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It troubles me to see so many Christians who do not recognize the
importance of the Jewish nation and think that because of their
unbelief in Jesus Christ somehow denounces their importance in God's
plan. We must remember that Israel, the nation, is very special to
God. Deuteronomy 7:7-9 tells us, “The LORD did not set His affection
on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other
peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because
the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your forefathers that
He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land
of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore
that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His
covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and
keep His commands.”

God chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Jesus
Christ would be born – the Savior from sin and death (John 3:16). God
first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Genesis
chapter 3). God later confirmed that the Messiah would come from the
line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). Jesus Christ is
the ultimate reason why God chose Israel to be His chosen people. God
did not have to have a “chosen people,” but He decided to do it that
way. Jesus had to come from some nation of people, and God chose
Israel.

However, God’s reason for choosing the nation of Israel was not solely
for the purpose of producing the Messiah. God’s desire for Israel was
that they would go and teach others about Him. Israel was to be a
nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world. God’s
intent was for Israel to be a distinct people, a nation of people the
pointed others towards God and His promised provision of a Redeemer,
Messiah, and Savior. For the most part, Israel failed in this task.
However, God’s ultimate purpose for Israel, that of bringing for the
Messiah and Savior, was fulfilled perfectly – in the Person of Jesus
Christ.

We read in Deuteronomy 7:6-8 these words: "For you are a holy people
(that is, a separated people, people set apart) unto Jehovah, your
God: Jehovah your God has chosen you to be a special people unto
Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. Jehovah
did not set His love upon you, nor choose you, because you were more
in number than any people, for you were the fewest of all people; but
because Jehovah loved you, and because He would keep the oath which He
had sworn unto your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand,
and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh
king of Egypt."

God's eternal purpose is to bless the world through Israel. Already He
has done so in measure, for "salvation is of the Jews" (John 4:22),
but the fullness of future blessing is indicated in the wondrous
promise of Isaiah 27:6; "He shall cause them that come of Jacob to
take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the
world with fruit."

The declaration that "salvation is of the Jews,” suggests our
immeasurable debt to Israel. All that we have worth having has come to
us through the Jews. Our Bible is a Jewish Book, and our Savior is a
Jewish Savior. Let us never forget to pray for God's chosen people. It
is true, that Israel, today, is in the place of rejection. The nation
today is a secular, unbelieving (as to the claims of Scripture and
their Messiah, Jesus Christ) nation; but "even so then at this present
time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace"
(Romans 11:5). Some Jews are being saved and are becoming members of
the body of Christ, the church.

Jews are, biblically speaking, the "chosen people of God" and dearly
loved by Him. Another reason for Christians to support the nation of
Israel is because of the Abrahamic Covenant. We read in Genesis
12:2-3, "And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and
make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing: and I will bless
those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in
you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (see also
Genesis27:29;Numbers24:9).

One of the United States’ most worthwhile accomplishments has been its
consistent regard for the plight of the Jewish nation. No nation in
the history of the world has a better record of treating individual
Jews with respect than does America. The same can be said for our
befriending Israel as a nation. America has committed many sins, for
which we may well deserve judgment, but as a nation, we have been a
consistent friend of the Jews and the nation of Israel. America by
contrast has been a benefactor for the Jewish state. In 1948,
President Harry Truman helped persuade the United Nations to recognize
Israel as a nation. Since then, the United States has contributed
billions of dollars in aid to Israel.

From the biblical declarations of God's love and care for His chosen
people, the nation of Israel; and from the history of nations being
destroyed because of their evil dealings with God's chosen people, the
Jews - Christian believers should give support to the chosen people of
God. This is not to say that we support necessarily the methods they
use in their relationships with the Arab nations. The Bible warned
that conflict would always characterize the relations between the
descendents of Isaac and Ishmael. Sadly, this conflict will continue
until Jesus comes back to judge the nations and sets up his 1,000 year
reign of peace on earth. We must look at the "big picture” with a
biblical worldview. While we do not have to support everything Israel
does as a nation, we most definitely should support Israel’s right to
exist. God will fulfill His promises and covenants with Israel. God
still has a plan for Israel. Woe to anyone who seeks to defeat that
plan, “the one who curses you I will curse” (Genesis 12:2-3).

Copyright David Taylor