Dear friends, today (October 7th) is the two year anniversary of the horrific attack on Israel by Hamas in Gaza. Though we are happy to see that peace talks are moving forward, this conflict has sparked renewed debate worldwide about God’s chosen people and has revealed a great deal of anti-Semitism on both sides of the aisle in this country.
On the left side of our political spectrum, anti-Semitism is blatant and some of the Muslims (even in Congress) are vocal in their hate. Somewhat less hateful is the right’s view that the Israel that currently exists in the Middle East is not the same Israel who the Lord told Abram that He would bless. In Genesis 12:3 (KJV) the Lord said to Abram “[…] I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Those who do not support Israel say this is no longer in effect. There has also been renewed fervor (on the right and even in some Christian church doctrines) supporting replacement theology which states that Israel is no longer God’s chosen people…the church now “replaced” them.
Abram, later called Abraham, had Isaac and Isaac had Jacob who was called Israel. The twelve tribes of Israel were indeed the chosen people of God. Some verses that explicitly declare this are Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 7:6-8, 14:2, 26:17-19, and 2 Samuel 7:23-24. See also 1 Kings 8:53 and 10:9, 1 Chronicles 17:20-21, Psalm 135:4, Isaiah 41:8, 43:1-3, 44:21 and Jeremiah 31:1-4. I could go on.
In Psalm 105:8-11 we see something even more compelling: “He (God) hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant: Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:” (emphasis mine). To me, forever and everlasting are quite clear. The people of Israel are still God’s chosen even to this day.
Isaiah 11:11-12 proclaims that God will gather together the remnant of His people from Israel and Judah from the four corners of the earth. This will be complete at the millennial reign of Christ. A full restoration of His covenants with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, even today the shadows of end-times prophecy are cast backwards in time to where we are today. The beginning of the fulfilment of this prophecy was in 1948 when the State of Israel was formed after World War II.
Anti-Zionists and replacement theologians are quick to assert that this is a political Israel which has nothing to do with the chosen people of God. Even the likes of conservative influencers like Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson are quick to dismiss today’s Israel as God’s own. One of the main arguments that I can see is that Israel today is mostly non-religious or downright ungodly. Romans 11:25-26 reveals from Paul that Israel is blinded to the truth of Jesus as Messiah until the fullness of the Gentiles be come, which is the end of the church age (marked by the pre-tribulation rapture).
How many times in the Old Testament did we see the nation of Israel fall away from God? After they were brought out of Egypt by the mighty hand of God, they doubted and rebelled and spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness. Once in the promised land, they again fell away and were even judged by God and exiled more than once. The temple was destroyed and has been so since AD70. Did they stop being God’s chosen then, even in exile? No, so why would we think today is any different. They are not following God, are not particularly religious overall, and they certainly cannot see (except for a remnant) that Jesus is indeed their Messiah, but this is not a new thing so I assert they are still God’s chosen people.
One last thing to think about regarding this: In Genesis 15 where God made the covenant with Abram, Abram took the animals God directed and divided them in half. Customarily, Abram (the lesser party to the contract) should have walked through the midst of the carcasses reciting the terms of the covenant to indicate that if he failed to uphold the covenant, he would become like these slain animals. However, God put him into a deep sleep and God Himself, as a smoking furnace, moved through the pieces to finalize the covenant. So essentially what God was saying by this is that if you (Abram) break this covenant, I will be “torn to pieces” (a foreshadowing of Jesus on the cross). God is saying that this covenant is on my shoulders and my shoulders alone! Regardless of what the Jews did or are currently doing in Israel, God does not change and He will uphold the covenant!
So, bless Israel and you will be blessed. Curse Israel and you will be cursed. As a nation or an individual, this promise of God is STILL in effect. Thank you for reading and I pray you agree or at least seek out the truth of the matter in the Scriptures! May God bless you! May God bless Israel the people and Israel the nation!
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