Why Israel? A Biblical Answer to a Good Question

By: Rebekah Gunthrie

Why Israel? This key question is one that every Christian will contemplate at some point. However, just as crucial is the question of where we stand on the people of Israel, and more broadly, Jewish people all over the world. The events of and since 10/7 bring a fresh relevance to this query. We turn to the Authority on the subject - the very God of Israel, our God, and ask the question: Why should we care about Israel? His Word is clear. Israel is precious to God, and that which is precious to God will be precious to those who love God. As Christians, we are completely and irrevocably connected to Israel. We love and support the Jewish people, and we unite with Israel and the IDF in their fight against antisemitism, just as we honor the ancient lions of Judah, the Israelite warriors of the Bible, who fought against the enemies of God’s promise. 

Scripture is full of passages regarding God’s intent toward Israel and the Jewish people. God does not change; His plan for them has not changed, and it will never change. His love for Israel is eternal, as infinite as He Himself. Israel is cherished by God, chosen by Him; they are His treasure, “the apple of His eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10; Zechariah 2:8). Moses proclaimed, “For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for His treasured possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (Deut. 7:6). The Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, prophesied: “But now, this is what the Lord says, He who is your Creator, Jacob, And He who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…you are precious in My sight…you are honored, and I love you…” (43:1-4). The Lord also said of Israel, “…I have loved you with an everlasting love…” (Jer. 31:3). In Deuteronomy 10:15, Moses also declared, “Yet the Lord set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today.”

Historically:

In the beginning, God’s plan for the nation of Israel was established. With the birth of Abraham, His divine plan was set in motion. God promised Abraham that He would make him a great nation. Speaking directly to Abraham as this “great nation,” God told him in Genesis 12:3, “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 will be blessed.” With those Words, a vow was made. In Genesis 17:7, God officially established an everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants. As Scripture confirms, the Abrahamic covenant is eternal; it cannot be undone. God created Israel to be a people who would shine bright for the rest of the world. In Isaiah, the Lord says of Israel, “I will also make you a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth” (Is. 49:6). Israel was called to shine with His brightness, to reveal His glory in this dark world so that anyone drawn to His light would be drawn to the God of Israel through her. In Acts 13:47, the Jewish apostle, Paul, reminded the people of the words of Isaiah when he said, “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: "‘I have appointed you a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the end of the earth.”’ Yeshua, the Lord Paul spoke of, was a Jew, observant of the Torah, obedient to Adonai, and so He let His light shine before men. Through Yeshua, God linked the blessing (salvation) of every nation to Israel. Israel shows us the blessings that come with receiving God’s steadfast promise. God chose Israel to be His people and to be a blessing to all nations, and Israel is set apart as a holy nation, a holy people. God’s promise of spiritual and physical blessings to Israel would reveal His glory to all the nations.

The world was changed forever with the birth of Israel, both in ancient times (over 4000 years ago), and with its birth as a modern nation on May 14, 1948. This was the day that Israel was established as an independent state, reminding us of the words of the prophets, Isaiah and Ezekiel, regarding the future of Israel. “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be given birth all at once? As soon as Zion was in labor, she also delivered her sons” (Isaiah 66:8). Ezekiel prophesied, “This is what the Lord God says: “I will gather you from the peoples and assemble you from the countries among which you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel”’ (11:17). From that very day in 1948, when the United States became the first country to recognize Israel as a state, until today, Israel and the United States have been the strongest of allies. As both Americans and Christians, we are joined together with Israel, bound closely by historic and cultural ties. We are powerfully linked by our shared God. Judeo-Christian tradition had a tremendous influence on America’s Founding Fathers support for personal liberty and individual rights.

Because America has blessed Israel, our nation has enjoyed the blessings promised by God centuries ago, when He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless Israel.” 

Currently:

Today, Judeo-Christian values have a profound influence on American society; our biblical worldview sets us apart from the current culture. 

 In the face of yet another dramatic surge of antisemitism in recent months, those with a heart for God, and a biblical perspective, are called to stand with Israel to push back this darkness. Even as the enemies of Israel grow in number and in boldness, we are strengthened in our resolve to link arms with the Jewish people. Since the inception of the early Church in Jerusalem until today, Jews and Christians have shared in persecution. Though Jews are despised for their very existence, and Christians for their faith, the root of this hate is directed at the same target: GOD. The Creator of all, and His plans for mankind, redemption, and eternity, have enraged the real enemy of all: Satan. Demonic forces are at work against both Jews and Christians for this very reason. It is a fight for the souls of man, a battle of flesh and spirit, an all-out spiritual war, with way too many dangerously unaware of what’s at stake. 

Despite this evil, there is Hope! It is our commission to share this Hope, our Living Hope, with the broken-hearted. We follow in the footsteps of the heroes of our faith. The warrior King, David, offered the people of Israel hope and encouragement in one of his “Songs of Ascent” when he wrote Psalm 130:7: “Israel, wait for the Lord; for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption.” For the people of Israel who feel hopeless and lost, God has not forgotten them. After being pursued, and escaping his enemies, King David’s response reminds us of God’s steadfast love and constant presence in times of chaos and despair. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18). Zephaniah reminded God’s people of His promise with his powerful words: “Adonai your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will rejoice over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy” (3:17).

The word “apostle” comes from the Greek word “apostolos,” which means “one who is sent on a mission.” Acts 1:8 says, “...you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in [Israel] and as far as the remotest part of the earth…” Jesus’ commission, “even to the remotest part of the earth” signifies a continuous charge, an active mission to share the message until all have heard the good news. It has taken generations to spread the gospel around the globe, yet unreached areas remain. We will continue until He comes - from Israel and beyond. In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul tells us, “…it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."

People and nations who align themselves to the God of Israel and the Jewish people are joined together under both the everlasting and the new covenants. We are grafted in, joined together to the same root! While we as Christians can be secure in this everlasting bond, we should embrace this knowledge with gratitude and humility. We remember what Paul told the Gentiles in Rome, “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in…For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?” (Rom. 11:17-19, 24). 

God called Israel to be a light and spread salvation, and when Christians were grafted in, the call came to us as well.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you prosper/be secure.’” ~ Psalm 122:6

God will NEVER forsake Israel (Ps. 94:14).

Why, then, would we?