By Dr. Joseph M. Krol
If you watch any news channel or read any newspaper, you will come across a story about Israel or Jerusalem on any given day. In one of the most recent GOP debates, the discussion of Israel was brought up. What’s the big deal about Israel? Why are we always talking this land?
What’s the big deal about Israel? To simply put it, Israel is God’s chosen people.
Deuteronomy 7:6. “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God: the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth.”
God chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Jesus Christ would be born–And Jesus is the ultimate reason why. Since He is 100% God and 100% man, He had to come from somewhere in humanity–Jesus had to come from some nation of people, and God specifically chose Israel.
John 4:22 says “You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.”
Isaiah 27:6: “In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.”
God’s eternal purpose is to bless the world through Israel. Through the nation of Israel, God gave us a Savior–Jesus.
Genesis 13:14-15
The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, “Now lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward; for all the land which you see, I will give it to you and to your descendants forever.
Israel is at war with Palestine over land. Palestine has land that belongs to Israel…but according to God’s word, the land belongs to the descendants of Abraham, the people of Israel….forever.
God gives us some very strong words on what happens to those who mistreat His chosen people:
Genesis 12:2-3: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you”
Genesis 27:29: May nations serve you and peoples bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers,and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed and those who bless you be blessed.”
Numbers 24:9:Like a lion they crouch and lie down,like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?“May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!”
Zechariah 2:8: For this is what the LORD Almighty says: “After the Glorious One has sent me against the nations that have plundered you–for whoever touches you touches the apple of his eye.”
What’s the big deal about Israel? Biblically speaking, the Jews are the “chosen people of God” and very much loved by Him. While we don’t support everything Israel has done currently or in the past, we most definitely should support their existence as a nation and to pray for the peace of their nation. (Psalm 122:6)