I believe the answer is because God chose the Jews and made an everlasting covenant with them. If we believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, then we have to believe what He says about Israel.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make good.” (Numbers 23:19) Israel is mentioned 2,300 times in the Bible. Does this not give us a clue to the passion of God’s heart? The only words mentioned more are the names of God Himself.
Jesus said “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22). The prophet Isaiah said they are a light to the nations. Without the Jews we would have no Bible, no prophets, no patriarchs and most important, no Saviour. Jesus was born a Jew and He is coming back to Israel.
In the Bible the first promise God gives us regarding Israel is His words to Abram Genesis 12: 3 “I will bless those who bless you, the one who curses you I will curse.” As this was given thousands of years ago, how can it still apply today? The land promised to Israel remains the land of Israel today, although only a small part stills belongs to them.
In Genesis 17: 18-20 Abraham asks God if the covenant can pass through Ishmael. God said, “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac. I will establish My covenant with Him for an everlasting covenant and with his descendants after him. As for Ishmael I have heard you, Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly.” Today’s Ishmael’s descendants rule 21 nations surrounding Israel, which contain two thirds of the world’s oil reserves. Are they not blessed!
Now before we get upset about the word “choose”; let’s look at Deuteronomy.7: 6-9 “The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples. But because the Lord loves you.”
We need to remember that the Lord had a purpose when He chose Israel and it is conditional as well. If they don’t abide by His commandments they will be punished. We have seen this clearly in the past. But God has ordained that Israel is the vehicle for world redemption. This is why Israel is to be blessed and not idolized, corrected and not demonized.
Christians often lack balance and opt for one or other extreme when it comes to Israel. As a nation, Israel today remains in rebellion against Jesus of Nazareth and this factor has more to do with her struggle than we are prepared to admit (Matthew 23: 37-39; Luke 19: 44). – Jeni Stables, ICEJ ZIMBABWE BRANCH
Post published in: Faith