“Israel has no place in reference to Christ’s second coming. The church replaced them.” This minister and I had discussed this subject several times. Replacement Theology, his belief, puts forth the idea that God voided all the promises He made to Israel and transferred them to the church. Ridiculous better describes this idea than just unscriptural. On one particular morning when he came to my office for a meeting, his conversation moved beyond his theology to the level of anti-Semitism or contempt for the Jews. I interrupted and explained the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, the father of the Jews. 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 (Gen 12:3). I pointed out this was an unconditional and eternal covenant. But I caught his attention when I expounded on the word curse appearing twice in the English, but is a translation of two different Hebrew words with a vast difference in meanings.
The first word, one who curses you, means to esteem lightly, to bring contempt, to be trifling or dishonor. Various versions translate it: treats you lightly, dishonors, treat you with contempt, does you wrong, and uses insolent language. Of the words translated curse, this is the least severe. It simply means to say something trifling or to belittle with a negative connotation. We have probably all referred to someone in this manner.
The second word used for God’s curse toward those who even speak negatively about Abraham and his descendants, I will curse, is the strongest possible word. It means to bitterly curse. This word first appears in Genesis 3:14 when God pronounced a curse on Satan (v14) and then on the ground because of Adam’s sin (v17). A curse indicates God’s expression of displeasure through the execution of His righteous judgment. The repercussions vary. God condemned Satan to crawl on his belly; Adam and mankind would eat by painful toil of the land. Later in His covenant with Israel, this word for curse warned of the consequences of disobedience to God’s Law. Their enemies would ravage their crops and eventually resulted in the Assyrians and Babylonians taking them into captivity and removing them from the land. Other ramifications for disobedience would affect their food, their flocks, their children, and in some instances, death.
The Old Testament often places a curse in contrast with a blessing. Deuteronomy 28 and 29 outline the most graphic listing of the blessings and the curses of the Law. The Lord’s greatest desire has been and still is to bless His children, not curse them. He promised He would bless them if they obeyed. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the Lord your God (Deut. 28:2). However, God also admonished Israel that violating the Law would bring a curse and His judgment. As Christians these curses of the Law no longer apply to us because Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us (Gal 3:13). On the other hand, the blessing and curse in the Abrahamic covenant are outside of the Law and remains an everlasting covenant to Abraham and his descendants in relation to all mankind—Jews and Gentiles.
The news for several weeks has featured articles and commentaries about the Jewish nation of Israel. Sadly, individuals and leaders both have expressed negative and contemptuous comments dishonoring Israel. I do not intend this as a political statement, but this truth applies whether an individual or a nation treats the Jews with contempt, they face a bitter curse bringing the judgment of the Lord.
As believers, we should, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. This verse also includes a promise of blessing. May those who love you be secure [prosper NASV]. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels (Psalms 122:6-7 NIV). In His covenant with Abraham, He also promised blessings to those who blessed Abraham and his descendants.
God nowhere abrogated His covenants or promises to Abraham and Israel. The nation of Israel remains a central focus of end time prophecy. Paul illustrated the connection between the Jews and Gentiles in Romans 11:17-24. He compares Israel to an olive tree and the Gentiles to a branch from a wild olive, which God graphed in to share in the promises to Abraham. Paul also includes a warning to the Gentile Church. The Message Bible interprets it the clearest. Some of the tree’s branches [Israel] were pruned and you wild olive shoots [Gentiles] were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to crow over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you (11:17, 18 MSG). As for the minister in the opening paragraph, I watched his ministry fall apart and his family experience heartbreaking troubles. Blessing or curse? You choose.
Sustaining Word for the Week: Don’t forget, Jesus was a Jew, a descendant of Abraham and except for the Gospel of Luke, the New Testaments was written by Jews. Pray for Israel. Bless and honor them with your words.