Israel in the Bible vs. Headlines (Part 1) | Adult Bible Fellowship | Pastor Kellen Allen

Israel very small but a lot of eyes are on it a lot of attention is given to it especially if you read through your Bible of course

you'll see Israel uh thousands of time the name Israel used matter of fact it's used over 2500 times uh through throughout the Bible just the word Israel and then obviously it could be

used in uh different phrases uh to identify Israel but over 2500 times and uh even throughout history as of today, if you go on the news and you just

search Israel, then you'll find out that there's been some uh bombing and some things going on between Israel and and and Gaza. And every day there's always

and Gaza. And every day there's always something happening. Israel is always in

something happening. Israel is always in the news. Uh and you have to ask

the news. Uh and you have to ask yourself why. And I think that that's

yourself why. And I think that that's important for us to understand. But

really uh to put it in context, you have to know how small Israel is uh to realize what a big deal of how much attention that it gets uh based on its

size. And not just again today, but we

size. And not just again today, but we go back all the way to the beginning, right? In the Old Testament, uh it was

right? In the Old Testament, uh it was always a center of attention and it still is today. Uh so I want to talk about Israel and how we should think about it as Christians. But uh first I

just want you to see sizewise again just think about this map right in the Middle East. Uh you see all of these Arab

East. Uh you see all of these Arab nations uh and you can barely see the little dot there uh in the midst of it all. But that is of course Israel. Uh so

all. But that is of course Israel. Uh so

Israel surrounded by mostly enemies uh that would like to see Israel wiped off the map. Uh but it's not. But it's small

the map. Uh but it's not. But it's small even if you compare it to places that you're more familiar with. we bring it to the United States. Uh it's often uh compared to New Jersey. Think about

state of New Jersey compared to the rest of the globe. Uh and that will get you uh a good idea of Israel. If you were to think about it in California, California

just dwarfs Israel. Uh and California has a lot going on in its own right. Um

left. Um,

all right. I'm already getting off track here. Stop. Stop. Stop clapping. Stop

here. Stop. Stop. Stop clapping. Stop

clapping. Um, California, Israel.

See how small it is? What if we put it in the middle of the United States? Um,

you see how small it is compared to the United States. Um, and just the number

United States. Um, and just the number of people is is staggering when we compare it to the entire globe. Um, 15.7

million Jews worldwide. And majority of them, 7 plus million live actually in Israel. But um guess where majority of

Israel. But um guess where majority of the rest of them live? Here. 6 plus

million live in America. Um but when you compare that to the entire world, there's 8.1 billion people uh on the globe of the latest stats will show. You

know what that is? Uh here it is percentage-wise 0.2. So not even a full

percentage-wise 0.2. So not even a full percentage. This is a fifth of a

percentage. This is a fifth of a percentage point of the the entire makeup of Jews across the entire globe.

So again, my point in showing you all of this is we're talking about a very very very very small population. A matter of fact, I had this drilled in my head uh growing up and I've told this to my son

as well because everybody thinks when they play sports like, "Oh, I'm going to be in the NBA." And I'm like, "Uh, I don't mean to be a dream crusher, but probably not." Right? Just based on

probably not." Right? Just based on percentages. Uh, probably not. And it's

percentages. Uh, probably not. And it's

around that same 002% of high school basketball players, people that play high school basketball, uh, make it to the NBA, it's 02. It it it's just

staggering how small that is when you think about it. But this Israel being so small but always in the news all throughout scripture, all throughout all

the way up till today. Um, so I want to dig into that and then ultimately uh get to the point of for all of us as as Christians to sit here and say, "Well,

what do we make of it?" Because um, how Israel is run today is not the same as it was ran in the Bible, right? There's

a lot of similarities. There's a lot of differences. So, so what should we do?

differences. So, so what should we do?

Right? Uh, God gives us very direct commands on what we should do, but it's important for us to understand how we look at Israel as well. And so we're going to take a look at uh six different

questions that I've listed out. Uh and

these questions are building uh hopefully to get us to a better understanding of who Israel is, u who God says Israel is, uh how we should

think about them, uh and what the Bible has to say about Israel and have that um make us form our understanding of how we should view Israel today as Christians.

So, first question I want to tackle is I'll give you all six of them. Why

Israel uh is always at the center of the world's attention? Why is Israel always

world's attention? Why is Israel always at the center of the world's attention?

It's much of what I've just talked about, but I want to look at uh some passages in the Bible to help us identify u why it is. Um and then you you have to ask the question, and I do

this often, but what do you mean by Israel? Because you can just be saying

Israel? Because you can just be saying Israel and uh Israel can mean a lot of different things. And so you can be

different things. And so you can be having a conversation with someone about Israel and talking about uh two different things. Are you talking about

different things. Are you talking about the people? Are you talking about the

the people? Are you talking about the land? Are you talking about uh biblical

land? Are you talking about uh biblical Israel? Are you talking about modern

Israel? Are you talking about modern Israel? We got we got to know what

Israel? We got we got to know what you're talking about. And so uh I want to take a deep look at what what do we mean by Israel? What are the different ways that the word Israel, the name

Israel can be used? Uh and then what are God's promises to Israel? Again, we have to look at and see um as Bible believing Christians that God has something to say

about Israel and we should care what he says about Israel, what promises he made. Uh and then what are God's future

made. Uh and then what are God's future plans for Israel?

Uh how has Israel been preserved uh in history all throughout history? And then

here's the final question that we'll tackle. We'll sprinkle this in, but how

tackle. We'll sprinkle this in, but how should Christians think about Israel uh today? That's where we'll land the

today? That's where we'll land the plane. But, uh, like I said, we'll talk

plane. But, uh, like I said, we'll talk about that. And as it was alluded to

about that. And as it was alluded to earlier, uh, because this is a lot of information and I don't want you to drink through a fire hose. I'd rather

take our time. It's more, uh, peaceful to my heart, too, to walk through this uh, and think about it. We're going to split up into two parts. And so, we'll tackle the first three today and uh, the

second three uh, in two weeks. And, uh,

we'll go about it that way. But, let's

jump at why Israel is always at the center of the world's attention. I got

three ideas um of why that's the case.

