Who Is Israel?

Is the Israel of today the same nation as the Israel of the Bible, God’s chosen people? Are they the recipient of God’s promises to Abraham? Were the promises conditional? Did Israel forfeit the bargain through disobedience, and by rejecting the Messiah? Jesus told the Jews in Matthew 21:43, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.”

Consider the modern country of Israel. The presence of the Jews in their ancient homeland is remarkable, but is it the fulfillment of Isaiah 66:8, that prophesied Israel returning to the promised land? History demonstrates that any people group who settle in a new land will lose their national identity after five generations and be assimilated into their new culture. Yet, after two millennia, the Jewish people remain a distinct society; restored to their homeland, with their ethnicity, language, customs, and religion still intact. Israel is the only nation in the history of nations to accomplish such a feat. That reality alone illustrates that there is something special about Israel.

HAS ISRAEL BEEN REPLACED BY CHRISTIANITY?

Has Israel been replaced by Christianity? Paul states in Romans 9:6b–8: “For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” Prior to 1948 the thought of Israel being blessed was only considered in a spiritual context, but today’s geopolitical landscape in the Middle East adds complexity to the notion.

God promised Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3), that his descendants would receive specific real estate (Genesis 15:18–21), and that he would be the father of many nations (Genesis 17:5). It was Abraham’s grandson Jacob who had his name changed to Israel (Genesis 32:28), and his twelve sons became the twelve tribes (Genesis 35:23–26).

The Bible says that a remnant of Israel will be restored (Zephaniah 3, Romans 11:25–26). In Isaiah 44:21 we read, “Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are My servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are My servant; O Israel, I will not forget you.” And Isaiah 49:15 states, “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”

God is trustworthy and He honors His promises. Some people point out that Israel today does not match up geographically with the land described in Genesis 15:18. However, at the height of the reigns of David and Solomon Israel did not possess all of the area that was promised to Abraham (see also Deuteronomy 11:24 and Joshua 1:4). So, in the same manner that theologians surmised that Israel returning to the homeland was thought to be a spiritual return prior to 1948, today we must be open to the literal fulfillment of the prophecy.

Deuteronomy 30 records that once Israel has paid the penalty of her obstinance against God, He will gather them again from all the nations where He scattered them. He will restore them to the land that belonged to their fathers.

Jerusalem is central to any discussion about Israel. Jesus prophesied in Luke 21:24 about the Jewish diaspora: “They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

PAUL EXPLAINS

Paul explains in Romans 9:1–5 the importance of Israel: “I speak the truth in Christ–I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit–I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs is the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.”

The apostle follows up Romans nine with his desire for Israel to be saved in chapter ten. “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile–the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him,” (Romans 10:12). And the eleventh chapter opens with the words, “I ask then: Did God reject His people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom He foreknew,” (Romans 11:1–2a).

He goes on to say in Romans 11:11–12, “Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!” God has not cast away His chosen people.

Paul then illustrates this relationship using an olive tree and how the church is like grafted-in, wild olive branches that feed off the root of the cultivated olive tree. Paul cautions Gentiles against becoming arrogant because if the original branches can be cut off, the grafted-in branches will not be spared either (Romans 11:17–24). Grafted in doesn’t mean replaced; it is part of a new covenant.

THE NEW COVENANT

The new covenant was predicted in Jeremiah 31:31, “The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.” This covenant was offered to Israel first and after their rejection, it was given to the Gentiles. Jesus instructed His disciples to focus their initial ministry only on the lost sheep of Israel (Matthew 10:5-6). And Paul writes in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.”

We must remember that the church has a Judeo-Christian heritage and it is by faith that we become children of Abraham (Galatians 3:7). We are challenged in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test?”

Jesus declared in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.” This is a profound proclamation that not only applies to the church but also to Israel. Not all Christians are true believers and not all of Israel is authentic Israel.

When Jesus proclaimed, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me,” (John 14:6), His words were directed at Israel and Christians alike. Paul declares, “And so all Israel will be saved,” (Romans 12:26), meaning true Israel through faith in Jesus Christ.

Zechariah 12:10 is a prophecy about the spiritual restoration of Israel: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on Me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.”

Returning to Romans, we are informed by Paul, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of Gentiles has come in,” (Romans 11:25). This mystery continues to unfold.

Before His ascension, Jesus was asked by the disciples if He was about to restore the kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6).  “He said to them: It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority,’” (Acts 1:7).

Not all Israel is Israel. As God’s chosen people, they are not exempt from judgement. Have no confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3–11) because the true Israel is determined by faith. Isaac was the product of faith–not Ishmael; therefore, God’s promise will not fail because all who are truly Israel will be saved through faith.