A few months ago, I was reading various theological articles about our relationship, as Christians, with Israel. I wrote down this quote (but not the citation, sorry!) as being especially apt:

God says this, “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” (Genesis 12:3).

When God makes a promise we can know that it is certain, and that He will not change. The problem is, however, when we hear Him saying what He did not say. This text does (not) say that God will bless those who bless Israel, but rather those who bless Abraham, to whom God is speaking. Later, however, in Numbers 24, it gets a little more clear. There Balaam, clearly speaking about the nation of Israel says, “Blessed is he who blesses you, And cursed is he who curses you.”

There are various interpretations of these Scripture verses, and some people feel these words no longer apply to the Jews, but rather to the Christian church. However, it is my belief that it is always a good idea to consider God’s word to mean what it says, unless it is obviously written as parable or allegory.

All people who love the Creator God of the Bible are under attack today. That is why I pray daily for blessings on the nation of Israel, the Jewish people, and Christ’s church around the world.