I want to open up and start with uh Zechariah 2:8. Zechariah 2:8 says, "For

Zechariah 2:8. Zechariah 2:8 says, "For thus said the Lord of hosts after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you

touches the apple of his eye." Okay. So,

God is already telling us right here, uh, Israel is the apple of his eye. Not

every other nation, not the entire world. He's saying Israel, small little

world. He's saying Israel, small little Israel, the apple of God's eye. We need

to understand that. Psalm 135 135:4 repeats uh some of that um in similar fashion. For the Lord has chosen Jacob

fashion. For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession. So again, God has chosen

possession. So again, God has chosen Jacob. He's chosen Israel to be his

Jacob. He's chosen Israel to be his people group, to be his land, the covenant land. 147 Psalm 147:19-20 says

covenant land. 147 Psalm 147:19-20 says this, "He declares his word to Jacob, his statutes and rules to Israel. He has

not dealt thus with any other nation."

No, any other nation. They do not know his rules. Praise the Lord. Right? Okay.

his rules. Praise the Lord. Right? Okay.

This one little nation is God's chosen people group. Why? We'll get there in

people group. Why? We'll get there in just a second. But here here's where we have to start. This is a group. It's not

America. It's not, you know, Canada.

It's not Australia. It's not it's Israel. Uh and Bible makes that clear.

Israel. Uh and Bible makes that clear.

And so the first thing we need to understand that uh of why it's the center of attention is because it's it's God's special people group, right? It's

God's chosen land and his people group that he has made very clear throughout scripture. And so, uh, just because God

scripture. And so, uh, just because God is the creator of all things and what God, uh, cares about typically rises to the the surface of of all things, um, and what he speaks about, here we are

with Israel. It's the center of

with Israel. It's the center of attention first and foremost because it's God's chosen land and people group.

There's one reason. Here's another

reason.

Acts 1 9-11 in the New Testament, of course, we have Jesus that is ascending, right? And so, he's standing in front of

right? And so, he's standing in front of the disciples. And it says, "And when he

the disciples. And it says, "And when he had said these things, they were looking looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And

while they were gazing into the heaven, and when behold, two men stood by in white robes and said,"Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into heaven? This Jesus who was taken up from

heaven? This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."

Okay. So, um he he he ascends from Israel right back up to heaven right in front of their eyes. And then we jump to Zechariah 14:34. It says this about the

Zechariah 14:34. It says this about the future. Then the Lord will go out and

future. Then the Lord will go out and fight against the nations as when he fights on the day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives where he left that lies before

Jerusalem on the east. And the Lord verse 9 will be king over all the earth.

And on that day the Lord will be one and his name will be one. Then everyone who survives of all the nations have come against Jerusalem shall go up year after

year to worship the king the Lord of hosts and to keep the feast of booth. So

this time is when Jesus is reigning here on earth the the millennium period right he's here on earth and there is one religion right there's peace. Everybody

is coming to Jesus uh in understanding that he is the savior. So there will be a time where this will come in end times. We're talking revelation. Um but

times. We're talking revelation. Um but

this will happen, right? Uh millennial

reign of Christ. He will be here on earth for a thousand years and um he's coming back where he left in Israel, right? And so you have this area that he

right? And so you have this area that he left from and he's coming back. So

there's a lot of attention on that because out of all the places all over the world, that tiny little area right in Israel, that's where Jesus is coming back. That's where he's going to reign

back. That's where he's going to reign from. And that's where um that's the

from. And that's where um that's the time where there will be, you know, on the day of the Lord, there will be one and his name will be one, right? There

will be religion that Christianity points to Jesus and people will see that he is the savior that we know him to be today. So I put it this way. Israel is

today. So I put it this way. Israel is

where Jesus ascended and will return in his second coming. Okay. So God is God favors Israel. It is his chosen people

favors Israel. It is his chosen people group. Uh this is where Jesus ascended

group. Uh this is where Jesus ascended from and this is where he will come back in his second coming. Um and here's the third and another big reason.

Psalm 83 1-5 helps us to understand that God do not keep silent. Do not hold your peace or be still, oh God. For behold,

your enemies make an uproar. Those who

hate you have raised their heads. They

lay out crafty plans against what is this? Your people. Okay? They consult

this? Your people. Okay? They consult

together against your treasured ones.

Who Who is that? Well, we're talking about Israel. They say, "Come, let us

about Israel. They say, "Come, let us wipe out as a nation." Come wipe them out. Right? You've heard that before. We

out. Right? You've heard that before. We

wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

Let the name of Israel be remembered no more. That's what they say. For they

more. That's what they say. For they

conspire with one accord. Everybody gets

together. And typically, you don't have peace when different nations get together. But when do they get together

together. But when do they get together and they have peace and they have unity?

When it's against Israel. Here's what

the verse is telling us. For they

conspire with one accord, right?

Agreeing on one thing. against you, they make a covenant. So, here's why Israel is a center of attention. It's important

on God's radar. And guess whose radar is important on as well? It's important on Satan's radar because he wants to destroy all of God's plans. He won't do it, but he's going to do everything in

his power to destroy God's plan. So, if

everything is going to focus back on Israel at the end, if this is where Jesus is coming back and going to rule and reign. If this is God's chosen

and reign. If this is God's chosen people, uh, then Satan would love to wipe Israel off the map. He would love to distort that plan and get rid of everything that has to do with Israel.

And so, a lot of attention from God because God made this uh by his provision, the the the focal point of everything on earth. Uh, Satan therefore

wants to destroy what God thinks is important, feels is important. So, he's

going to go after Israel. All things

boil down to Israel. That's why it's the center of attention.

