I want to make one thing perfectly clear, we need to hope for Peace in the Middle East. The Middle East is a land where so much darkness covers over it. The conflict between Israel and Palestine I know is not a desire of our Lord. Our Lord longs to bring us together.
Isaiah chapter 9 verse 6 says “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”
Our God is a God of peace. But we must never forget the promise Our God made to Abraham in Genesis chapter 12 verse 3,“I will bless those who bless you, I will curse those who curse you.”
This is an infallible piece of scripture and it is referring to the nation of Israel because the Church has not replaced Israel in God’s family but have merely been grafted in.
Romans chapter 11 describes the salvation of the Gentiles as like being an ingrafted branch (Romans chapter 11 verse 17), meaning because of Israel’s transgression of rejecting Jesus, “we”, meaning the members of the Church who do not have Jewish blood, have had an opportunity to experience God’s amazing grace.
Jesus is for everyone
Let’s make another thing clear, Jesus is for everyone! Jesus came to save the world, he is the saviour of the world but we cannot forget that the Messiah came to the nation of Israel first.
Paul, while he was writing to the Romans said, ‘salvation came to the Jew first then the Gentile” (Romans chapter 1 verse 16).
As Christians we need to reach people, but to the Jew first—we can’t forget God’s order and the promise that God has given to Abraham.
When the Church blesses Israel we become blessed, but how can the Church bless Israel?
How the Church can bless Israel
Well, I think the best thing they can do is tell them that the Son of God has come. However many of us, particularly where I am in Northern New South Wales, do not come across a great number of Jewish people; however that does not mean we cannot play a part in reaching God’s chosen people.
We can pray for Israel. Psalm 122 verse 6 says ,“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May those who love you be secure.”
The peace that verse is talking about is peace from conflict. Sadly, the city of Jerusalem is still very much divided and we must pray for peace in that city.
That city is so important to the Christian faith. Jesus bled and died for us outside the city. He would be resurrected inside the City. Jerusalem was where the early Church received the power from the Holy Spirit to be his witnesses in the book of Acts and it will be the city where Jesus will reestablish is rule on earth in Revelation chapter 21.
Jerusalem’s history is our history
The Jewish people’s history is also our history and we need to pray for peace in Jerusalem. We need to support the gospel being shared amongst the Jewish people.
The purpose of this is not to brag about my giving but I have started giving another 10% to a mission fund called Celebrate Messiah Australia, a mission that promotes the sharing of the gospel amongst the Jewish community here in Australia.
I have been so enriched by this.
I feel the joy of the Lord doing this. My passion for his people and for his word has increased. I am not saying give to get, giving begins in the heart. If we as Christians have a desire to see people get saved, we also have a desire to see Israel get saved.
I think of this story from Pastor Robert Morris of the Gateway Church in Dallas Texas:
The Benevolent Father
“There was once an orphanage and the head of the orphanage was a very cruel man and down the road from the orphanage lived a very benevolent father and he came up with a plan to adopt all the children in the orphanage because he wanted to see all the children adopted.
So he adopted a few of the children to show his love and his kindness to make others want to be adopted and it worked.
So many of the children at the orphanage chose to be adopted by this benevolent father.
But the original children who were also adopted by the Father got jealous and left.
One of the children adopted by the father from the Orphanage said,
“Dad I am so grateful you adopted me and I love living here but I have a burden for your original children that left and I would love to see if I can go and try and bring your children back, would you help me?”
Then the Father reached for his wallet and said, “How much do you need to be able to do this Son?’’
That is what it means when the Lord says “I will bless those who bless Israel.”
Ben Kruzins has earned a number of degrees and now in ministry at Ocean Shores NSW
Ben Kruzins previous articles may be viewed at https://www.pressserviceinternational.org/ben-kruzins.html
Ben Kruzins is the Campus Pastor of The Hub Baptist Church in Ocean Shores on the North Coast of New South Wales. He is also a Journalism graduate who has written articles in The Canberra Times and The Sydney Morning Herald.
