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by George M. Ella (Author), Theodore Zachariades (Foreword by), Peter L. Meney (Editor)
This is a fine defence of the integrity of the pan-Biblical covenant and
the faithful and consistent testimony of God to His church and people
in every age. I particularly found Dr Ella's thoughts concerning the
international nature of God's covenant promises in the Old Testament
helpful and refreshing. I enjoyed, too, his thoughts on how a singular
view of Jewish covenant applicability is too narrow.
It has struck me for a long time how frequently the Lord was pleased
to send the gospel outside of Israel's borders. Did not Joseph take the
gospel to Egypt? Naaman certainly carried the gospel back to Syria
where there was already at least one believer in Damascus, a little
servant girl who evangelised her peers. Mordecai and Esther's greatness
in the court of the Medes and Persians was immense and we are told
many believed because of them. Daniel's influence was considerable in
Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar had wonderful revelations of God's
glory. The history of Balaam and Balak betrays a keen awareness
amongst surrounding nations of God's covenant dealings with His
people. These things were not hid. Jonah's testimony in Nineveh was
powerful and if we may take the scripture testimony at face value, and
we should, many, many believed God. This was a huge, huge city of
antiquity and the vast majority must surely have been Gentiles.
Wise men came from the east seeking the King of the Jews. Even
the Lord's dealings with the Syrophenician woman who by the
Saviour's own testimony possessed great and genuine faith shows
covenant grace was never restricted to a single race. She was a
Canaanite by birth and abode, but was truly one of the lost sheep of the
house of Israel whom the Lord had come to seek and to save. Gentiles
knew grace and were blessed in the Covenant of Peace long before the
gospel was sent more fully to the Gentiles in the great commission.
This volume goes forth with the prayer and sure confidence that the
same grace that always saved sinners by bringing them to a knowledge
of the truth will be instrumental in opening the eyes of God's elect till
the last lost sheep is gathered and the fulness of the truth as it is in Jesus
is known the world over. Then the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
