So tell me again what all the Turmoil is about in the Middle East?
Those Who Bless Israel Will Be Blessed, and Those Who Curse Israel Will Be Cursed
In the Book of Genesis, Chapter 12, Verse 1-3, we see what God says about His response to how people treat Israel:
“And I will bless those that bless you and curse the one who curses you. And in you shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
In the Book of Numbers, where the Bible is telling us about the Nation of Israel that God delivers out of bondage in Egypt, it tells us:
“He crouched. He lay down as a lion, and as a great lion. Who shall stir him up? Blessed is he who blesses you, and cursed is he who curses you.”
Although many will point out that this Scripture had its fulfillment in the Old Testament days, it doesn’t seem to have any time-related limitation on it. It doesn’t say, “I will bless those who bless you only until the Messiah comes. . .”, or have any other conditions that would limit the result of actions toward Israel.
Some will object that the promise of blessings applies to nations only, not individuals. To this we respond that our God is a just and faithful God, not giving promises in the Bible and then taking them away through trickery of the meanings of words!
Does this mean that those who bless Israel will become rich, famous, leaders of rock bands and have whiter teeth? Obviously not! Blessings come in many ways. Those who are impoverished in a worldly sense may have blessings in family, good health, and spiritual riches that others find hard to see. What good is it to have vast financial wealth if one does not have the health to enjoy it? And does God promise the blessings in this life only? Not at all! We may not see the full extent of blessings given to us until Jesus returns to judge everyone. In the book of Revelation, Chapter 22, verse 12, Jesus makes a promise. He says:
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.”
Note that orthodox Christianity makes it abundantly clear that salvation is a gift provided by the grace of God, not something that we earn, but Jesus also makes it clear that rewards, after we enter heaven, are dependent on what we did with the talents that God gave us. In fact, in the Bible book of Matthew, Chapter 6, verses 19-20, Jesus encourages us to build our treasures in heaven with these words:
“Do not lay up treasures on earth for yourselves, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up treasures in Heaven for yourselves, where neither moth nor rust corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.”
John 3:16
ANY QUESTIONS?
