Great summary!  The makings of a grand conundrum . . .  Any ideas what the solution might look like?

Agreed!  I just didn't want to make it sound like Israel has never done anything sideways . . .

I read a little book* this morning that really simplified my thinking.  It said that there are really only two religions in the world - the religion that says we must do something to please God; and the one that says it has already been done in Christ! Put another way, one is a religion and the other is actually a relationship. Therefore our role is simply to believe (in Christ & His wonderful & complete atonement work) and let (Him operate in and through us)! What great blessings He has bestowed on us . . .  this is truth and The Truth is making us free!    * "done." by Cary Schmidt

Hi, well I guess I am doomed to be the contrarian yet again. Or at least start there. For I can't help but think of and question then  that God can and does turn some over to their own strong delusion. "God" and "their", where is Satan to be found in this? I cannot blame Satan and be excused because of him. I am accountable for myself. I  was never innocent. I was born in sin; evidently capable of sin even before my birth, much as has been  shared about  Jacob and Esau wrestling in their mother's womb, jockeying for position; a wrestling (battle) that effects all of us to this day. Well at least me. I have only that hope that is certain to both fall back on and go forward with in total confidence and joy. That hope is in the faith of Jesus;  His provision for me my eternal security with God  Father Son and Holy Spirit. Satan did evidently deceive the first of wo-man; but the man the first man Adam was he deceived too? Seems  not. The first Adam chose his lot, naively perhaps, deceiving himself perhaps. Satan the ruler over this present world, rails against God for sure, but is limited by God. He influences of course, but he does not foreknow nor predestine. He is a creation fallen, and not the creator. The question might be would Adam or Eve have eaten of the forbidden fruit if there were no Lucifer?

Shalom, Cntrysner. I agree; we SHOULD listen to what Yeeshuwa` said, and the LAST THINGS He said were these: Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV) 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." Amen. You HAVE ADMITTED that the disciples - the apostles (sent ones) - could not do what Yeeshuwa` did; therefore, this is a WATER baptism! The word "baptizing" above is the Greek word is "βαπτίζοντες" which means "submerging" or "dunking" them! And, prior to this, the disciples were doing just what John had been doing: John 3:22-24 (KJV) 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. 24 For John was not yet cast into prison. John 4:1-3 (KJV) 1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,) 3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee. Then, we read this: Acts 16:14-34 (KJV) 14 And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul. 15 And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, "If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there." And she constrained us. 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, "These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation." 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, "I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her!" And he came out the same hour. 19 And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers, 20 And brought them to the magistrates, saying, "These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city, 21 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans!" 22 And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent (tore) off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." 29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 And brought them out, and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31And they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." 32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway. 34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Now, I agree that God does indeed immerse us in His Ruwach haQodesh - His Holy Spirit - for His Son's sake, but we should not neglect the OTHER SIDE OF THE SAME COIN, namely, that Yeeshuwa` said to baptize with water - IMMERSE them IN WATER, as well. We baptize with water - not for the redemption itself - but because Yeeshuwa` TOLD us to do so and for a clean consciencce before Him.