One thing all true followers of Christ must check is their opinion and attitude towards Israel. Too many have come to the conclusion that Israel and the Jewish people no longer have any importance to God. They have sadly accepted replacement theology and feel the Church alone is the apple of God’s eye.

We know the Church is the bride of Christ! Praise God for this fact. We are loved by Him and we anxiously await His appearance to take us home! We must not forget however, that God is NOT done with Israel. In fact, the end of this world as we know it will revolve around the restoration of Israel! God has not deserted his people. He has grafted us gentiles into the family through the precious blood of Christ but we must never forget He has not forgotten the apple of His eye! The fact that Israel once again became a nation in 1948 showed the mighty hand of God working behind the scenes to draw His people back to their homeland. He drew and is continuing to draw them back so that He can fulfill the promises of Zechariah 2.

When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.  “Where are you going?” I asked.

He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”

 Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him.  The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls.  Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”

The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds.  Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!”

 After a period of glory, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you. For he said, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession. I will raise my fist to crush them, and their own slaves will plunder them.” Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.

 The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you.  Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you.  The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. ¹³ Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”

Sadly, due to many influences in our culture this bitterness towards both the Jews and Israel has even seeped into the Church. If you have hardened your heart towards the Jewish people or the land of Israel, it’s time to repent and ask God to forgive you. He has a stern warning for anyone that hates His people or plans harm against them.

Genesis 12:1-3 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

God doesn’t want us to idolize Israel or her people but he does want us to love and respect them as those He has chosen for His own purposes. So please check your heart for any resentment or bitterness you may have towards them. If you do find yourself harboring anger or jealousy or even hatred than ask God to forgive you through the blood of Christ. Begin to study the scriptures that show God’s love for the Jewish people. Read the book of Revelation and see how God will pour out His Spirit on Israel and His people after the church has been caught up in the clouds. He is not done with Israel and it’s important to keep our hearts tender to that fact.

Blessings!