Israel & the Church - Bethel Church

Why is it important for all nations, especially the holy Nation [those washed in the blood of Jesus] to stand beside Israel and the Jewish race? The most important reason is that God said to Abraham that He would bless those that blessed him, and that He would curse those that cursed him. Abraham was the first Jewish person. Until God called Abram out of idolatry in Ur of the Chaldees, and made a covenant with him by circumcision, there were no Jewish people on the planet. Abram became Abraham, the first Hebrew, or Jew. So, when God blessed Abram He also included a blessing upon those that would bless him. God is all about blessing because it is His nature to bless. He loves blessing people and He expects us to be people who bless as well. This promise was made to Isaac, and to Jacob also.

Look at what Isaac said to his son Jacob when he blessed him before Jacob left to find a wife. "May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May He also give you the blessings of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you, that you may possess the land of your sojournings, which God gave to Abraham" [Genesis 28:3-5].

Where does this leave the descendants of Abraham through Ishmael? God has promised to bless them too. I already stated that God is a God who blesses. Blessing is a part of His wonderful nature. God is not opposed to the Arab people. He loves them and has blessed them tremendously. While this is true, God chose to place a special responsibility on the Jewish people. This responsibility included, but was not limited to, representing [re-presenting] Him to the world as His priests, to be the overseers of His revelation to mankind concerning His will for establishing and maintaining a relationship with Him, and to be the lineage from which the Messiah would come into the world in order to bring the final revelation of God to the world, as well as His plan for redemption. Where does this leave all of the other races of people on the earth? God’s plan for them is the same as His plan for every race. That is to be reconciled to Him through faith in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a lot of misinformation concerning Israel, and most especially Jerusalem. The whole world seems to be in an uproar over her. She is an enigma. She is also a sign and a wonder. I do not want to get into a deep theological treatise here but we must not allow the world’s system to influence us. Jerusalem is the place where God chose to place His name. Israel, or at the time Palestine, is the place that God chose for Messiah to come the first time to instruct His chosen people, and the world in the principles of His kingdom. Jerusalem is the place that Messiah was crucified for the sins of the world. Jerusalem is the place where Messiah rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. Jerusalem is the place where Messiah will return and set up His earthly kingdom.

One major part of the misinformation is the boundaries of Israel. God promised Abraham that He would give him, and his descendants through Isaac, all the land of Canaan. He said, “On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, ‘To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates—the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites and the Jebusites’” [Genesis 15:18-21]. The land that God promised to Abraham [Israel] is actually 80% more than what they presently have.

Another important thing to consider is this, if God has forsaken Israel and all of His promises to her, then how can He be trusted with any of the promises that He has made to us? God is not a liar. He is also not someone that takes back what He has given. Even when we neglect, or abuse His gifts He is faithful to His promises. God is not like us. We are to become like Him. He is faithful. He is gracious and kind. He is loving and patient. He is for us and not against us. He believes the best in all of us. He sees past our faults and focuses on the end result – being conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. And He deals with man in covenants. God is not a covenant breaker.

Right now there are many threats to the security of Israel. This is a type and shadow of the threat to the whole world. Everyone’s common enemy, the devil, wants to destroy everything that God considers good and holy. The devil ferments his hatred through anyone that will come into agreement with him. He spreads his lies, which he is good at since he has been lying from the beginning, so that his agenda can move forward. He wants to rule the world. His kingdom works the same as God’s. He needs people to come into agreement with him just as God needs people to agree with Him. We must not allow ourselves to be ensnared in his filth. We must rise above what appears to be factual and look deeper into the Scriptures [truth] so that we will not be deceived.

Mark this down – there will be an even greater struggle for the piece of real estate called the land of Israel. It will not end until Messiah comes to her rescue. What we need to focus on is where will we be standing when He takes His stand?

Please prayerfully consider your stance on Israel. Please do not believe what the media is telling the world. Pray, study the Word of God, and allow the Holy Spirit to influence your thoughts in this vital area. There is so much at stake. We cannot afford to make a mistake.