What About Israel?

Note:

I’ve been thinking a lot about your question — “Why do we always defend Israel?” — and I want to answer you the way a Pastor ought to: not with quick slogans or half-thought answers, but with love, truth, and the Word of God. So sit back, let me talk plain with you, heart to heart.

God’s Promise — The Beginning of It All

Back in Genesis 12:3, the Lord said to Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you.” That was the start of Israel’s story. God chose that little nation to carry His Word, His promises, and finally to bring forth Jesus, our Savior (Romans 9:4-5). That’s why we honor Israel’s place in God’s plan — not because they are perfect, but because God is faithful.

The New Testament Lens — Who Is Israel Now?

Here’s what sometimes gets lost. Paul tells us in Romans 9:6, “They are not all Israel who are of Israel.” In other words, just being Jewish by birth doesn’t make someone part of God’s covenant family. Today, it’s faith in Jesus that matters.

• A Jewish person who trusts in Christ is God’s child.

• A Gentile (that’s the rest of us) who trusts in Christ is equally God’s child.

• But anyone — Jew or Gentile — who rejects Jesus is outside of that covenant.

  
  

Paul explains it with a picture: Gentiles are like wild branches, grafted into Israel’s olive tree (Romans 11:17). That means we’re one family in Christ, not two.

So blessing Israel today doesn’t mean giving a free pass to everything the modern state does. It means standing with God’s promises, opposing hatred toward Jews, praying for their Salvation, and remembering that through them came our Messiah.

What About Ungodly Actions?

I know what you’re thinking: “But what about when Israel does wrong things?” Here’s the truth — God never blesses sin. Not in Israel. Not in America. Not in my life. Not in yours.

Isaiah 5:20 says, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil.” So if Israel, or America, or any people, commit injustice, we can say so without “cursing Israel.” Speaking truth isn’t cursing — it’s honoring God’s holiness.

The War in Gaza — Seeing Clearly, Loving Deeply

Right now, Israel is fighting Hamas. Hamas committed terrible acts of terror — murder, kidnappings, and hostage-taking. That is sin, plain and simple (Romans 13:3-4). Israel has the right to defend its people. At the same time, thousands of Palestinian civilians are caught in the crossfire, suffering deeply. They are image-bearers of God, too (Genesis 1:27).

So what do we do? We grieve for innocent lives, we pray for peace, and we hold both truths: Israel must be safe, and civilians must not be forgotten. Loving one doesn’t mean hating the other. That’s the balance of the Cross — grace and truth together.

Charlie Kirk — A Life in God’s Hands

Now, let me speak to something else weighing heavily on all our hearts. Charlie Kirk’s passing has shaken many people. Whether folks agreed with him or not, there’s no denying God raised him up for a season, gave him a platform, and used his boldness.

The Lord numbered Charlie’s days before he was born (Psalm 139:16). He called him, used him, and though his life was shorter than we wanted, his impact isn’t finished. God will continue to use the seeds Charlie planted in people’s lives. His death reminds us that no leader, no movement, no man is the anchor of our hope. Only Jesus is.

And that’s the same lesson with Israel. We don’t anchor our hope in a flag or a government or a personality. We anchor it in the Lord who reigns.

So What Does It Mean to Bless Israel?

It means we:

• Thank God for Israel’s role in bringing us the Word and the Messiah.

• Oppose antisemitism in every form.

• Pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6).

• Long for the day when Jewish eyes — and Gentile eyes — are opened to see Jesus as Lord.

• Apply God’s standards equally to all nations, never excusing sin.

  
  

Blessing Israel doesn’t mean blessing every decision their leaders make. It means aligning ourselves with God’s purposes, even as we mourn, even as we wrestle, even as we watch war unfold on the news.

The Anchor for Our Hearts

At the end of it all, here’s what I want you to remember: God’s Word never changes. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

One day, the kingdoms of this world — Israel, America, every nation — will all fade, but God’s children will reign with Him forever (Revelation 21:1-5).

So don’t feel pressured to defend God or excuse sin. Just walk in truth. Speak with love. Stand with grace. And remember, no matter what headlines scream, our God still rules, and His plan is never shaken.

Pastor Terry