Israel’s story begins with God taking the first step. He brought the nation into existence and shaped it according to His plan. Scripture states, “Thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel” (Isa. 43:1), and again, “I am the LORD… the Creator of Israel” (Isa. 43:15). Having brought Israel into being, God then bound Himself to her, declaring, “the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession” (Deut. 7:6). This divine commitment arose from God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, establishing Israel as a nation uniquely related to Him (Gen. 12:1–3; 17:7–8). The permanence of Israel’s national existence is guaranteed by God Himself, who tied her continuance to the fixed order of creation, saying, “If this fixed order departs from before Me… then the offspring of Israel also will cease from being a nation before Me forever” (Jer. 31:35–36). She was precious to the Lord, called “the apple of His eye” (Zech. 2:8), and He said to her, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jer. 31:3). God also placed Israel at the center of His historical dealings, saying of Jerusalem, “I have set her at the center of the nations” (Ezek. 5:5). Yet Scripture is equally honest about Israel’s repeated failures through unbelief and disobedience (Ps. 106:6; Neh. 9:26). Because of her unique relationship to God, Israel also experienced unique discipline, for the Lord declared, “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2). Even when God disciplines Israel, His plans for her are never canceled (Jer. 31:35–37).
Israel’s Present
In the present age, Israel exists in a state of tension. Though widely opposed and often unbelieving, she remains “beloved for the sake of the fathers” because of the irrevocable promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Rom. 11:28). God’s faithfulness to Israel does not rest on Israel’s consistency but on His own unchanging covenants, which He pledged to uphold forever (Gen. 12:1–3; 2 Sam. 7:12–16; Jer. 31:35–37). Scripture explains that this present condition includes a divinely imposed hardening that is partial and temporary, for “a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Rom. 11:25). This hardening serves God’s broader redemptive purpose by opening the door of blessing to the nations, while simultaneously preserving Israel for a future restoration. During this period, Israel’s unbelief does not nullify God’s promises but confirms that salvation history is unfolding according to His timetable rather than human expectation. Israel is being kept by God until His redemptive purposes are completed, demonstrating that divine faithfulness transcends human failure.
Israel’s Future
Israel’s future is secure because it depends completely on God’s promises, not on how well Israel has done in the past or how well it is doing now. Jesus will return to the earth as the rightful King of Israel, for “when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne” (Matt. 25:31), and “His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east” (Zech. 14:4), reigning in fulfillment of God’s promises (Rev. 19:16).
When Jesus returns, Israel will finally realize that He is the very One they once rejected. They will look to Him, feel deep sorrow for what they did, and put their trust in Him as their Messiah. God foretold this when He said, “They will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn” (Zech. 12:10). That grief will lead them to faith, and Paul confirms the outcome when he says, “and so all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26). At that time, Jerusalem will finally welcome her true King, just as Jesus said, “You will not see Me until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord’” (Matt. 23:39; cf. Ps. 118:26).
After His return, the Messiah will rule the world from Jerusalem. Scripture declares that “the Lord will be king over all the earth” (Zech. 14:9). He will reign as the promised Son of David, the One of whom God said, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High” (Luke 1:32). God will place Him on David’s throne, fully carrying out His covenant promises, for “the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David… and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:32–33). His rule will bring lasting righteousness and peace to the entire world, because “there will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace” (Isa. 9:6–7), and “in His days the righteous will flourish, and abundance of peace” (Ps. 72:7). All opposition will be brought under control, since the Messiah will “break them with a rod of iron” (Ps. 2:9). His kingdom will never end, because “His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away” (Dan. 7:14). Israel’s future, then, clearly shows that God is faithful to His word and always brings His promises to their complete fulfillment.
The Christian Attitude Toward Israel
Because God has an unbroken past, present, and future plan for Israel, the Christian’s attitude toward Israel today should be marked by humility, respect, prayer, and confidence in God’s faithfulness. Scripture warns believers not to become arrogant toward Israel, since Gentile blessing rests on God’s promises to the patriarchs and not on Gentile merit (Rom. 11:18–20). Even in her present unbelief, Israel remains “beloved for the sake of the fathers,” because “the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable” (Rom. 11:28–29). Christians are therefore to reject hostility or replacement thinking and instead recognize Israel’s continuing place in God’s plan (Rom. 11:1–2).
This attitude expresses itself in action. Believers are to pray for Israel, especially for her salvation, sharing Paul’s desire when he said, “my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation” (Rom. 10:1), and to pray for Jerusalem, as Scripture commands, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Ps. 122:6). Christians should also lovingly share the gospel with Jewish people, knowing that faith comes through hearing the word of Christ (Rom. 10:14–17), while trusting God’s timetable, since the present hardening is partial and temporary (Rom. 11:25). When possible, believers should also support Israel in gratitude, recognizing that Gentiles have shared in Israel’s spiritual blessings (Rom. 15:27). In all of this, the Christian looks forward with confidence to the day when God’s promises are fulfilled, when Israel turns to her Messiah and “all Israel will be saved” (Rom. 11:26), and the Lord reigns as King over all the earth (Zech. 14:9).
Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.
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Thank you for this excellent article! It is biblically correct and beautifully written.
the Kingsley’s
Thanks friend.