In recent years, there has been much talk about how Christians should view the nation of Israel. Some have claimed that Christians who believe that the Jewish people still have a right to their ancestral homeland have a ‘brain virus’ and believe ‘heresy’ (Read more at: https://harbingersdaily.com/the-real-brain-virus-isnt-christian-zionism-its-antisemitism/). Others have adopted the idea that the Church has replaced Israel and that God is finished with the Jewish people. Sadly, this idea has been growing in recent years and is promoted in many churches and is promoted through many media outlets. Yet, this idea of Replacement Theology (i.e., ‘Supersessionism’) does not align with very clear passages of Scripture that speak of God’s unconditional covenant with Israel and God’s future plans for Israel. Believing Replacement Theology requires ignoring or allegorizing clear and straightforward passages of Scripture.
It is vital to understand how Israel fits into God’s prophetic plan for the ages if one is to “rightly divid[e] the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). Understanding God’s dealings with Israel in the past and how God will deal with Israel in the future is a key that unlocks so much of the Word of God!
Understanding God’s plan for Israel begins by understanding God’s historical dealings with and promises to Israel. It all begins with a promise God made to Abraham called the Abrahamic Covenant.
What is the Abrahamic Covenant?
Genesis 12:1-3- “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
In Gen. 12:1-3, we read of God’s call of Abram (who would later be named Abraham) to leave his homeland and move to a land that God would show him! We also read of God’s covenant (promise) to Abraham and his descendants. This covenant forms the basis for understanding God’s promises to Israel.
First, this was an unconditional covenant.
This covenant that God made with Abraham was ‘unconditional’- that is, without conditions to be met by Abraham or his descendants. Instead, this covenant was completely based on the faithfulness of God to fulfill His Word.
The Abrahamic Covenant was unlike other covenants in the Bible that were ‘conditional’- that is, their fulfillment was dependent on the people meeting certain conditions (such as obedience to God).
The Abrahamic Covenant was ‘unconditional’- it was not based on Abraham’s obedience or the obedience of Abraham’s descendants- it was based on the promises of God. Even in spite of Israel’s disobedience to God, this covenant has never been revoked. God is faithful! All that is contained in this covenant still stands today!
Second, this covenant involved personal blessing for Abraham. (‘I will bless thee, and make thy name great’)
Abram was truly blessed by God! His name is well-known and is revered by many people to this day. He is the Father of the Jews. Even in Islam, Abraham is second only to Mohammed. In Christianity, we consider Abraham to be one of the great men of faith.
His name is mentioned is sixteen books of the OT and eleven books of the NT.
Abraham is the Father of the Jews but also to all who believe (Rom. 4:11) (i.e., Christians).
Third, this covenant involved national blessing for Abraham’s descendants (the Israelites). (‘I will make of thee a great nation’)
In Gen. 22:17, God promised Abraham- “That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed [descendants] as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed [descendants] shall possess the gate of his enemies;”
The Abrahamic covenant was passed down through Isaac and Jacob (Israel) and to the nation of Israel through Jacob’s twelve sons.
This promise of blessing to the Israelites included:
The multiplication of the Jewish people. God promised that they would “multiply…as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore.” (Genesis 22:17)
The title deed to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:7a- “And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land…”
Genesis 13:14-15, 17- “And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever… Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.”
Genesis 15:7- “And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.”
How much land?
Genesis 15:18- “In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates:”
The title deed to the land measured from the river of Egypt to the Euphrates River- a huge plot of land that the Jews have never fully occupied but will one day in the Millennial Kingdom.
The Bible is clear that the promise to this land is unconditional and eternal.
Genesis 17:8 speaks of this land as “an everlasting possession” for Abraham and his descendants.
This promise of the land was repeated to Isaac (Genesis 24:7; 26:3), to Jacob (Genesis 28:4, 13), and to the descendants of Jacob (Israel) (Genesis 35:12).
The promise of an eternal throne and kingdom. This would come through the Messiah- the Son of David (2 Sam. 7:10-17).
A blessing to those who bless Israel and curse to those who curse Israel (‘bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee’– Genesis 12:3)
I believe this applies to nations! I believe one reason why God has been so longsuffering to America (in spite of her sin against God) is because America has historically stood with Israel. Lord willing, that will continue in the future! The United States was among the first nations to recognize the state of Israel in 1948 and has historically been a close ally to Israel.
On the other hand, consider nations that have persecuted Israel- such as the Babylonians, Assyrians, Greeks, and Romans (these empires were judged by God and no longer exist)! Antisemites are under the curse of God. Read the histories of antisemites such as Haman, Hitler, Stalin, and many others! In modern times, antisemitism is on the rise again (from those on the left and those on the right politically speaking)! Christians should never endorse, support, or be involved in antisemitic behavior.
The preservation of the Jewish people through the ages. One of the greatest testaments to the Bible’s accuracy is the existence of Israel. An ancient nation that still exists today!
In 1754, Bishop Thomas Newton said about the Jews- “Their preservation is really one of the most illustrious acts of Divine Providence. They are dispersed among all nations, yet not confounded with any…They can produce their pedigree from the beginning of the world…After wars, massacres and persecutions they still subsist; they are still quite numerous. What but a supernatural power could have preserved them in such a manner as no other nation on earth has been preserved.”
Have you ever met an Assyrian? A Babylonian? A Roman? A Philistine? NOPE! These mighty nations are now extinct! But Israel exists to this very day (even after being persecuted, scattered, and almost exterminated)!
Fourth, this covenant involved universal blessing for all the families of the earth.
How would all the world be blessed through Abraham?
It would be through the seed of Abraham- Jesus Christ (the fulfillment of Gen. 3:15- “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”)
This blessing applies today to people who believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:6-9, 13-14).
This blessing will continue when Christ returns and establishes His kingdom!
There are four major ways that God has blessed (and will bless) the world through Israel: 1) The giving of Scripture (Rom. 3:1-2). The Word of God was primarily written by Jews (with the exception of Luke). God used the Hebrew nation to give us the Word of God!; 2) The giving of the Law (Rom. 3:19; Gal. 3:24); 3) The giving of the Savior (Gen. 3:15; Rom. 9:4-5). Through the Hebrew nation came Jesus Christ the Redeemer of mankind! 4) The giving of the coming Kingdom (Is. 9:6-7)
Understanding God’s unconditional and eternal covenant that was made with Abraham and passed down to his descendants (via Isaac and Jacob) provides the historical background for why Christians today believe that God still has a future for Israel. God’s future dealings with Israel are based upon His unconditional covenant made with Abraham and his descendants. What that will look like will be dealt with in a future post. Believing that God has a future for Israel based upon His past promises to Israel is not the symptom of a ‘brain virus’ but comes from searching the Scripture and taking God at His Word!
To be continued…
~Pastor Aaron Francis