God says it's important. Satan wants to destroy it. But again, when I say

destroy it. But again, when I say Israel, again, we need to know what we're talking about. And if somebody talks to you about Israel, you you need to know what they're talking about. And

so, it'd be good for you to ask the question, well, what do you mean? It

sounds like a simple question, but what do you mean? because you could be talking about a lot of different things when we talk about Israel. So let's look at uh Israel and understand just from the beginning where we are today just

the various ways you can look at the name Israel. And the first one of course

name Israel. And the first one of course where we where it starts from is it's the name given to Jacob. So if you look at Genesis 32, of course, uh when Jacob

is wrestling with uh with God, it says, "When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint, and he wrestled with him."

Then he said, "Let me go, for the day is broken, but Jacob said, I will not let you go unless you bless me." And he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob." Then he said, "Your name

said, "Jacob." Then he said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed." Okay,

so that's where we get the name starting from in the Bible. It's Jacob's name given by God is uh he's called Israel.

And then uh from that standpoint, you see the the 12 sons, Jacob's 12 sons.

They become uh his or 12 sons, but then they become known as the tribes of Israel. Genesis 49-28

Israel. Genesis 49-28 solidifies that. that it talks about it

solidifies that. that it talks about it before but all these are the 12 tribes of Israel right talking about his his sons uh this is what their father said to them and he blessed them blessing

each with a blessing suitable to him so we got Israel the name of Jacob u we also got the 12 tribes of Israel then we talk about the land right uh when they come out of the the the wilderness they

come out of Egypt and then they're wandering in the wilderness and then they cross over into Canaan and they take over Canaan uh then Canaan becomes the land of Israel. And we see this solidified in Joshua. Joshua took the

whole land according to all that the Lord has spoken, right? He went over there and uh finally conquered all of the land. And Joshua gave it for an

the land. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their tribal allotments. And the land had rest

tribal allotments. And the land had rest from war. So all of Canaan is now known

from war. So all of Canaan is now known as the land of Israel. So you can be talking about the land, you could be talking about Jacob, you could be talking about his 12 sons. Um let's keep

going, right? Uh and then in 1st Samuel

going, right? Uh and then in 1st Samuel 10, which we were studying last week a little bit when talking about King Solomon, uh we start the monarchy, right? Saul comes in and we get our

right? Saul comes in and we get our first king in Israel and then we get David and then we get Solomon. Uh and

then we have our monarchy, the kingdom of Israel, uh which can be referred to and of course we know what Solomon his his fall happened and then his son Rayoboam continued the foolishness and

then we have the divided kingdom. Now we

got 10 tribes that's up in the north and we call them Israel. And then we also have the two tribes uh down south that get merged together. We call that Judah uh the southern tribe uh that Raboam is

over and Jeroboam's over the 10 northern tribes. So now we're in getting ready to

tribes. So now we're in getting ready to go into exile. You have Israel and Judah down here. Well, you can be calling that

down here. Well, you can be calling that Israel, the 10 tri the 10 northern tribes uh during the divided kingdom.

Fast forward um all the way until uh more modern day in 1948. uh once they go out in exile, they come back and then uh they get kicked out of the land again um

2,000 years later, 1948, then Israel becomes a state. Um and the modern state of Israel happens in 1948. So again, you could be talking about the modern state, you could be talking about Jacob, you

could be talking about 12 trial talking about Israel. And while I'm on it, the other name that comes up is Jews. Well, where in the world did Jews

Jews. Well, where in the world did Jews come from? It's important for us to know

come from? It's important for us to know that uh it comes from the Hebrew word Judah. So Judah uh or Jews is derived

Judah. So Judah uh or Jews is derived from that. And then it morphed into

from that. And then it morphed into because you call Jews people from Israel, you call them Jews today more than you call them Israelites. And so uh in exile you have the tribe, the

southern tribes of Judah, they go into exile second. You have the the northern

exile second. You have the the northern tribe, they go into exile first. Uh and

then once they all get into exile, then they all become really uh Jews. They're

referred to as all the Jews. All the

Jews, even though you have northern tribe, southern tribe, they're all the Jews that are there. They come out of Israel uh during this time, and this is not it doesn't give us the exact time in

the Bible or exact time period, but we just start to see the name change uh with Cyrus uh having the Jews go back and rebuild the temple. uh he starts to

mention that uh those picking up in verse three, whoever is among you and all the people may his God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem which is

Judah and rebuild the house of the Lord uh the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jer uh Jerusalem. So now you you add in the factor of the land of the Jews. You got the land of Israel. Now

Jews. You got the land of Israel. Now

you call it the land of the Jews. Well,

it all comes again from from this um from Judah. But then New Testament comes

from Judah. But then New Testament comes along. You start hearing this word

along. You start hearing this word Judea. Well, what what is that all

Judea. Well, what what is that all about? Right? Uh well, it's just the the

about? Right? Uh well, it's just the the Greek or Latin translation of it and you go from Judah and you start hearing Judea shows up as soon as Matthew 2:1.

Now, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, well, we hadn't called it Judea much in the Old Testament. Well,

it's the same place as Judah is the region of Judea.

And then you go uh you have a Roman Emperor Hadrien that comes along and um after the second revolt from the Jews, Roman Emperor Hadrien didn't like that

and so he kicks all the Jews out of the land uh and he changes the name to um uh Syria, Palestina, which we now know

today as Palestine. So way back when in in 132 135 he kicks him out of the land and in order to really stick it to him he says I'm going to name this land after your biggest rival after the

Philistines. Uh and so you get the name

Philistines. Uh and so you get the name uh Palestine that's given from the Roman Emperor Hadrien. Uh but that's where we

Emperor Hadrien. Uh but that's where we have Palestine today. So this is again just giving you background to know that you you got to be specific in finding out uh what we're talking about when

people say Israel or even Jews. Where

did that all come from? Important for us to know, especially as we deal with uh Palestine today and Israel.

All right. Well, here's where I want to spend the bulk of the time this morning.

