Being a Christian is different than being part of the nation of Israel.
For you are a holy and set-apart people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a special people to Himself out of all the peoples on the face of the Earth. (Deuteronomy 7:6 AMPC)
What [other] one nation on Earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem to be a people for Himself and to make for Himself a name? You have done great and terrible things for Yourself and for Your land, before Your people, whom You redeemed and delivered for Yourself from Egypt, from the nations and their gods. (2 Samuel 7:23 AMPC)
Israel has a special designation. They are God’s people, set apart for Him. They will always be God’s people with some rules that apply only to them. It is from Israel that Jesus, the disciples, and the entire Old Testament came to us.
The word “Christian” begins with “Christ.” We belong to Jesus. When we accept Jesus as our Lord, we are grafted into God’s family as sons and daughters of Abraham. One of the scriptures used to establish this principle is this:
Now if the first handful of dough offered as the firstfruits [Abraham and the patriarchs] is consecrated (holy), so is the whole mass [the nation of Israel]; and if the root [Abraham] is consecrated (holy), so are the branches. But if some of the branches were broken off, while you, a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among them to share the richness [of the root and sap] of the olive tree, Do not boast over the branches and pride yourself at their expense. If you do boast and feel superior, remember it is not you that support the root, but the root [that supports] you. (Romans 11:16-18 AMPC)
Some “branches” of Abraham have been cut off. We should not boast in this or feel superior. We should not persecute them in any way. We do not “support” the root, it is from the root (Abraham) that we find out about God an get our understanding, spiritual nourishment.
If we continue reading we see why these branches were broken off.
You will say then, 'Branches were broken (pruned) off so that I might be grafted in,' That is true. But they were broken (pruned) off because of their unbelief (their lack of real faith), and you are established through faith [because you do believe]. So do not become proud and conceited, but rather stand in awe and be reverently afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches [because of unbelief], neither will He spare you [if you are guilty of the same offense]. (Romans 11:19-21 AMPC)
Know and understand that it is [really] the people [who live] by faith who are [the true] sons of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7 AMPC)
It is through our faith in Jesus that Christians are grafted as a “branch” of the tree which is Abraham. We share in the goodness that started with him: the righteousness that comes through our faith in Jesus.
Abraham was righteous through his faith in God. The word righteous means “right standing.” When we have a right standing with God we can be in a relationship with Him, just like Abraham! We must always remember that just as some were cut off because of their lack of faith, we can also be removed from God’s family if we fail to trust in, and rely on Jesus.
Because Jesus and the disciples came from Israel, for many years I believed that I owed Israel a debt and needed to bless them to receive God’s blessing. One particular scripture was often quoted to support this.
And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you... (Genesis 12:3 AKJV)
If you look at only this part of the scripture, it seems to say that God will bless anyone who blesses Israel. This isn’t even the entire third verse in Genesis! We need to put this verse into context to see what it is talking about.
Now the LORD had said to Abram, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you: 2And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing: 3And I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you: and in you shall all families of the Earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3 AKJV)
God would eventually change Abram’s name to Abraham. When God called Abraham, he was sent out into the world and protected by God. The blessing and cursing is about Abraham because God was establishing him.
This scripture is not about Israel. The nation of Israel wouldn’t be established for hundreds of years. The other half of verse three shows that there is a blessing for all the families or nations of the world. Later, God tells Abraham how this blessing would come to pass.
And in your Seed [Christ] shall all the nations of the Earth be blessed and [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice. (Genesis 22:18 AMPC)
The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say “and to seeds,” meaning many people, but “and to your seed,” meaning one person, who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16 NIV)
The blessing that will come upon people is through Jesus. Our faith in Him brings us into God’s family as His children. Giving money to Israel will not bring a blessing to you. In fact, it may do the opposite. It may bring an attack on your finances.
The Old Testament is full of stories about times when God’s people rebelled against His ways and were handed over to their enemies. In Matthew 23, Jesus prophesied that Israel would be destroyed because they rejected Him. Then He says this:
Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on Earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. (Matthew 23:34-38 ESV)
Israel killed God’s Son and many of Jesus’ disciples when they tried to bring the Gospel to Israel. The nation of Israel is still in rebellion against God because they still consider Jesus to be a false prophet or a myth.
The prophecies of destruction that Jesus declared before these verses also came true. The temple was destroyed and so was Israel as they were scattered across the nations for thousands of years: the house (country) of Israel was empty for a long time! Israel still hasn’t turned from this sin, so we should be careful of supporting them until they do.
Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. (2 John 1:9-11 ESV)
The Greek word translated as “give him a greeting” means to wish them well, and encourage them. Israel not only rejected the teachings of Jesus, they crucified Him! If we encourage them, then we taking part of their wickedness or sin! We are not to help them in any way.
Let’s look at another scripture that warns us about supporting those in sin.
Do not be in a hurry in the laying on of hands [giving the sanction of the church too hastily in reinstating expelled offenders or in ordination in questionable cases], nor share or participate in another man’s sins; keep yourself pure. (1 Timothy 5:22 AMPC)
When Paul instructed Timothy, he warned against “sanctioning” any elders who were in sin to quickly. If they hadn’t really turned from their sin, that would be coming into agreement with their sin. If we support those in sin, we are taking part in that sin!
For now, we must not support Israel. If we continue reading in Matthew, Jesus told us when we could support them:
For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:39 ESV)
Until Israel receives the Gospel and welcomes those who come in the name of Jesus, we should not support them. Israel did keep God’s words and through them, we can learn about God. Should we financially support them because of this?
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV)
Most of us don’t read the original Hebrew text of the Old Testament. Israel isn’t giving those texts to us. They were captured many years ago by Christians. Understanding the Bible only happens with help from the Holy Spirit. He is our Teacher. Israel hasn’t received the Holy Spirit because they rejected Jesus, so they shouldn’t be teaching us God’s ways anymore.
This is not to say that we cannot and should not support some people. In Matthew 13:52, Jesus tells us that earthly teachers can also help us understand the Bible. Paul instructs the Galatians about spiritual teachers.
Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]. Do not be deceived and deluded and misled; God will not allow Himself to be sneered at (scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by His precepts being set aside.) [He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God.] For whatever a man sows, that and that only is what he will reap. (Galatians 6:6-7 AMPC)
It is clear that some people are equipped to help others learn about God through His Word. We should give to help those who are teaching us about God and His ways.
He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet, because he is a prophet, shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. (Matthew 10:41 AMPC)
We can support those bringing messages from God that line up with His Word. This is where God can bless us.
We should not financially support Israel. This is saying that killing Jesus and the disciples was okay. If you have done this, it may allow an attack on your finances. You will want to confess, repent, and plead the blood over joining Israel in their sin. This is one of the things that may remove hindrances and attacks upon our finances.
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