of Israel as the chosen covenant people of God was not to establish an exclusive group that God preferred over other people groups, but rather to establish a visible sign of the benefits of remaining in covenant relationship with God. JTL22 11.1
Christ formed the “new Israel” by calling the disciples to be the little flock who would receive the kingdom. Christ’s church is now the faithful Israel who is the recipient of the covenant promises made to the Old Testament Israel. The relationship that God longed to have with ancient Israel is the same connection He seeks to establish with His faithful remnant today. All who accept Jesus and live by the principles of His law are the recipients of the promises He made to the patriarchs. As God redeemed Israel from Egyptian bondage, so He desires to redeem us from sin and Satan and bind us exclusively to Himself. Just as ancient Israel was to reveal the merciful Yahweh embodied in the Torah, so today’s remnant is to demonstrate God’s character of love and mercy. JTL22 11.2