The Rejection of Israel: What Does It Mean?
Posted: Sunday, May 10, 2009
by Joel Kontinen
http://joelkontinen.blogspot.com/
"For they are not all Israel who are of Israel", the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 9:6 as he discussed the rejection of Israel after God's chosen people had refused to welcome the Messiah. Who, then, is the real Israel? Paul also speaks about "The Israel of God" in Galatians 6. It suggests that a new Israel incorporates both believing Jews and non-Jews:
The Bible discloses that Israel had a major role in God's plan for mankind, beginning in the book of Genesis. The call of Abraham in Genesis chapter twelve begins a new chapter in human history. God instructed Abraham, a man living in the city of Ur, to leave his country, his people and his father's household to a land that God would show him.
Later, when Abraham was already in the Promised Land, God told him:
Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are-northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever (Gen. 13:14).
When the Bible says something is forever, it is forever.
Some sincere Christians believe that God's promises to bless Israel were conditional and that passages like Matthew 21:43, "Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it" mean that God has rejected Israel and that the Church is the new Israel.
However, when God speaks of a new Israel, He does not mean that there is no room for the old Israel in His plan. The Book of Revelation (7:1-8) shows that even in end times, the twelve tribes of Israel were precious to God.
Some of God's promises are conditional but Abraham's blessing is not one of them. Time and again, the Jews were often taken into captivity. But each time, they – or at least some of them – returned to the land promised to Abraham.
Paul did not think that the Israelites would be rejected for ever. He writes in Romans 11:25-29:
For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
" The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
The rejection of Israel was only temporary. Friends, let us not forget what God promised Abraham: "I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Gen. 12:3). Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
Four millennia after God's promise to Abraham his descendants are once again living in the land of Israel. It is evidence for the Lord's faithfulness.
It is our duty to bless the people of Israel. If we do so, we will be blessed.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Non Jews can be a part of Israel only if they keep Covanant. Simply being a Christian does not give a Gentile the promises that G-d gave to the Chosen People. The Jews can not lose a promise that G-d gave them as an everlasting promise or else G-d is a liar.I'm glad that you see that Israel is an everlasting promise to the Jewish people. Some Gentile Christians teach that Israel has lost that and all other promises because of their unbelief at different times through history. They have this idea that Israel rejected Jesus but my reply is what nation exactly accepted Him? Certainly not the Paganized Catholic Rome. Certainly not Spain who killed millions of Jews in their Inqusition. Years later not the US where we kill millions of babies in abortions. If the Jews rejected Him, then who accepted Him? Matter of fact, percentage wise, the first century Church was all Jewish. There were more Jews in Israel who accepted Him (percentage wise) then any other nation since.Anyways, just thought I'd point that out.Rabbi StanleyShalom.Thanks for your comment. We seem to agree on the basics. I feel that blaming the Jews for their failures is a very slippery road - and a very unscriptural one.Regards, Joelwhat failures?? You should bite your tongue for that. If only you knew how reverent the Jewish people are, and how Jewish Jesus and His followers were, and how utterly Jewish their spirituality that Gentiles have had the grace to inherit at all by being grafted into the vine, you would understand how much in ignorance one speaks when they diss the Jewish people and elevate themselves above God's Chosen ones.The Jewish people have walked with G-d by far and away longer than any Gentile. And if it were not for the Jewish people believing Christianity would not exist. Respect is due them. There are more gentile non- believers than Jews, as many alleged " believers" do not practice what they preach and are just hypocrites.Shalom, Jennifer. By “failures” I meant that the majority of Jews did not accept their Messiah. This is what the apostle Paul wrote about in the passage from Romans I referred to. Nowhere did I suggest that Gentile Christians should look down on Jews. Not at all. Actually, the whole purpose of my article was to point out that non-Jewish Christians should not think they have taken Israel’s place in God’s plan. Actually, I am a great fan of Israel and despising Jews or appropriating the blessings the Lord gave them would be the last thing I would do.
Roughly 50% of the Jews did accept Yeshua in the First Century. I agree with Jennifer, that's not a failure. 90% of the Gentiles have not received Him... now that I'd call a failure.
Rabbi StanleyShalom.Let him who is without failure throw the first stone. I don’t think any of us has exclusive bragging rights. We have all – whether Jew or Gentile - turned away but it is good to keep in mind Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 2:13: “if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” Now, he did not say this to condone sin but to show that the Great “I Am” is faithful to His promises.
Grace and peace,
Joel
You're the one who said they failed.
Rabbi StanleyYes, but the idea comes from Paul’s discourse in Romans 9-11, especially ch. 9. I was merely referring to his words in my comment. Now, the problem is that some Gentile Christians have interpreted this to mean that the Jews lost their privileges. But that is not at all what Paul says or what I refer to.
Well, I'm glad you feel that the Jews haven't lost their privelages. I'll give you that. But next time please add that 90% of the Gentiles have also "rejected Him".
Rabbi StanleyActually this article was a response to some writers who think on the basis of Romans 9-11 and other passages that the (Gentile) church has inherited Israel's blessings. My intention was to show that this wasn’t true. Perhaps I should have used some other word instead of failure in my comment, though. I have actually written quite of bit on the failures of mankind as a whole in my blog, and even the article on What’s wrong with the world (on G. K. Chesterton) here at SW touches on this issue.
Hi Jenn! Your back on line! Does this mean you are settled? I have been praying for the smooth transition. Call me when you can.PS - I love your passion!Big hugs, miss you! Teresa
I am curious as to your opinion on our presidents embracing the muslim world in light of its abject rejection of Israel.Hi Ken,Unfortunately Islam is basically very anti-Israel (although some Muslims might disagree with the more outspoken critics of Israel.) So, trying to curry favour with Islam usually means rejecting Israel. And this, I think, is a disaster.Regards,Joel
Joel, how does Revelation 1:7 NIV fit. Who is that addressing if not modern Israel?Believers, be they Jew or gentile already know.Thanks, Robert. There are indeed several references to the people of Israel (an ethnic group) in Revelation.Joel
Joel - looks like I am entering this way later than most but I applaud you for not adhering to "replacement theology" and saying that the church replace Israel in the promises of the scripture... I totally agree that those who bless Israel will be blessed... I think GW had many advisors who were replacement theologians and that is why we saw what we did... Bravo on this piece even if I am reading it months after it was posted! MarijoThanks, Marijo. This is a hot and often misunderstood topic but I see it as you see and I believe that is what the Bible teaches.Blessings, Joel
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