What are God's promises to Israel? What

are God's promises to Israel? Because

that's important. What does God have to say about Israel? That's what we should care about and that's what uh we should have the same uh support that God has,

the same love that God has um for his people. Here's a promise.

people. Here's a promise.

Again, we go further back than where you thought I was going, but Genesis 3:15, Genesis 3:15, of course, we get the the the first gospel uh here given to us uh

after the fall. And God says, "I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring." Right? Talk to the serpent.

offspring." Right? Talk to the serpent.

Um he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. And so from the beginning, um, we have sin that has entered the world and and God already gives his redemptive plan. Uh, how long

is it going to last? Well, it's going to last a long time. I didn't know that during the time, but it's going to last.

But here's here's the plan that God gives, right? That he's going to

gives, right? That he's going to eventually redeem his people. Um, and he he's going to what we know is send a savior to to do that. But God's promises

start off, you have to go all the way back to Genesis 3:15, right? God's

redemptive plan, it begins there. And

then where you probably thought I was going and we'll we'll show it here is God has a redemptive plan and then now he identifies how he's going to use that redemptive plan. Who that redemptive

redemptive plan. Who that redemptive plan is going to start with and whose line it's going to come through. Genesis

12 1-3. Now the Lord said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. So go where you currently are. You're sitting. You're comfortable.

are. You're sitting. You're comfortable.

Everything's good. Go." and I will make you a great nation and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those

who bless you and him who dishonors you I will curse and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Okay,

that's often forgotten about part of the Abrahamic co covenant that way back then everybody in the entire on on earth is going to be blessed through who? through

Abraham, through this nation that God is going to use uh through Abraham is going to be a blessing to everybody, not just the Jews, but to to everybody, to the whole world.

So, I wrote it down this way, right? We

start with God's redemptive plan, Genesis 3:15. And then God gives a

Genesis 3:15. And then God gives a covenant promise that he is going to use the line of Abraham to bless the entire world. Don't know what that is yet. We

world. Don't know what that is yet. We

do. They don't. don't know what it is yet, but God makes a promise to them.

And he keeps that promise. He reiterates

it throughout Genesis uh 12, uh Genesis 15, Genesis 17, Genesis 19. You keep

going on all the way through Exodus and uh even in Deuteronomy as we um recap a lot of things. He says in verse 6, "For you are a people holy to the land to the

Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you, Israel, to be a people of his treasured possession. Out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth, it was not because you were more

in number, right, than any other people that the Lord said set his love on you and chose you. For you were the fewest of all people. So even there, it's not because, you know, they were the the

most likely to succeed in their yearbook that God said, you know what, I want to ride on their coattails. No, he chose them because they were small, the smallest of all people. But is because

the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers and that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the

house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

Another verse that helps us with this, Isaiah 42:6 and 7. I am the Lord. I've

called you in righteousness. I will take you by the hand and keep you. I will

give you as a covenant for the people a light for the nations to open the eyes uh that are blind to bring out prisoners from the dungeon from the pris prison

those who sit in darkness.

So we have to also understand that God's promise to his chosen people is is reiterated throughout the old testament.

It's not just, you know, one time and then God forgets about it. But he

continues to tell us again that this chosen people group, even though they're rebelling, even though they're doing things that aren't pleasing to him, even though that he he's responding in judgment uh times throughout the

wilderness and everything, uh these are still his chosen people. Uh even when they go out to uh exile, right? They do.

They're they're so rebellious that God has to kick them out of the land, send them into exile to punish them. uh he

still looks at them and says, "You you are my chosen people. You're my chosen people." And he's keeping his promises.

people." And he's keeping his promises.

But here's a question that oftentimes comes up today um and has throughout all history. Why Israel? Why Israel? And

history. Why Israel? Why Israel? And

you've seen this question come up uh because people look at the ungodliness of Israel. And again, we're going to get

of Israel. And again, we're going to get to a full answer uh at the end of what we should think about it. But yeah,

they're not perfect. They sin. They

reject the Messiah. So, so, so, so what what how should we look at it? Um, and

you ask the question, why in the world did he choose Israel out of all people?

Well, first thing you got to know is God can do whatever he wants to do, right?

It's his prerogative. He doesn't have to answer to He doesn't have to make sense to us. It won't make sense to us half

to us. It won't make sense to us half the time. We're not called to know God's

the time. We're not called to know God's plan. We're called to trust God's plan.

plan. We're called to trust God's plan.

And and why he chose Israel? because he

was going to get the most glory through Israel. Uh and a lot of it was because

Israel. Uh and a lot of it was because they had no chance of being righteous or upright in anybody's eyes apart from him. And you even go back all the way to

him. And you even go back all the way to Joshua because you look at Abraham, you think, oh, Abraham must had something going on. He didn't have anything going

going on. He didn't have anything going on, right? Joshua tells us that. And

on, right? Joshua tells us that. And

Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, long ago your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terara, the father of Abraham and Nahor. And what did they do? serving

and Nahor. And what did they do? serving

other gods. Okay? So, God used someone, a family that was serving other gods and said, "I'm gonna take you and I want you to go over here and I'm going to make a nation out of you." It's not because God

looked at him and said, "Wow, he's he's really on fire for me right now. He's

really trusting in me." He complete opposite. He was serving other gods. And

opposite. He was serving other gods. And

so, again, there there's no favor when it comes to why Israel was chosen.

There's no reason other than it's God's prerogative. and he says, "I'm going to

prerogative. and he says, "I'm going to choose Israel and I'm going to make a nation out of them because I'm going to get the glory out of them." And we see that all through scripture, right? Uh

God often chooses. You think about David, you think about Paul, you think about all of the God often chooses the people that you and I would look at and say, "Uh-uh. You could have chose a lot

say, "Uh-uh. You could have chose a lot better than that." Well, why did he choose them? Well, because you can't

choose them? Well, because you can't give anybody glory except God. It wasn't

like they were 70% of the way there and then God said, "You know what? I'm going

to use them cuz they're going to they're going to really do well." No. God cho

chooses the least likely uh so that he gets all the glory and same thing goes with Israel.

