The God of Israel

Prophesying about his three sons Ham, Shem, and Japheth, Noah pronounced, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant. God shall enlarge Japheth, and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem; and Canaan shall be his servant” (Gen 9:25-27).

The Almighty refers to Himself as “the Lord God of Shem”—not of Ham (Canaan) or of Japheth.

The Lord later refers to Himself as:

• The God of Abraham (Gen 26:24),

• The God of Isaac (Gen 28:13),

• The God of Jacob (Ex 3:6),

• And the God of Israel (Ex 5:1; cf. Deut 29:11-12).

God does not attach Himself by name to any other people in the world.

He is indeed the Lord of hosts and the God of all nations through His act of creation (Isa 54:5), but in personal terms He is the God of Israel (Ex 19:5; Isa 41:8).

God’s entire redemptive history for this world flows through Israel.

Only two chapters of the Bible speak about the creation of heaven and earth. The remaining 929 Old Testament chapters speak about Israel’s history and election.

The first four books of the New Testament are primarily concerned with Israel. The Acts of the Apostles then shows how salvation comes to the nations. The epistles are addressed to the Church of Jews and Gentiles. And then Revelation returns to Israel, which will be restored at the end of days.

Salvation comes from this people through Jesus Christ, “for salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22b).

The Lord chose Israel as the conduit through whom He would redeem the world by His Son Jesus.

The name Israel came from God Himself. He gave it to Jacob while wrestling with him at Jabbok. It’s no coincidence that God’s name appears in it: Israel (El = God), which means “God’s warrior” or, “he contends with God.”

“And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there” (Gen 32:29).

God allowed Himself to be defeated in order to prevail over Jacob. The Lord also allowed His own “defeat” on the Cross in order to achieve the greatest possible victory, prevailing over us. And the God who allowed Himself to be “defeated” by Jacob will not allow Israel’s enemies to prevail over Him.

Yet, just as there is a God of Israel, there is also a “god of this world” (2 Cor 4:4). The kingdoms of the world belong to him (Luke 4:6). He offered them to the Lord Jesus, who refused them. But the Antichrist will accept them.

God is love and truth (1 John 4:8). The devil is a murderer from the beginning and the father of lies. There is no truth in him (John 8:44). No wonder he perverts everything that comes from God. He is intent on changing the truth into a lie, and making a lie appear as truth. He hates Jesus. He hates God’s salvation. He hates Israel, through whom God revealed Himself. And he hates the Church, through which God is working.

All world events have a spiritual backdrop. It is written of Satan, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not” (2 Cor 4:4a). “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1 John 5:19). “According to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph 2:2b).

My brother Thomas said in one of his messages: “Satan wants to replace every truth with a lie: the truth of Israel with Islam, the truth of God with Allah, Creation with evolution, light with darkness, the Bible with the Koran, the temple with the Dome of the Rock, love with boundless hatred. Where in the world is there no anti-Semitism, no envy and hatred of Israel? And, it’s not a matter of political orientation. There are those on the right who are no less anti-Semitic than the left. Where in this world can Jews move freely? Why can’t they feel safe, even in their own country? Why is Israel constantly having to explain and justify itself?”

Since the State of Israel was founded, it has been under constant attack.

Professor Robert Wistrich sums up the state of things with the title of his book, Antisemitism: The Longest Hatred. And Berthold Auerbauch aptly observes: “Even more miraculous than the tenacious preservation of the Jews in history is the preservation and metabolism of Jew-hatred.”

Israel is generally portrayed as the terrorist, while the true terrorists are portrayed as the victims. Israel’s total annihilation is part of the agenda of Islamic terrorism, with an Islamic state to be established in Israel’s place. The world at large hasn’t noticed, becoming a plaything of these influences. Most UN member states consistently vote against the Jewish people, and those who don’t dare to do so publicly, simply abstain.

One German pastor noted in an editorial: “We hold repentant memorial ceremonies for past Holocaust crimes, while at the same time refusing to understand that Jews are again fighting for their very survival, and that an even bigger Holocaust is in the works. God forbid that we become guilty for this people again.”

Hatred of Israel and the Church of Jesus is proof of biblical truth. We see this truth hinted at in Matthew 24:9 or Mark 13:13, where Jesus gives a description to His disciples of the believing remnant of Israel going through the Great Tribulation.

On August 16, 2024, Palestinian Islamic scholar Sheikh Mohammed Qaddura said in an Iranian television interview: “The Palestinians have become more aware, and they understand better that the gun is the only way to liberate Palestine, and that the Israeli enemy must be eliminated from Palestine in its entirety. As I said in the past, after Palestine is liberated, we will not accept that even a single grave of a Jew remain in Palestine so no trace or memory of them remains. Any Hebrew words will be erased, and it will be replaced by Arabic words, and words in the languages of countries that stood with the Palestinians…”

In light of this, Dutch writer Leon de Winter noted: “All of this falls short when you see the video of murdered hostage Eden Yerushalmi. Israeli forces were on the trail of Eden Yerushalmi and five other hostages. But before they could be freed, they were killed in an underground tunnel. When Israeli soldiers found her, Hamas posted a video online in which an emaciated Eden speaks to her family for several minutes, with a look of exhaustion and sadness. Hamas’ implicit message was, ‘We are doing this because you are nothing more than the offspring of swine. We are slaughtering you and enjoying the pain we’re causing. […]’

“I was overcome, aghast, when I saw her speak and realized that she had been slaughtered like a dog not long ago. I am not religious. But Hamas’ ritualistic, triumphant celebration of death and hatred can only be described in religious language: absolute evil.”

