Exploring Israel's Identity: Gentiles, Covenant, and Prophecies
The topic of Israel's identity, as defined by God's word, has been a subject of extensive debate and meditation throughout history. People have put forth various theories and interpretations, leading to changing views over time. Does God's Israel solely encompass spiritual Israel, comprising all who embrace Christ as their savior? Does it extend to specific bloodlines, like the present inhabitants of modern-day Israel? Alternatively, is there a different understanding of Israel altogether? In this article, we embark on a journey, delving into relevant Bible verses, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of this important topic.
The story of Israel's formation traces back to their liberation from Egypt, where a diverse multitude of people groups were gathered. Eventually, they settled in the "promised land" known as Israel. However, the unity of the kingdom quickly fractured, giving rise to two separate entities: the northern kingdom, Israel, and the southern kingdom, Judah. Israel, unfortunately, deviated from God's commandments and engaged in idolatrous practices, leading to their complete disregard of the covenant they made with God. Despite repeated warnings, Israel persisted in their defiance, as vividly depicted in Ezekiel 36. Consequently, they were ultimately exiled from the promised land. It is essential to recognize that even Judah harbored their own unfaithfulness, as conveyed in Jeremiah 3:11, where their treachery is contrasted with the comparatively righteous backsliding of Israel.
In order to gain a comprehensive understanding of Israel's identity and God's plan for them, it is imperative to investigate God's prophetic vision concerning their future. These prophecies hold the key to unraveling the mystery surrounding the people of Israel and the divine intentions behind their calling.
Prophesy of Future Israel
Jeremiah 16:14-16
14 "Therefore behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "that it shall no more be said, 'The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,'
15 but, 'The Lord lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands where He had driven them.' For I will bring them back into their land which I gave to their fathers.
16 "Behold, I will send for many fishermen," says the Lord, "and they shall fish them; and afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.
Jeremiah 16 presents a powerful prophetic glimpse into the future of Israel—a nation once delivered from Egypt and now destined for a remarkable restoration. This passage reveals God's divine plan to gather His scattered people from the lands where they were dispersed. No longer will they be known solely for their liberation from Egypt; instead, they will bear witness to a new exodus, one that brings them back into their promised land.
Through the evocative metaphors of fishermen and hunters, Jeremiah portrays the meticulous process by which God will gather His people. The fishermen symbolize the gathering of the righteous—the saints likened to wheat, while the hunters represent the collection of the wicked—the tares to be separated and burned, as explained in Matthew 13.
Ezekiel 37:16-28
16 "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.'
17 Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.
18 "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean by these?'--
19 say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand." '
20 And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
21 Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
24 "David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them.
25 Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children's children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever.
26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
27 My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
28 The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."
Ezekiel 37 unveils a profound depiction of a future event, wherein the scattered people of Israel are destined to be regathered and restored to their promised land. Within this remarkable passage, God's prophecy and promise are clear. Yet, as we delve into its depths, a pressing question emerges: Who exactly comprises Israel in this context? Fortunately, the apostle Paul provides us with a resolute answer to this crucial question in his letter to the Galatians.
Who Are The Offspring of Abraham?
Galatians 3:29
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Hebrews 2:16
16 For surely it is not angels that he (Christ) helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.
Paul clearly states all who truly follow Jesus are esteemed as descendants of Abraham. This remarkable statement establishes an absolute connection between Christ’s followers and the heritage of Abraham. Moreover, Paul unveils intriguing insight regarding genuine followers of Christ, designating them as “heirs according to the promise.” But wait, what promise is Paul referring to? The answer to this question can be found in Ephesians 2, which we will review shortly.
John 8:37-39
37 "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
38 I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."
39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.
Jesus provides us with even greater clarification on the matter of Abraham’s true descendants. His statement reveals that being a son of Abraham is not solely determined by physical bloodline. Instead, it is those who inherit Abraham’s will, the “works” of Abraham, as Hebrews 11 clarifies.
The works of Abraham are required to become an heir according to God’s promise.
Hebrews 11:8-10
8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Hebrews 11:8-10 paints a vivid picture of Abraham's unwavering faith. When called by God, he obeyed without hesitation, embarking on a journey to an unknown destination. Living in the land of promise, he remained a stranger, dwelling in tents alongside his heirs, Isaac and Jacob, who shared in the same promise.
Abraham's remarkable works are also synonymous with his deep faith. His trust in God's word led him to take bold actions, proving the genuineness of his faith. This portrayal of true faith in Abraham's life shows us that faith is not merely a feeling or mere words, but an active and resolute response to God's calling. It is noteworthy to point out that Hebrews states Abraham was also waiting for a city built by God and “shared in the same promise”.
James 2:22-24
22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
The powerful message conveyed in James 2 reveals the harmony between faith and works in Abraham's life. His faith and actions worked in tandem, perfecting his faith. This fulfillment of Scripture is exemplified in the fact that Abraham's belief in God resulted in righteousness being credited to him, earning him the esteemed title of "friend of God." These verses affirm that true justification comes not solely from faith but is also validated and manifested through righteous works.