Paul helps us to understand this as well um in Romans 3 1-4 then what advantage has the Jew right or what is the value

of circumcision much in every way to begin with the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God so they have the promise they're God's chosen people here's the question that we ask what if

some are unfaithful because I see a lot of unfaithfulness with uh with Jews nowadays here's the big answer does their faithfulness null qualify the

faithfulness of God. By no means. Let

God be true, though everyone were a liar. As it is written, that you may be

liar. As it is written, that you may be justified in your words and prevail when you are judged. Here's what we have to understand about why Israel, it's not

about the Jews. It's about God. It's

about God. God chose them so that he would get the glory. God didn't choose them because uh he wanted to just say, "Hey, this is my my my favorite child right here." And there's no rhyme or

right here." And there's no rhyme or reason behind it. God chose them so that he can get the glory. God's not

surprised when he has Israel um do sinful things, right? They've been doing it the whole time. Um but at the end of the day, it's not about the Jews. Just

like somebody that's a Christian nowadays. And I tell people all the

nowadays. And I tell people all the time, it's like, "Well, I met this Christian that they're a hypocrite and or I had this pastor that, you know, he rubbed me the wrong way, so I don't go to church." Your faith shouldn't be in

to church." Your faith shouldn't be in any pastor or any Christian. Your faith

should be in Jesus, right? It's about

Jesus.

We're just trying our best to represent him and be like him, but we all fall short. But the whole point of why God

short. But the whole point of why God chose Israel is it was always about him.

The glory should always go to him.

Romans 9:6-8.

But it is not as though the word of God has failed, right? Just because Israel is not doing everything that is righteous uh and doing everything as

model, you know, representatives of God. It's not for not all who descended from Israel belong to Israel and not all that are children of

Abraham because of his offspring. But

through Isaac shall your offspring be named. This means that is not the

named. This means that is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. Um,

that's a big one right there cuz you'll have a lot of Jews. You met have some Jewish friends that they think, hey, just because I'm a Jew, I'm good to go.

God's pleased with me. Oh, that's not the case. We'll get there more in just a

the case. We'll get there more in just a minute, but that's not the case. all

descendants of Abraham aren't all chosen. Okay, we understand that. I'm

chosen. Okay, we understand that. I'm

not it's not my opinion. It's the Bible telling us that, right? Um but but Paul wants to make that clear. And again, as we look at Israel, it's all it's about

God. That's who we are obedient to God.

God. That's who we are obedient to God.

We want to do the things that God wants us to do. We want to favor those who God favors. Uh but at the end of the day,

favors. Uh but at the end of the day, God still hates sin. And we need to hate sin just like God hates sin and not tolerate anything because we think, "Hi, it's a special people group." No. Um, we

love who God loves, right? And I put it this way. When you think about being

this way. When you think about being pro- Israel, it's not because of what Israel is doing currently, but it's what God is going to do in the future. That's

why that's why your your your your uh favor should be upon that's why you should pray for Israel, right? Because

of what God's going to do. And we're

going to get there in the second half of it. But God has a plan for Israel. He's

it. But God has a plan for Israel. He's

going to do a lot. Jesus is coming back there. He has a plan for that people

there. He has a plan for that people group. Those that have been elected,

group. Those that have been elected, right? Those that have been chosen

right? Those that have been chosen within that group. God has a plan for them. We have to remember that when the

them. We have to remember that when the question comes up, why Israel? Why

Israel? Let's take the focus off of Israel and get the focus back on God.

That's where it needs to be.

A lot of why Israel has led people to anti-semitism and um even Christians get to the point where it's like well I'm mad at Israel too and maybe Israel should be gone. And the main uh

proponent of that is what's called replacement theology.

Replacement theology uh and it's also known as uh supersessionism. And

essentially what that is that second word helps us in first word too.

uh the church has replaced Israel. So in

their mind, Israel doesn't matter anymore, right? The church has

anymore, right? The church has superseded Israel and Israel uh is no better than any other nation. And matter

of fact, because they getting they they they're so arrogant about we are the children of God still. A lot of people it's turned into hatred of the Jews, right? And that's replacement theology.

right? And that's replacement theology.

And they're not going to call themselves that. Somebody that isn't adherent of

that. Somebody that isn't adherent of this, they won't say that. Uh but that's essentially what the theology is is that the church has replaced Israel. Uh God

no longer has a plan for Israel. He's

forfeited that plan and looked at the church and now Israel is no different than anybody else. And so um all the things of the Bible, uh land promises, all that stuff, it becomes more of a

overspiritualized thing. It's not a real

overspiritualized thing. It's not a real thing because all the land that God has promised is for the church. Um, and

here's the the belief uh summed up.

Adherence believed that the church has completely replaced Israel as God's chosen people. God no longer has any

chosen people. God no longer has any future plans for the nation of Israel.

Okay? So, replacement theology, I just tell you right now, it's unbiblical.

It's unbiblical because you you you have to look at what God's timeline is and you have to make a a hard like interruption in God's timeline and it it it it just takes you on a completely

different path from the rest of the Bible. If you're believing that the

Bible. If you're believing that the church has replaced Israel, now you heard like covenant theology and things like that. That's not replacement

like that. That's not replacement theology. Covenant theology is one that

theology. Covenant theology is one that is the expanded, right? What God's plan through Israel has expanded to the church. But replacement theology is its

church. But replacement theology is its own thing and it is what I'm talking about is unbiblical. And you hear many younger people nowadays, uh, they're more of the church is what matters.

Israel does, right? That's why you can have people that say they're Christians and they say, "Yeah, I'm I'm right behind it. Go Palestine." Right? We we

behind it. Go Palestine." Right? We we

should just um you know, wipe Israel off the map. They don't matter anymore. Why?

the map. They don't matter anymore. Why?

Because they've developed a replacement theology, thinking it doesn't matter.

