Blessing Israel
A man of God’s prayer should be, “Lord break my heart for what breaks yours.” Be careful what you pray for. God broke Phil Hanlen’s heart for the nation of Israel. Phil has been to Israel several times on mission trips to bless the people of Israel by building bomb shelters to show the love of God. His next mission is to bless the soldiers of Israel.
The story of God’s redemption was revealed through the children of Israel. God’s plan for Israel is still ongoing. In this day and age, the plan for Israel is that the Church of the body of Christ would bless Israel. God said in Genesis, If you bless Israel I will bless you. Israel’s story is a story of redemption…of God’s grace, mercy and deliverance. The Old Testament story concludes with four hundred years of silence before the coming of the Messiah. At Jesus Christ’s first coming, Israel missed him completely. However, in the gospels, Jesus proved over and over that he was the Messiah, the Christ, the son of the living God. Israel, instead of believing in him, crucified him. The religious leaders of Israel were in such darkness that they put Jesus on trial for “treason” for the claim that he was the “king of the Jews.” They crucified him and the powers of darkness rejoiced. However, Jesus Christ triumphed over death by the resurrection. Despite Israel’s rejection of the Savior, God’s grace and mercy still prevails. Jesus defeated death even though they did not realize that they were dead in their trespasses and sins. Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross and is set down upon the right hand of God.
In Romans 11, God reveals the answer about Israel’s role after the first coming of the Messiah. God’s plan for Israel still exists and the Church of the body of Christ has a role in reaching Israel. Our role as the body of believers is to “provoke them to jealousy” by example that we are disciples of Jesus Christ and sons of the living God. In Revelation 7 after the Believers in Christ have been “gathered together” in heaven at the second coming of Christ, the defendants of the Children of Israel will be the Messianic Jews who realize that Jesus is the Messiah. These will be the 144,000 “apostle Pauls” and countless others who will be lead by these believers prior the great white throne Judgement.
Ezekiel talks about a Great War coming during the end times prophesied in the book of Revelation. The world will focus on the land of Israel, a tiny plot of land about the size of New Jersey. Israel will stand alone in this war against the rest of the world. Our role in preparation for these last days is to follow the Lord and to bless Israel. For the nation that blesses Israel will be blessed. Those who stand against Israel will be cursed. Our calling as Christians is to love Israel…not because they are deserving of love, but because love is the nature of our Heavenly Father…The promise that God gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 still rings true today: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:”. “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael