God’s Plan For Israel

The world was shocked and stunned by the vicious, horrifying attack on Israel by Hamas on October 7, 2023.  But sympathies for Israel soon faded.  Anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian rallies and protests gathered steam on college campuses in America and in many other places around the world.  Recently, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas warned of the drift of some on the conservative right toward anti-semitism.  Tucker Carlson, conservative political commentator, and Kevin Roberts, President of Heritage Foundation, are examples of this drift.  Cruz also warned against “Replacement Theology” being taught in some churches across America.  This theology teaches that God is done with Israel, and the church has replaced it.  This week, New York City elected a Muslim Communist as mayor who has stated that he would have Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu arrested if he visits New York City.

What does the Bible really have to say about Israel?

Abraham is the father and founder of the nation of Israel.  God’s first promise to Abram is given in 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.”

God promised to Israel the land of Canaan.  “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”  (Genesis 17:8)

God renewed the promise of a kingdom to David through Solomon.  “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.  He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom forever.   And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13, 16)

Although Jews have been scattered around the world for many centuries, God promises to bring them back to Israel.   “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”  “Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.  “Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.”  (Jeremiah 31:3,8,10) The Regathering of Israel has been taking place for over a hundred years now.

All of this became prominently visible to the world when Israel became a nation in 1948.  This was a miracle of vast proportions, reviving a nation that ended in 70 AD when the Roman government destroyed the Second Temple (Herod’s temple).  The Jewish people scattered all over the world, but, amazingly, maintained their identity as Jews over this almost 2,000-year period.

Today, Israel, including the West Bank and Gaza, measures about 10,000 square miles.  Muslim nations around it measure about 5,392,000 square miles.  The current conflicts against Israel are not about land, but rather their stated goal of wiping Israel off the face of the map.

Duration of God’s Promise

“Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 31:36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me forever.  31:37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:35-37)

As far as I can tell, the sun, moon, and stars have not quit shining.  Heaven has not been measured, and the foundations of the earth have not been searched out.  Since God cannot lie and He always keeps His promises, He is not done with Israel.

What does the New Testament say about this? 

Jesus takes up the throne of David.  “And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)

Paul recognizes three people groups: Jews, Gentiles, and the church (made up of born-again Jews and Gentiles).  Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:32, “Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.”

Is God finished with the Jews?  Paul says emphatically, “No!”  “I say then, Hath God cast away his people?  God forbid.  For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  (Romans 11:1,25-27,29)

Certainly Jews, and the leadership of Israel, are not perfect. And they have not yet turned to  Christ as Messiah. But they will in God’s prophetic timing.

This article has been a brief summary of God’s program with Israel and the Jews.  To adequately cover the subject would require many more Scripture verses and several books.

Christians who believe the Bible should never be anti-Jew, anti-semitic.  Paul expresses his burden for his people, the Jews, in this verse.  “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  (Romans 10:1)

Remember God’s promise of blessing or cursing stated in Genesis 12:3: 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.”  The blessing comes through Jesus in the line of Abraham.

We should ever be mindful of the prayer request in Psalm 122:6. “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.”