But you read scripture, uh it it's pretty clear that that no matter how bad Israel has gotten, that doesn't affect God's plan uh for what he has for his

chosen people group in the end. So

replacement theology uh they will ask a lot of questions about why Israel, but it's important to know that that's out there and it's coming more and more again as we get further and further and

I think uh those of you older uh can get closer to um Holocaust and all of that.

Uh as we get further and f further away from that then that stuff is not even a sensitive thing in people's mind like what Holocaust I read in the book it's not a big deal to me. Uh but when you when you live through it, when you're

around that time and you're really understanding what happened, uh then you start to uh ha have a sensitivity towards Israel and all that that Satan is trying to do to destroy God's people.

But the further and further we get away from anything, then the less important it gets. And then you get uh more of our

it gets. And then you get uh more of our younger generation that says Israel doesn't matter. where if you look at

doesn't matter. where if you look at many of the surveys uh people 65 55 and older uh they have a special place for Israel because God has a special place for Israel. Uh and hear me when I say a

for Israel. Uh and hear me when I say a special place doesn't mean we just say everything that Israel does thumbs up that even if it's sinful I don't care I don't care just keep your thumbs up. No,

we hate sin just as God hates sin.

Shouldn't tolerate it. I don't care who's doing it because God's not tolerating it. However, when we look at

tolerating it. However, when we look at the land, when we look at what God has stated about his people group, uh we should have a care, a specific care for

them. Uh because God cares for them.

them. Uh because God cares for them.

Let's look at a little bit more in the New Testament. Again, we see the

New Testament. Again, we see the promises in the Old Testament, but Paul gives us a lot in the New Testament that I think is very important for us to understand as we think about Israel. And

again, we start to understand and uh and and create our our view and understanding of how we should feel about Israel based on God's word, not about everything else that's going on in

the world. And because none of that

the world. And because none of that matters. What God says matters. Uh and

matters. What God says matters. Uh and

we should see what he says and know what he says about it. Romans 9 1-6, Paul says, "I'm speaking the truth in Christ.

I'm not lying." Right? Here's a Jew. My

conscience bears with me in the Holy Spirit. that I have great sorrow and

Spirit. that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Why? For

I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. Now, he knows that can't happen,

flesh. Now, he knows that can't happen, but that's what he's expressing, right?

The fact that he's a Jew and that God has opened up his eyes in order to be able to see his grace and mercy and to be able to understand what it means to have eternal life. He's saying, "I I I I

hurt so much for my Jewish brethren that I wish God could just, you know, judge me and then they all be saved." That's

how much he cares about them. But here's

the kicker. Verse four, they are right.

They are Israelites and to them belong the adoption. It wasn't that it belonged

the adoption. It wasn't that it belonged to them before. He's not speaking past tense there. Uh the glory, the

tense there. Uh the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. So, I would highlight all of that and just say, "All

right, even 2,000 years later, however long, 2000 plus years later, um this this covenant that God gave, Paul is still saying, "Yep, that's still intact.

That's still right there." Uh because they have the covenant, right? The

giving of the law, right? The promises

that God gave them uh in the New Testament, they're still intact.

And then he continues on to say in verse 5, to them belong the patriarchs and from their race according to the flesh is Christ. That's where Christ came

is Christ. That's where Christ came from. He came from that line. Abraham,

from. He came from that line. Abraham,

David, he comes from that line who is God overall, blessed forever. Amen. But

it is not as though the word of God has failed. We talked about that before,

failed. We talked about that before, right? Just because his representation

right? Just because his representation on earth seems to be not following suit, uh that has that doesn't have anything to do with God. That just shows we're

we're sinful people. All of us. For not

all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel. That's that's a that's a big

to Israel. That's that's a that's a big one. It's a big one. So, as we take some

one. It's a big one. So, as we take some notes on this and and understand, I'll just write this one down. I'll write it down like this as I mentioned it before.

The covenant promise is still firmly intact even in the New Testament. But

here's a big thing. Just being Jewish does not save you. It does not save you.

And yes, many Jews are stubborn because they'll look at it and say, "Well, I don't need what you got. I already got my relationship with God. We're the

chosen people. You're just the the stepchildren, whatever. You got to add

stepchildren, whatever. You got to add it on later." But here's what you have to understand that um the Bible's very clear. Just because you are Jewish, just

clear. Just because you are Jewish, just because uh you are descendant of Abraham, that doesn't mean you have some special access to heaven today. Okay? Uh

we have to make that clear. God having a plan for Israel today does not mean if If a Jew dies today, apart from Jesus, that it's like, "Okay, I'll let you in the back door cuz you're my chosen

people." No, we are in the church age

people." No, we are in the church age now, they have just as good of opportunity as you and I have to be able to understand. God opens up their eyes

to understand. God opens up their eyes to understand it's all by grace. So,

they must be saved through Jesus Christ.

That's why Jesus was here on on earth talking to Jews many of the times and he says, "I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the father except

life. No one comes to the father except through me." Why is he saying that?

through me." Why is he saying that?

Well, a lot of the Jews are looking at it like I don't need what you got, right? We're we're children of Abraham

right? We're we're children of Abraham and and they say that, right? They get

remember John 8, uh they get into this this dispute and he says you're you're children of the devil, right? Because

you think you're something special and I'm here to say that uh it's only through Jesus Christ. So, every Jew needs to hear the gospel, right? It's

not that they're chosen people and if they die here u that they're going to get a backdoor entrance. They need to hear the gospel. They need to be saved through Jesus Christ.

Romans 11 back to that question that comes up, right? I ask

then, and Paul's asking a question um that he knows that they're going to ask, right? So, it's a rhetorical question

right? So, it's a rhetorical question that he's going to answer. Has God

rejected his people?

Big answer. By no means. By no means.

God has not rejected his people even though they are rebellious. You know why they have he hasn't rejected his people?

Because Paul as a Jew is saying, "For I myself is an Israelite. Hello, it's me.

I I'm one of them, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin." All of that. Paul is that.

