Hope for Israel

As I read from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke this morning; re-reading the nativity stories of the birth of Jesus, something very powerfully struck me: both Gospels placed emphasis on hope of the salvation of Israel through the birth of Jesus. Matthew's Gospel, which bears many signs that it was written with a very Jewish audience in mind, states very clearly that Jesus' birth and first coming was the fulfilment of many Old Testament prophecies including Isaiah and Jeremiah. Isaiah 7:14 says:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel."

This prophecy is directly quoted in connection to the receiving of the news to Mary from the Angel that she was to give birth to Jesus. Yet even in Luke's Gospel, purposefully written for a Gentile named Theophilus (Luke 1:3), places special emphasis on the salvation of Israel through the reference to two people within the Temple when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to God in Jerusalem. One was a man called Simeon, the other a prophetess called Anna. Through Simeon's declaration of faith, as he was filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus is called the:

"glory to your people Israel."

Whilst Jesus is also described as a light to the Gentiles it was clear to me that Israel is very much a focus within the Gospel narrative of the birth of Jesus. This was a watershed moment within Israel's history - a new epoch had dawned; Israel's messiah was born...and he was the Son of God himself!

There are many within the Church who interpret Jesus' first coming and his death and resurrection purely in Gentile terms. Jesus great commission to his disciples to go forth unto the ends of the earth is seen as the point where God's focus shifted from one nation (Israel) to the world. Indeed many within the Church today are hostile towards Israel and have no thought of taking the Gospel to Jesus' own people.

I do not believe this was God's intention. I do not believe the Church has replaced Israel in God's eyes. I do not believe the Gospel is a totally Gentile affair. While the Bible is clear that God wishes none to perish (2 Peter 3:9) and that Jesus is the Light of the World (my emphasis); nevertheless Ephesians describes the relationship between the Church and Israel as being One New Man (Eph 2:15-16). Ephesians states:

"remember that at that time you were separate from Christ excluded from the citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, (my emphasis) without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility...His purpose was to create in himself one new man out the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross..." (my emphasis)

Israel is still very much in God's heart. God has not foresaken his ancient covenant people. Neither should the Church.

I received an email recently from a Jewish charity with an article about what to pray for when praying for Israel. Here is a summary for those who feel called to pray for modern day Israel (and I encourage everyone to do so)

1. Israel's military - that Jewish believers in Jesus would find favour in the army and glorify God through their actions and decisions
2. Israel's economy - that the government and successive governments would take responsible and wise action regarding welfare pay outs, especially to the orthodox Jewish community and be able to intergrate them successfully into the work force
3. Freedom of Speech - that Jewish believers in Jesus would not be persecuted by Orthodox Jewish groups and be allowed their freedom of expression within Israel.
4. Israeli Government - an end to the corruption within the government
5. Safety - there are mafia like organisations which run human trafficking as well as Sudanese illegal immigrants that are resorting to crime.
6. Morality - there is growing amorality within Israel as future generations are growing up without a Biblical basis for morality
7. Salvation - Romans 11:26 says "All Israel shall be saved." Pray that Israel would know her saviour and messiah.

I encourage all of you reading this to open your heart to Israel, without whom we would not have the Bible or our saviour, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.