If Israel didn’t have any future significance in God’s plan of salvation, it would not be so hated. But its enemies are all guilty of…

Failure to Account for the God of Israel

Psalm 110 draws our attention to this: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (v. 1; Mark 12:36; 2 Sam 23:2).

This “until” is of vital importance. This verse is a clear reference to Jesus’ ascension, as described in Ephesians 1:20. Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father until…

This “until” ends at the Great Tribulation, as described in Revelation. During this time, Jesus’ enemies will be made His footstool. All power and authority have already been given to Him (Eph 1:20-22). All events are part of His plan and are in service of His divine implementation (2 Tim 1:9).

The next verse suggests His return in glory. “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” (Ps 110:2).

Jesus returns to Zion, where His throne will be established. From then on, He will reign as King of kings (cf. Rev 12:5).

The word “Zion” recalls two other New Testament verses: “There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom 11:26b). “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads” (Rev 14:1).

First, Jesus’ first coming and His ascension to heaven are mentioned. Then, His second coming is described, as well as His judgment against God’s enemies. But, what’s missing here? What occurs between Psalm 110:1 and 2?

The Church Age isn’t mentioned, and could not have been: It was a mystery. This shows how accurately the Bible is inspired. Israel is the main theme of the Old Testament, and the Church is discussed later in the New Testament. After God has concluded His dealings with them, the focus returns to Israel.

Psalm 110:3 makes it clear that Israel will convert when He returns: “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.”

Jesus returns like the morning sunrise, bringing a new day. “In the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.”

The people who rejected Him at His first coming, who crucified Him in the prime of life and rejected Him as God for over 2,000 years, will come to meet Him willingly, crying out like Thomas, “My LORD and my God!” (John 20:28b). Or like Nathanael, “Thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel!” (John 1:49b).

Jesus told His people, “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matt 23:39). And Paul explained that “blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom 11:25b-26).

God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (Rom 11:29).

The Return of the God of Israel

We may forget promises that we make, even to ourselves. But God doesn’t. I’d like to remind you of three examples.

The first is found in Jeremiah 30:1-7: “The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. And these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

God determines the story in advance: “Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book” (v. 2). What things are certain?

• It is written (v. 2).

• Fortunes will be reversed (v. 3).

• They will be brought back into the land (v. 3).

• Initially, there will not be peace (as we see today; v. 5).

• There must be a period of labor pains (v. 6).

• They will be delivered (v. 7).

What will the path look like?

“The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he hath done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it” (Jer 30:24). Israel didn’t understand this for 2,000 years, but then the final goal is described: “At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people” (Jer 31:1).

Here we see the divine rule of three to reach this goal: “Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword”—Israel from the Holocaust—“found grace in the wilderness”—the settlement and resettlement of the land—“even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest” (Jer 31:2). As Hebrews 4:9 says, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.”

I’d like to add the following comment here: Israel’s spiritual restoration follows its physical restoration in the land. The prophecies, Jesus’ end-time discourse on the Mount of Olives, and Revelation’s progression all refer to a people who have returned to the land of their forefathers. For example, when Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives, there must be a people there. The last days can only happen if Israel exists once more. A large portion of Revelation refers to this land and people, as does Jesus’ end-time discourse in the Gospels. The Lord will return in the same way that He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:11). His return mirrors His departure. The Bible tells us that Israel will first be led back to the land of their fathers in unbelief, and later come to believe (cf. also Ezek 36:24ff.; Ezek 37). The people return in their old nature and spirit. They have to pass through a time of judgment. They are then converted and receive the Spirit of life.

The reason this happens is God’s steadfast love: “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (Jer 31:3). This includes the return to the land.

In Jeremiah 31:22 we read, “How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.” And the New Testament confirms: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).

It’s interesting that the Lord prophetically refers to Israel as a “virgin” twice during the time of her apostasy. This will be Israel’s future condition: “Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry” (Jer 31:4; cf. vv. 13, 21).

Israel is still resisting, but in the end, it will surrender to Him. I believe that this is when Revelation 19:7-8 will be fulfilled: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”

This is also the fulfillment of Isaiah 61:10: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”

A different word applies to the Church: “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11).

A second example is found in the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus’ first and second comings are accompanied by the same praise. It says of His first coming, “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest” (Matt 21:9). And regarding His second coming, Jesus says, “For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord” (Matt 23:39).

The third example is an interesting parallel to the Old Testament. Psalm 24 foreshadows the two comings of the Lord Jesus. We read of the first, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle” (Ps 24:7-8). He fought the battle on the Cross and won. Then we read of His second coming, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory” (Ps 24:9-10). Here He is described as the Lord of hosts, because that is how Jesus will return: “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean” (Rev 19:14).

I’d like to conclude this reflection with a quote from Horst Afflerbach: “God creates history, directs it, and acts within it. To do so, He uses various people, powers, and destinies.”