JUST THINKING: God's Unbroken Promises
I was just thinking about a phrase I have been using for decades — “God is not just a promise maker; He is a promise keeper.” That is a truth we must never lose sight of.
Israel is once again at war. This is not because of what the nation is — but who the people are and to whom they belong. The attacks by Hamas on the small Middle East nation are based on hatred. It is a religious war, and the enemies want all Jews, in Israel and globally, to be wiped from the face of the earth. The problem for those aggressors is that God will never forsake His chosen people!
The Misled Opinions
There are those today who have limited understanding of Scripture and who say Israel no longer really exists as the Old Testament depicted. They say that the church is God’s chosen. Here is a truth — The Lord’s church was grafted into Israel — not the other way around.
I urge every reader of this writing to study Romans 11. Note this especially: “If some of the branches (Israel) have been broken off, and you (Gentiles), though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not consider yourself superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you” (Rom. 11:17-18 NIV).
Promise to Israel
The covenant promise God made with Abraham (the Abrahamic Covenant) is an everlasting one. Some say that the “old covenant” was replaced by the “new covenant” in Christ. That old covenant was the Mosaic, which was conditional based on man’s obedience. The Abrahamic Covenant was unconditional based on God’s faithfulness and the fact that it is impossible for God to lie. The Mosaic Covenant was temporary; the Abrahamic Covenant is everlasting.
When God made the covenant with Abraham, He promised an old man and a barren wife that they would bring forth a nation of people and that He would give them a promised land — forever. “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” (Gen. 12:2-3).
The unconditional promise was a “forever” promise. “And the land (Canaan) that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever” (Gen. 13:15).
Israel Matters
For those who believe God no longer cares about Israel, a belief that He breaks His covenant and promises must accompany such belief. Although Israel rejected God’s plan of salvation through the true Messiah (Jesus), the relationship with them and God is depicted in the Book of Hosea. In the end, God receives His wife back with love and continued blessing.
God says Israel is His wife! Yes, the church is Christ’s bride, but God chose Israel for more than a servant relationship. He betrothed them to Himself. The Almighty says, “I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord” (Hosea 2:19-20).
Again God says, “Is it too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Israel and bring back of Israel those I have kept. I will make you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6).
I assure you that Israel matters to God. He chose them for a purpose, and He chose them forever. No matter what some theologians may posit, God’s Word is the standard, not supposition.
Pray for Israel
Israel is at war, and we must pray for her because they are God’s chosen and He loves Israel. Our churches and our nation need to heed God’s warning about those who curse His chosen. We must be supportive of a people that, although they have departed from the Truth, God loves them as a faithful, providing Husband.
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Dr. Tom Mitchell
Dr. Tom Mitchell pens a column titled, Just Thinking, in which he addresses many topics relative to the Baptist Missionary Association. His Trailblazers series provides biographies of many BMA trailblazers from the past.
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