Being Careful to Bless Israel

People and nations that speak and act inimically towards Israel do so at their peril. The peril derives not necessarily from the possible retribution of the nation or of individual Jewish people; it derives, rather, from the natural consequences attendant to defying the Word of God.

Note the following considerations in this regard:

1.        The Word of God is fundamental inasmuch as all things, including us, exist by the power of the Word of God (which is Jesus Christ).

a.         Deuteronomy 32:46-47a - [H]e [Moses] said to them, “Take to your heart all the words with which I am warning you today, which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life. [All quoted Scripture is from the NASB.]

b.         John 1:1-3 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.

c.         2 Peter 3:5b - It escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water,

2.         The Word of God is alive and active.

a.         Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

b.         1 Thessalonians 2:13 - For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

3.         We benefit from observing the Word of God.

a.         Psalm 1:1-2 - How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.

b.         Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

c.         Joshua 1:8 - This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.

d.         Luke 11:28 - But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

4.         We are harmed when we reject the Word of God.

a.         Numbers 15:31 - Because he has despised the word of the Lord and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt will be on him.

b.         2 Chronicles 36:16 - But they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.

c.         Psalm 107:10-11 - There were those who dwelt in darkness and in the shadow of death, Prisoners in misery and chains, Because they had rebelled against the words of God And spurned the counsel of the Most High.

d.         Isaiah 5:24 - Therefore, as a tongue of fire consumes stubble And dry grass collapses into the flame, So their root will become like rot and their blossom blow away as dust; For they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts And despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

e.         Isaiah 30:12-13 - Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel, “Since you have rejected this word And have put your trust in oppression and guile, and have relied on them, Therefore this iniquity will be to you Like a breach about to fall, A bulge in a high wall, Whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant.”

5.         God wants us to enjoy the blessing associated with believing His Word.

a.         Isaiah 30:18 - Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

b.         Ezekiel 18:32 - “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.”

c.         John 3:17 - For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

d.         1 Timothy 2:3-4 - This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

e.         2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

6.         It was God’s plan to deliver His Word to mankind via people. In accordance with His divine purpose, He selected Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to be the line of persons entrusted with His message:

a.         Romans 3:1-2 - “Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.”

b.         Psalm 147:19-20 - He declares His words to Jacob, His statutes and His ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His ordinances, they have not known them. Praise the Lord!

c.         Romans 9:4 - Who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises.

d.         Deuteronomy 4:8 - Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?

e.         Acts 7:38 - This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness together with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai, and who was with our fathers; and he received living oracles to pass on to you.

7.         As the couriers of the glorious message of God to mankind, Israel was favored by God with a special covering of blessing:

a.         Genesis 12:1-3 records the original promise given by God to Abraham, the father of Israel, then known as Abram:

“Now the Lord said to Abram,

‘Go forth from your country,
And from your relatives
And from your father’s house,
To the land which I will show you;
² And I will make you a great nation,
And I will bless you,
And make your name great;
And so you shall be a blessing;
³ And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.’”

b.         Genesis 17 records God’s reiteration of that promise to Abraham as well as a further promise regarding Abraham’s yet-to-be-born son, Isaac:

¹⁵”Then God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. ¹⁶ I will bless her, and indeed I will give you a son by her. Then I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.’ ¹⁷ Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, ‘Will a child be born to a man one hundred years old? And will Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?’ ¹⁸ And Abraham said to God, ‘Oh that Ishmael might live before You!’ ¹⁹ But God said, ‘No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. ²⁰ As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. ²¹ But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.’”

c.         Genesis 22 records God’s response to Abraham’s willingness to offer his son, Isaac, on an altar to God:

¹⁵”Then the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven, ¹⁶ and said, ‘By Myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this thing and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. ¹⁸ In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.’” 

d.         Genesis 25 records the fact that Isaac had 2 twin sons: Jacob and Esau (vs 24-26). Though Esau was the first to be born (v. 25), Esau sold his birthright to his brother, Jacob (later renamed “Israel” by God—see Genesis 32:38), for a bowl of stew:

²⁹ When Jacob had cooked stew, Esau came in from the field and he was famished; ³⁰ and Esau said to Jacob, “Please let me have a swallow of that red stuff there, for I am famished.” Therefore his name was called Edom. ³¹ But Jacob said, “First sell me your birthright.” ³² Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?” ³³ And Jacob said, “First swear to me”; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴ Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.

e.          Jacob later deceitfully receives from his father, Isaac, the blessing that Isaac had intended to bestow upon his firstborn son, Esau:

¹⁸ Then he came to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” ¹⁹ Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn; I have done as you told me. Get up, please, sit and eat of my game, that you may bless me.” ²⁰ Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have it so quickly, my son?” And he said, “Because the Lord your God caused it to happen to me.” ²¹ Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Please come close, that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not.” ²² So Jacob came close to Isaac his father, and he felt him and said, “The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau.” ²³ He did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like his brother Esau’s hands; so he blessed him. ²⁴ And he said, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he said, “I am.” ²⁵ So he said, “Bring it to me, and I will eat of my son’s game, that I may bless you.” And he brought it to him, and he ate; he also brought him wine and he drank. ²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him, “Please come close and kiss me, my son.” ²⁷ So he came close and kissed him; and when he smelled the smell of his garments, he blessed him and said,

“See, the smell of my son
Is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed;
²⁸ Now may God give you of the dew of heaven,
And of the fatness of the earth,
And an abundance of grain and new wine;
²⁹ May peoples serve you,
And nations bow down to you;
Be master of your brothers,
And may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be those who curse you,
And blessed be those who bless you.” (Genesis 27:18-29)

f.         Balak, a king of Moab, urges a prophet, Balaam, to curse Israel. As Balaam attempts to honor Balak’s request, he instead utters a blessing upon Israel:

² ”And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. ³ He took up his discourse and said …

‘Blessed is everyone who blesses you,
And cursed is everyone who curses you.’” (Numbers 24:2, 9b)

8.         Therefore, considering the power of the Word of God along with the blessings of observing it and the peril of rejecting it, and considering the blessing associated with blessing the people and nation of Israel and the curse associated with curing the people and nation of Israel, it would behoove everyone to (and I hereby accordingly) respond to the people and nation of Israel in accordance with the blessing by which God directed Aaron to convey to the people and nation of Israel:

“The Lord bless you, and keep you;

 The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;

 The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)

Mark Absher
California




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