Ep.1023: Is Israel a Thorn in the Side of the World?
Israel's unique role in the world and in God's plan
CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: Zechariah 12:3
Israel is a country that only covers about 21,000 square kilometers (not even in the top 150 countries – about the size of New Jersey) and houses about 8.3 million people (which figures to be about .11% of the world’s population). Yet for its insignificance, this land is always in the news and always seems to be in trouble. Why are there so many questions about and issues with this tiny nation? Are they really occupying land that is not theirs? Are they really mean and over-the-top harsh with their neighbors, or are there important details about the constant conflicts we are always missing? Should we just be fed up with what they do and what they stand for, or should we be respectfully looking up to Israel for what they do and what they stand for?
Re: Is Israel a Thorn in the Side of the World?
Thumbs up for CQ because you’ve got yourself another loyal follower from NZ!
For any site or page that I follow I judged them by their stand or treatment towards Israel and the Jewish people. That’s not to say that I idolized Israel and the Jewish people, I just cannot stand the discrimination against Israel and the Jewish people. This podcast epitomized that CQ is on the right side of history and true to the Biblical callings. For several years, I’ve been doing some personal study on Israel; a puzzle piece here and a puzzle piece there and when I listened to this podcast all the puzzle pieces fitted together (historically, politically and spiritually.) If I were to nit-picking is that this important subject should be explore in two part series because I see it was rushed and little is cover on the origin of the “why” the Arab-Muslims contempt and hatred towards the Jews since the conception of Islam under Mohammad and how it’s continue to perpetuate to the present days by their direct or indirect hostility towards Israel as a Jewish state. And historical facts would back this up dated back to Mohammad’s era, his parting words before he died and what followed. Presently, the world only see Israel-Palestinian conflict since 1948, like it happened out of a vacuum. In itself, it’s a great podcast to listen to and think about. Keep up the good work and God bless you, CQ team!
Israel must surely be bringing God to despair
We understand everything to be moving along the timeline of prophecy, with Israel being God’s prophetic timeclock. It’s difficult to see all the necessary twists and turns while we are going through it, but we rely on Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83 to try to see what is happening. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to listen to this episode for the scriptural details. – Christian Questions
I just listened to this episode. So thankful to have heard the history and be able to follow the timeline of prophecy. I would love to hear an update as so much is happening currently with Israel and the world.
Hi, Louann, we have received several requests for this and are discussing internally. Israel as God’s timeclock is a fascinating subject. Stay tuned for hopefully more! – Christian Questions
Does God’s Chosen People include all Jews or does it not?
You ask a complex question! The answer requires navigating the distinction between God’s relationship with the nation of Israel historically, His dealings with individuals during the Gospel Age, and the future fulfillment of His promises.
While the Jewish nation was originally and irrevocably chosen by God, that national favor was temporarily set aside due to collective rejection of Christ, though God maintains promises for their eventual inclusion as a whole.
God chose the Jewish nation among all the families of the earth. This choice was made to show them a higher standard and reveal what they should be. The covenant with Abraham established that his descendants (Israel, the natural, earthly seed) would be multiplied “as the sand on the seashore” and would ultimately bless all the families/nations of the earth.
For a whole age, God had neither blessing nor favor for any people except Israel. They were His treasured possession out of all the peoples and were called a “priestly kingdom and a holy nation” under the Mosaic Law. The calling of God, particularly to Israel, is irrevocable. Paul affirms that God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. The Jewish nation is still God’s chosen people to this day.
However, during Jesus’ first advent, there was a shift where the nation of Israel collectively forfeited their exclusive favor. The nation of Israel rejected Jesus as their Messiah, and Jesus was sent primarily to the “lost sheep” of the house of Israel. Because of this rejection, Israel lost favor as a nation, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. Jesus cast Israel off, saying, “your house is left to you desolate.” This period of disfavor is described as a partial hardening that happened to Israel. Individual Jews were not necessarily shunned, however, and the call to discipleship continued to individual Jews and eventually expanded to the Gentiles.
Prophecy confirms that this period of exclusion is temporary, and all Israel will ultimately be saved. This salvation involves God making a new covenant with the house of Israel and taking away their sins. The ultimate regathering and restoration of Israel is prophesied. We believe the physical nation of Israel will play a major role in the future blessing of the families of the earth. Israel will be the physical earthly government through which God’s grace will flow to the whole world. The nations will stream to Jerusalem, the capital of the world in the future kingdom, to learn God’s ways and law.
The Abrahamic Promise repeated several times in Genesis presents two classes of God’s “chosen people” descended from Abraham:
1. Natural Israel (Earthly Seed): This refers to the physical Jewish nation (the “sand on the seashore”), which was originally chosen and will be restored to full favor as the central earthly nation for blessing the world.
2. Spiritual Israel (Heavenly Seed): This refers to Christ and his faithful followers (the “stars of the heavens”), often called a “chosen race” and is “spiritual” Israel. This group consists of faithful individuals from both Jew and Gentile backgrounds who belong to Christ.