Benjamin." All of that. Paul is that.

And so he is a Jew. uh and he's saying I'm living proof that God hasn't given up on Israel because I'm a Jew and I myself and saved right verse two God has

not rejected his people whom he forneew he knew them he chose them before the beginning of time he he chose the people group just like he chooses believers right that's a whole another sermon I

just opened up a can of worms and a lot of questions afterwards right but God is sovereign he chooses the elect beforehand right it's nothing that we've son. Do you not know what scripture says

son. Do you not know what scripture says of Elijah? How he appeals to God against

of Elijah? How he appeals to God against Israel? So, think about Elijah. Elijah

Israel? So, think about Elijah. Elijah

is like, "What is going on?" Right? Your

people are going crazy here, Lord. They

have killed your prophets. The

mouthpiece for the Lord God, they're killing them. They're killing the people

killing them. They're killing the people that you're send to preach the good news to not the good news during that time, but to preach faith in in God. They're

killing them. They have demolished your altars. I alone and left and left.

altars. I alone and left and left.

Elijah saying, "I'm by myself." And

guess what? They're trying to kill me.

And they seek my life, too. But you know what God says to him? But what is God's reply to him? I have kept for myself 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to

Baal. So too, at the present time,

Baal. So too, at the present time, there's a remnant chosen by grace. So we

have to look at he's not rejected his people whom he forneew. And he's kept 7,000 people. All he's kept a remnant.

7,000 people. All he's kept a remnant.

In the Old Testament, he has a remnant.

In the New Testament, he has a remnant.

And guess what? Even today, he has a remnant. What is a remnant? A remnant is

remnant. What is a remnant? A remnant is a faithful follower of of of what God is commanding is what God wants. And a

faithful remnant today is a a a Jew that is believing in Jesus. That's the

remnant. God always has had those. They

may not have been front and center and and you know, on your Christian magazines and all that stuff, but they're always there. It's a faithful remnant that God has had all throughout time. So, I put it this way. God

time. So, I put it this way. God

continues to have a faithful remnant in the New Testament because Paul's talking about him. Paul's saying, "I I I I'm

about him. Paul's saying, "I I I I'm part of that remnant. I'm part of a I'm a Jew just like you. But God is saved."

And we have one today. Matter of fact, we had one here. You remember him?

Remember this guy?

>> He's going to hate me for putting that picture up. But

picture up. But Jay Rubin, Jay Rubin's a great example, right? The remnant that is on earth

right? The remnant that is on earth today are the Messianic Jews. people

that have Jewish lineage, people that they were they were born of of descendants of Abraham. Uh but they understand it's not about being

descendant of Abraham, right? It it's

it's not about that right now. U during

this dis uh uh this dispensation during this dispensation uh during this time, the church age, it's about grace. You're saved by grace and

about grace. You're saved by grace and it's through Jesus Christ. So for a Jew to be saved, they need grace. What's

going to happen in the future? Well,

they're they're God's going to bring them to understand that in the future in a more dramatic way, in a big mass way.

But I'm here to tell you, if you got a Jewish friend, family member, then u it's best not to wait on that and say, you know what, I I'll wait to the end times and then I'll get saved when I'm really convinced when there's that mass

conversion of Jews. Uh you might die today. That's the truth. So we share the

today. That's the truth. So we share the gospel, but those are the remnant today.

those that are have Jewish background but say I'm putting my faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Don't tell them I sent that. Put that picture up. Somebody

that. Put that picture up. Somebody

will. That's fine. It's a good picture of them. Romans 11:25-29.

of them. Romans 11:25-29.

Let me give you uh one more on this.

Lest you be wise in your own sight.

Again, Paul is still making this distinction between, you know, you have Jews and you have Gentile Christians in one church. And he's trying to help them

one church. And he's trying to help them understand uh the the two. Lest you be wise in your own sight. I don't want you to become unaware of this mystery.

Brothers, a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Okay? So, you can stop there and just say, "All right, God had this plan for Israel uh throughout

the Old Testament." So, he had this plan for Israel and there's a mystery of of what that was. That that that plan is sending his son, the savior, Jesus Christ. Well, then he's put a partial

Christ. Well, then he's put a partial hardening hardening uh and then we're in what we call the church age now. And so

the church age started in in Acts uh is we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ. We're fa we're saved through

Christ. We're fa we're saved through Christ. We have to have Christ in order

Christ. We have to have Christ in order to pay for our sins. Right? They didn't

know that in the Old Testament. The Old

Testament they're saved based on faith.

Faith that God was going to send the Messiah, that he was going to send the savior, that he had a redemption plan.

Uh that was what their faith was based on. Now, post the cross, we look back

on. Now, post the cross, we look back and say, "Oh, that faith is Jesus." Our

faith has to be in Jesus. So, right now, because of the rebellion of the Jews, God has partially hardened their heart.

So, that's why it's hard sometimes to share the gospel with the Jew because they're like, "I don't want to hear about your Jesus. I I'm good. I'm good.

You can have your Jesus. I don't believe that was a He's not my savior." Right?

There there's a hardening. That's

because God is doing that. He's hardened

their hearts uh for a a later time, right? when all the Gentiles being saved

right? when all the Gentiles being saved uh is complete then we will be in the tribulation time right the end times will come and then God will bring a mass

conversion amongst the Jews right and that's what it says in verse 26 and this way all Israel after the fullness of Gentiles have come in right after the the the rapture the church has been

raptured up uh all Israel will be saved as it is written the deliverer will come from Zion and banish the ungodliness from Jacob and this will be the covenant

with them when I take take away their sins. As regard to the gospel though,

sins. As regard to the gospel though, because he's going to take away their sins, that's going to come at a later date. Church is no longer here. It's

date. Church is no longer here. It's

going to be craziness going on in the world, even more so than today. Right?

