Guest column: Are Israel and the Jewish people still important to God?

When was the last time you heard your pastor speak about the land of Israel in the pulpit? Have you ever heard him or her speak about the Jewish people in God’s master plan? Has God done away with the covenant land and his covenant people?

These are very important questions that a Christian should ask oneself. For those that are Christians, Israel and the Jewish people probably have not been a very common topic of study in the local church — or theological seminaries for that part.

This is of no fault to anyone. Most Western American churches have been taught that God loves Israel and the Jews, but leave it at that. Some churches pray for the peace of Jerusalem every Sunday and try to support Israel the best way they can.

Sadly, other churches go the opposite direction and feel the Jewish people have had their chance for God’s grace and that He no longer has a plan for them. The church has replaced Israel and God has nothing more to do with them. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

Because of Replacement theology, (the replacement Israel by the church), and anti-Semitism, the church in general has missed out on some wonderful truths that the Bible teaches us about the Jewish people. If one is to believe that God the Father is a covenant God, then one has to believe that Israel and the Jews still are of great value to Him.

The land of Israel belongs to the Jews. God made a covenant with Abraham and his descendents regarding the land of Canaan. There is much scriptural evidence of this in the Tanach, the Jewish Bible or the Christian Old Testament. Genesis 15:18 speaks of the land that God promised to Abraham, from the Nile to the Euphrates. Genesis 17:7-8 says that this is an everlasting covenant. Genesis 26:3-4 confirms the covenant with Isaac. Genesis 35:11-13 confirms the covenant with Jacob. These are only a very few of the passages confirming the covenant.

If the covenant was broken, then why is Israel in the news everyday? What is so special about this land and its people?

God promised blessings for the sons of Abraham; Isaac and Ishmael. As Christians, we know the story. Isaac was the son of promise, the son of covenant. But God promised Ishmael blessings, too. Genesis 17:18-20 tells the story. The land belongs to the Jewish people, but the descendents of Ishmael were blessed as well.

God loves all people. Today, Israel is surrounded by 20 countries of Ishmael’s descendents, all Muslim. They contain two-thirds of the world’s oil reserves. They have indeed been blessed, but do not share in the Abrahamic covenant.

Speaking to Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3 says, “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.” The descendents of Abraham — the Jewish people — were to be blessed, but also the blessings were to eventually be passed on to all people of the earth.

How is God proving that He still has a relationship with and loves the Jewish people? One way is by fulfilled prophecy.

Thousands of years ago, because of idolatry and disobedience, Israel was conquered by her enemies and spread all over the earth. God promised that He would have them to return to their land. He is keeping His promise. For decades, the Jewish people have been returning from the former Soviet Union, Ethiopia, India and other parts of the world.

Israel became a nation on May 14, 1948. No other people group has ever been able to recover from being conquered, dispersed and be able to return to their own land. This was only by a miracle.

Isaiah 11:11-12 speaks of the nations “giving up” the Jewish people and them returning to their land. Ezekiel 37 speaks of the “dry bones” coming back to life. This is referring to the house of Israel. It has been happening for a long time and it continues. Israel is the epicenter of all biblical prophecy. We are seeing prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes. Instead of watching and reading it happen, why not be a part of it?

Does God still care for the land of Israel and the Jewish people? The answer is a resounding YES! As Christians, do we have a part to play in it? I believe that we do. We should be about the business of our Father. That business encompasses much. One aspect of that business is keeping His promise and covenant to the Jewish people.

As a Christian, are you a part of that work? Seek the face of the Lord, who knows what adventures He has in store for you.

Tommy Colie is a juvenile court counselor in Lenoir County and is also an ordained minister for International Ministerial Fellowship, a teacher of Hebraic roots and a supporter of Israel. He can be reached at kal_el500@hotmail.com. The opinions of the guest columnist are not necessarily those of The Free Press.

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