Israel Matters

Israel Matters

Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV®)

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

I don’t believe we can properly understand the Bible and its implications if we don’t understand the role of the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Without that knowledge, large sections will remain a mystery or be misinterpreted. I think the first step is to recognize that the Jewish people were chosen by God for His purposes. They didn’t choose Him; He chose them, and our understanding of God’s character is derived from how He interacted with them in the Bible. Through them, He showed us His glory, His ways, and His instructions for a holy life. There is no one else like them in history. To be clear, the Jewish people aren’t perfect. Any expression of ungodliness you can find in the United States, you can find in Jerusalem. But the Bible says everyone on Earth will be blessed through the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that it’s in our best interest to bless them (Genesis 12:3), and it’s true! God sent Jesus, our Messiah, to be born into their lineage. It is He who is titled the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Without the Jewish people, there would be no salvation. Every spiritual blessing—our entire spiritual inheritance—we owe to Jewish people.

THINK ABOUT IT

With Israel so frequently in the news, it’s important to have a biblical perspective. Understanding why Israel matters and why the Jewish people have a unique place in God’s agenda and purposes enables us to pray in cooperation with Him to see those purposes emerge in the earth.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to us and for the legacy of the Jewish people. Thank You for showing us who You are. Help me to better understand the role of the Jewish people in Your purposes in the Earth. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) and wisdom for those who are leading the nation of Israel. In Jesus' name, amen.