Re revelation. Uh we're going to have this period where Jesus is going to be realized that uh he is the Messiah. And

even Jews will have this partial hardening come off their heart and then they will profess that Jesus is Lord and Savior. Okay. Um, all of that will

Savior. Okay. Um, all of that will happen later. But today, as regards to

happen later. But today, as regards to the gospel, they're enemies for your sake. They're enemies, right? They're

sake. They're enemies, right? They're

enemies to the God. They hate your Jesus. They hate Jesus. They don't want

Jesus. They hate Jesus. They don't want anything to do with Jesus. You try to bring up Jesus. They they they don't like him. And so, they're taking God's

like him. And so, they're taking God's gift to us and saying, "Nope, not the real savior. Fake, phony, not it. Don't

real savior. Fake, phony, not it. Don't

need him." Right? So, they're rejecting Jesus. So, Paul says, "Uh, they're

Jesus. So, Paul says, "Uh, they're enemies for your sake." But as regard to election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. God still has a

plan for them. God still has a plan for them. They need Jesus, but God has a

them. They need Jesus, but God has a plan for them. For the gifts and the calling of God are big word here, irrevocable.

Meaning God's not looking the replacement theology saying, you know what, they've gotten too far. They've

gone too far now. You know what my plan is done for them. It's not revocable.

And when God says something is irrevocable, it's irrevocable. He's not

changing his plans based on the performance of people that he knew were going to fall short, right? We see all throughout scripture that they can get rebellious. Uh and even more so today

rebellious. Uh and even more so today where they're completely just stiff arming the fact that Jesus is Lord. Um

for the most part, there's still a faithful remnant that is not doing that.

Um but it's irrev irrevoc irrevocable speak. Um, that's what the Bible tells

speak. Um, that's what the Bible tells us. So, here's what we need to know. God

us. So, here's what we need to know. God

has hardened the hearts of most Jews during the church age. Most Jews,

they're still a remnant. Most Jews don't want to hear about Jesus because they think, "I I got it all. I don't need what you have. Um, I'm special and I don't need that." But we have to

remember as believers, Jews need Jesus.

They need the gospel. Even though

they're going to reject it, they need the gospel. And you need to love those

the gospel. And you need to love those Jewish uh friends, neighbors, uh family members that you have continue to share the gospel with you. There's no secret

back door entrance for just being Jew.

And the last thing uh is Israel be will be saved in Christ in the end times post rapture. So that's why again

rapture. So that's why again we're pro-Israel. We love Israel. uh not

we're pro-Israel. We love Israel. uh not

blindly loving Israel, not loving the sin that they do, not when they are doing things that are opposed to God. Uh

you shouldn't be saying, "Yay, yay, still go Israel." Because you should hate sin just like God hates sin. But at

the same time, uh we should have a love for and care for God's people just as he does. Um but they need Christ today.

does. Um but they need Christ today.

They need Christ and we need to talk about the gospel to our Jewish friends.

All right. see why I split it in half.

We'd have been here till 1:00. Um, and I know I know I know I know I know you're like, "Well, I want to get to that last one. Let's talk a little bit about the

one. Let's talk a little bit about the last one. See you in two weeks. We'll

last one. See you in two weeks. We'll

talk a little bit more about the last one." But here's where we need to go

one." But here's where we need to go because again, there's a lot of contention there. There's a lot of

contention there. There's a lot of conflict there of what should we think today. The main thing that I'll leave

today. The main thing that I'll leave you with is what I just shared. God

loves Israel. The Jews need Jesus because they're rejecting the Messiah.

Um, they need Jesus.

But at the end of the day, uh we don't just blindly say, "Hey, whatever Israel does is good." You need to be able to look at the things that you're praying for and yeah, pray for peace in the land, but you also need to pray for

spiritual peace uh that they would they would submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and have a true peace with God. Um that

they all need to have in this day and age. But God loves Israel. Don't forget

age. But God loves Israel. Don't forget

that. We'll talk about more about the future plans of Israel and then even how God's uh protection over Israel throughout history being that small. U

they're still around, right? And it's

not the the golden dome uh that's that's protecting them, right? That's a

resource that they have, but ultimately God's hand of protection is all over that. U but we need to think about that,

that. U but we need to think about that, but we need to love them as God loves them. And today, God wants to love them

them. And today, God wants to love them by getting them the gospel. Um and

that's what we need to to be reminded of. So, let me pray. And then in two

of. So, let me pray. And then in two weeks, we'll finish this up with future plans, uh the perseverance that they've had, and then also more specifically on how we should think about it. Let's

pray.

God, thank you so much for the fact that you have a plan. Uh and Lord, that we can trust your promises. Uh if your promises were like ours, we'd they'd be uh revocable. Uh depending on people's

uh revocable. Uh depending on people's performance, depending on the day uh that we had and um you know, how we're feeling. But Lord, you are not like us.

feeling. But Lord, you are not like us.

Your ways are higher than our ways. Your

thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

And thank thank you for that. So

grateful that you don't change. That you

are the same God yesterday, today, and tomorrow. That we can uh trust in your

tomorrow. That we can uh trust in your plan. We're not called to know

plan. We're not called to know everything, but we're called to trust in it. I just pray that you would help us

it. I just pray that you would help us to do that. Even as we think about current news and things going on today, that we would love the things that you love and we would hate the things that you hate. Uh and so help us to do that

you hate. Uh and so help us to do that better. And uh Lord, I just pray that uh

better. And uh Lord, I just pray that uh there would be peace in Israel as you tell us to pray for, but Lord, not only just uh peace from a military standpoint and uh protection standpoint, but Lord,

I prayed that there would be a spiritual peace that you would bring many many Jews to saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That they may have eternal life,

Christ. That they may have eternal life, that they would uh put away the stubborn hearts of thinking u just because they're Jew that's all that matters. Uh

but that they would understand that you sent your son uh the savior of the world. uh that would give us eternal

world. uh that would give us eternal life. So, thank you for this time that

life. So, thank you for this time that we can look into this today and I just pray that uh we would all be pleasing in your sight in the people that we love and the things that we do in Jesus name.

Amen.