Senator Ted Cruz and Tucker Carson had a newsworthy conversation about Israel that included some theological comments about biblical Israel and the modern nation state of Israel. At one point Carlson asked, “Is the nation God is referring to in Genesis the same country Benjamin Netanyahu is running now?”
Though that exchange was not a particularly positive example of theological discussion, the question does matter.
About a month ago, we started a new series at Mariners Church—where I serve as teaching pastor—and we print an accompanying book of sermon outlines and articles. I happen to have an article about this topic in that book. The article was written many months ago, but the focus is theological rather then dependent on the current situation.
I’m thankful when people have good conversations about challenging issues, and I hope you will find this article helpful and charitable.
What Should Christians Think About Israel?
Israel is in the news every day, and on nearly every page of our Bible. Current events and the Bible’s pages both prompt a question—What should Christians think about Israel?
Christians have varying theological and political stances on Israel. In this short article, I can’t address all the ways that Christians see the biblical people of Israel or the modern nation-state of Israel.
I can, though, outline a few key principles for thinking about both, so that we can think more biblically about Israel.
Chosen People
We can start here. God had (and has) a chosen people. In the Old Testament, we read:
For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his treasured possession. (Psalm 135:4)
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the temple service, and the promises. The ancestors are theirs, and from them, by physical descent, came the Christ, who is God over all, praised forever. Amen. (Romans 9:4-5)
As Christians, we are grafted into God’s redemptive story in Abraham, but God still has a special place for the Jewish people (see Romans 11). In the New Testament, both believing Jews and Gentiles are now part of God’s covenant family, but there are still promises to be fulfilled to the Jewish people—God is not done with the Jewish people.
For example, consider God’s promise to Abraham:
I will make you into a great nation,
I will bless you,
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
(Genesis 12:2)
Likewise, God promised that Jerusalem would become a hub of worship for the nations, with Isaiah prophesying, “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it” (Isaiah 2:2).
Even previous enemies of Israel, like Egypt and Assyria, will join that worship:
On that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Assyria will go to Egypt, Egypt to Assyria, and Egypt will worship with Assyria. On that day Israel will form a triple alliance with Egypt and Assyria—a blessing within the land. The Lord of Armies will bless them, saying, “Egypt my people, Assyria my handiwork, and Israel my inheritance are blessed.” (Isaiah 19:23-25)
Israel, the people (or nation, in the biblical sense) still has an important role to play according to biblical prophecy. In the Old Testament, the nation referred to the biological descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob living in the Promised Land. Israel did not cease to be a nation, nor did it lose its connection to the land of Israel when it suffered the loss of its nation-state in exile.
Israel will be redeemed, playing an important part during the Millennial Kingdom. As Acts 3:18-22 explains, the ministry of Jesus fulfilled the Hebrew Scripture and will bring the restoration of all things the prophets had predicted for Israel.
In addition, there are still prophecies related to Israel are yet to be fulfilled, such as splitting the Mount of Olives, a plague upon Jerusalem’s enemies, and the nations worshipping in Jerusalem (see Zechariah 14).
Modern Israel
Our theological view of Israel raises questions about the modern nation-state of Israel. Christians might wonder if the biblical testimony requires them to support everything the modern nation-state does.
In short, the answer is, “No.” If the ancient people and kingdom did not obey God perfectly, we shouldn’t expect that the modern government of Israel would be infallible. We don’t have to blindly support everything the modern nation-state does to love, support, and celebrate Israel.
That said, the fact that Israel was reestablished as a nation has encouraged many Christians. It is shocking that a nation could reestablish itself after 2,000 years. It provides Christians with a glimpse of God keeping promises yet to come. For many Christians—me included—the reestablishment of Israel as a modern nation-state is a significant marker in God’s prophetic promises.