Therefore, while all Jews belong to the nation that was originally and ultimately chosen by God (a promise that is irrevocable), during the current Gospel Age, the nation as a system lost its exclusive favor. However, God preserves a remnant now and promises that all Israel will be saved and restored in the future. We are not provided logistics of exactly who will be considered “Jewish” (i.e.., what percentage of ethnicity), etc. – Christian Questions
You have a great gift of verbiage but no gift of facts……God sent Abraham from the Ur to the new promised land but hIs chosen people have continually rejected Him.
His own Son, was murdered by the Saducees and the Israelites lost their Temple in 70 AD and have been wandering since then except for a false UN government created in 1948.
Christianity through the Holy Spirit has replaced the children of Abraham.
Thank you for taking the time to write. We refer you to two additional episodes: Ep.1330: Do the Covenants of God All Last Forever? and Ep.1331: Is the New Covenant Different From God’s Other Covenants? “Replacement theory” is the belief that God, in anger over Israel’s rejection of Jesus, revoked His covenant with the Jewish people, making them no longer His chosen nation, and transferred all promises exclusively to Christians. We see this as scripturally false.
The main objection is the irrevocability of God’s promises. Even though Israel denied Jesus, they were not cast off forever as a nation. In Romans chapter 11, Paul emphatically tells us that Israel lost favor for a time, but their favor would be returned: “Has God cast away His people? Certainly not!… God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew… this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins…For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”
The Abrahamic Covenant, reaffirmed as an everlasting covenant by God (Genesis 17:7,8,13,19, Psalm 105:8,10) forms the basis for both the Christian and Jewish destinies. This promise states that Abraham’s seed will be multiplied “as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore,” and that “in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.” Paul explicitly identifies Christ as the single seed through whom the promises were spoken (Galatians 3:16). Those who belong to Christ are Abraham’s descendants and “heirs according to promise.” However, this spiritual inheritance (the “stars of the heavens”) does not nullify the enduring earthly inheritance promised to the physical nation of Israel (the “sand of the seashore”).
Israel’s temporary loss of national favor is described as a “partial hardening has happened to Israel” lasting “until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). Therefore, Israel’s rejection of the Messiah served a larger divine purpose: their transgression led to salvation and “riches” (blessings and opportunity) coming to the Gentile world. The focus of God’s favor shifted temporarily to the Gentiles, but Paul warned Gentile Christians not to be wise in their own estimation or look down on the Israelites, as God will again show mercy to Israel.
Prophecy shows the restoration of the physical Jewish nation. God promised, “I will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you” and bring them back into the land which their fathers possessed. The prophetic words record God assuring Israel, “I will restore them to their own land which I gave to their fathers” (Jeremiah 16:15). This restoration began quietly in the 1800’s and was dramatically affirmed by the reestablishment of Israel as a sovereign nation in 1948. This historical miracle serves as a testament to the truth of biblical prophecy and demonstrates that God has a place for Israel that will be there for all eternity.
The continued existence of promises specifically aimed at Israel is proven by the prophecy of the New Covenant. Jeremiah 31:31-34 explicitly declares this covenant will be made “with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.” True Christians are not the direct recipients of this New Covenant, as it is a promise of forgiveness, blessing and restitution to physical Israel. The New Covenant is guaranteed to last forever, as God swore that the offspring of Israel will cease from being a nation before Him only if the fixed order of the sun, moon and stars departs. Christians are part of the “heavenly Jerusalem” and the “church of the firstborn,” serving as the royal Priesthood, who will descend from heaven to mediate and oversee the New Covenant’s work, including the reconciliation of Israel back to God. While Israel is the recipient, the New Covenant serves as the means to fulfill God’s plan for all humanity by the establishment of God’s righteous kingdom.
Ultimately, Israel’s destiny is to play a major, indispensable role in God’s future plan for the world. Their fulfillment will be “life from the dead.” Israel is assured of restoration to favor as the blesser nation on earth, and they will be recognized as the offspring whom the LORD has blessed. Micah 4:1-4 describes that in the future, “all the nations will stream” to Jerusalem to be taught God’s ways. This divinely mandated future role unequivocally refutes the doctrine that the promises intended for the physical nation of Israel have been nullified or completely replaced by the Christian church. – Christian Questions
This is simply your wishes not what is written. I’m sorry you can’t accept it. If you are not a Christian that is different story, but if you are this is the same as other political maneuvers to pretend scripture does not apply that many complain about such as trans advocacy by progressive congregations.
Just a reminder to all our friends posting on our website – at Christian Questions, we believe dialogue regarding opposing viewpoints on biblical topics should be encouraged. We request that varying opinions should in all cases be stated as scripturally as possible and with a God-honoring, respectful tone towards those with whom we may disagree. Thank you! – Christian Questions