God's promise to Israel endures

In Genesis Chapter 12, God promised Abraham a land of his own, that he would be made into a great nation and that he would be blessed.

Many Christians, however, have been taught this promise is no longer in effect. Most simply lack biblical knowledge regarding the eternal nature of the promise.

Some ask, "Why does it matter if the blessing is still in effect or not?"

Actually it matters a great deal to all of us. If there is evidence that God has kept His word through the covenant to His people Israel, a promise He made 4,000 years ago with Abraham, then we can rest in knowing God is faithful and will keep His covenant with us as well.

As headlines of daily current events verify, the eyes of the world are more and more focused on this tiny nation called Israel. American presidents and world leaders have, one by one, have attempted to "solve" the Middle East dilemma, but all have failed. The focus of the world on this very small strip of land defies all human logic, unless one goes to the ancient writings of the Bible for understanding.

Special guest, Sha'i ben-Tekoa, is a Middle East historian and Torah scholar who recounts that God first spoke to Abraham with a promise that he would father a special nation. Ben-Tekoa believes the promise made to Abraham was fulfilled 500 years later when Moses stood on the east bank of the Jordan river and looked over into the promise land.

The late Rabbi Dr. Gerald Meister was a renowned lecturer in comparative Jewish-Christian theology and served the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel as its adviser on Israel-Christian relations. He points out that God continually proclaimed His promise throughout history and has still not written the last word.

"There are no random acts with God. He does not repent of His promises," Meister states. "Furthermore, Gods' divine instruction, His truthfulness and fidelity can be trusted."

The Creator of the universe, the Lord God of Israel, leaves no room for confusion or ambiguity in regard to the everlasting nature of the promise He made to His people.

In Jeremiah 31:35-36 Yahweh speaks of His everlasting covenant with Israel as a nation: "This is what the Lord says, He who appoints the sun to shine by day, who decrees the moon and stars to shine by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar – the Lord Almighty is His name; 'Only if these decrees vanish from My sight,' declares the Lord, 'will the descendants of Israel ever cease to be a nation before Me.'"

This is the promise that Yahweh made to Israel … expressed in the most powerful and absolute way possible, stating that Israel's remaining a nation forever is just as sure and certain as the universe continuing to function.

Please watch this episode of Focus on Israel to learn more about His promise: