Why Bother About Israel?

"I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." - Genesis 12:2,3

Last Sunday we heard about a journey to Israel. You may have heard or read in newspaper of how harshly some Malaysian leaders speak of this nation. Christians may wonder what role Israel has with the church and why leaders in some churches (including WFA) pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Scripture tells us that Israel as a nation and a people are chosen by God and are called the 'apple of His of eye' in Deuteronomy 32:10 and Zechariah 2:8. Early on God said to Abraham in Genesis 12:2,3 "I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."

The country Israel takes its name from the patriarch Jacob whose name was changed by God after an all-night wrestling match described in Genesis 32:24-32. The name is believed to mean either "he struggles with God" or "God preserves" and either one would be a fitting name considering its people and history. In the Bible, Israel is the only nation set apart by God. "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." - Deuteronomy 7:6.

In Psalm 122:6-9, God's people are instructed to seek Jerusalem's prosperity and well being, to inquire earnestly about its welfare, pray for its peace, and to ask with concern about its condition... for the sake of the Lord's House. The word 'pray' in verse 6 is not the usual Hebrew word 'palal' for 'pray', but rather 'sha'al', a Hebrew word meaning to ask, inquire, request, desire, wish for or demand. This is clearly a serious instruction of all of God's people today.

Paul speaks about a mystery concerning an olive tree in Romans 11:17-27 that relates to other verses in the chapter showing the certainty that God will eventually reclaim His chosen people. All of us in WFA are in fact now part of that olive tree - as branches grated on that tree. Ephesians 2:11-19 clearly affirms that the Gentile church has not replaced Israel but has now actually become part of Israel. We thus cannot ignore the fact that Israel's history is actually the history of the church - our own history!

And finally, in Matthew 23:39 we see a prophesy by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as He lamented over Jerusalem "who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her ... for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! (Baruch haba b'shem Adonai)". Here Jesus is evidently addressing the Jews and He is talking about His return to take up His Millennial reign. In other words, Jesus' return is clearly stated to be dependant on Israel's salvation and recognition of Christ.