Abraham's life serves as a powerful testament to the genuine nature of true faith, demonstrated through his actions. Therefore, by combining the words of Christ and the words of Paul, one can clearly see that the only way to be considered the offspring of Abraham is through genuine faith in Christ which is led by the works of right behavior. All of this grants the ability to be grafted into Israel, as we see in Romans 11.
God’s Promise Revealed
Ephesians 2:11-14 & 2:19
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--
12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
The fulfillment of the promise revealed in Ezekiel 37 becomes evident as it declares that God will gather the scattered children of Israel from among the nations, unifying them as one nation in the land of Israel under the rule of a single king.
This momentous event includes the establishment of God's eternal sanctuary among His people. Building upon this prophetic foundation, Paul further spells out the significance of the promise in his letter to the Ephesians. He expounds on the position of Gentile believers, who, through their faith in Christ, become citizens of Israel and members of God's household. They are no longer separate but united in the same promised new covenant, graciously included in the promises given to ancient Israel.
These verses converge on a central theme—the establishment of God's new covenant. This covenant stands as the pinnacle of the multitude of blessings promised at the time of resurrection. Paul, in his writings, continues to shed light on the position of Gentiles within the scope of Israel and the new covenant, elaborating on these profound truths in his letter to the Romans.
Romans 9:6
6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel,
7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, "In Isaac your seed shall be called."
8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.
Again, those who are in Christ are considered the seed of Abraham; and therefore, part of Israel and children of the promised covenant.
Romans 11:13-26
13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree,
18 do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in."
20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.
22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
In a vivid metaphor, Paul draws a parallel between the Gentiles' inclusion of citizenship in God's kingdom in Israel and the grafting of a wild olive branch into the majestic Olive tree representing God's future "holy" kingdom of Israel. Just as a wild branch is incorporated into the cultivated tree, the Gentiles are granted the privilege of being grafted into the rich heritage and promises of Israel.
This grafting symbolizes their newfound participation in the blessings and benefits of God's kingdom. Conversely, those who persist in ungodliness are likened to branches broken off, signifying the consequences of rejecting God's grace and commands and turning away from His covenant. Paul's analogy emphasizes the profound significance of faith in Christ for both bloodlines of Gentiles and Israelites, highlighting the opportunity for inclusion and the importance of remaining steadfast in righteousness.
Scripture seems to present a dual perspective on Israel: a physical connection to the nation of God's true Israel in the past and a spiritual connection in the present. While we share a spiritual link to Israel today, God's clear promise is that His people will be physically gathered from all nations during His Kingdom at His return. This emphasizes that it is not merely a spiritual concept but a tangible reality.
In the latter days, all who are part of the promised covenant will physically enter one of the 12 gates of the kingdom of Israel, following the resurrection. It is essential to recognize that true Israel comprises believers in Christ who genuinely repent of sin and strive to emulate Christ's behavior. This notion separates true Israel from a mere spiritual association and highlights the significance of living a life aligned with Christ's teachings and the commandments of God.
By comprehending the dual nature of Israel—both spiritually connected to the promises and physically gathered into the kingdom—we can better grasp the profound truth of God's covenant and the role of believers in Christ within it. Embracing this understanding empowers us to walk in the footsteps of Christ and fully embrace our identity as part of God's true Israel.
Gentiles After Resurrection Day
In conclusion, let us review an interesting concept regarding the survivors at the day of judgement. If you are in a covenant relationship with the God of Israel and faithfully obey His commands, you become part of the tribes of Israel. Presumably, your belonging to one of the twelve tribes is determined by Jesus Himself after the resurrection. He will decide which tribe you are grafted into, aligning you with the chosen people of God.
This intricate framework of God's plan emphasizes the importance of faith, obedience, and the covenant relationship with Him. By following His guidance and living according to His will, we become part of His chosen people, the tribes of Israel, awaiting His final decision on our specific place within this divine heritage.
As for the future, there will be people who survive the day of judgment and do not experience the first resurrection during the millennial reign. These individuals will be separated based on their actions and beliefs.
Apart from those in covenant with God, these are the Gentiles, representing the nations outside of Israel, during the millennial reign of Christ, who have not entered into this special covenant. They have not yet established a direct relationship with the God of Israel. Here are a few scriptures that highlight this point:
Zechariah 14:16-19
16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain.
18 If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
Isaiah 2:1-4
1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.
3 Many people shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He shall judge between the nations, And rebuke many people; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore.
Isaiah 19:16-25
16 In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the Lord of hosts, which He waves over it.
17 And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the Lord of hosts which He has determined against it.
18 In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the Lord of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction.
19 In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord at its border.
20 And it will be for a sign and for a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of the oppressors, and He will send them a Savior and a Mighty One, and He will deliver them.
21 Then the Lord will be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will know the Lord in that day, and will make sacrifice and offering; yes, they will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.
22 And the Lord will strike Egypt, He will strike and heal it; they will return to the Lord, and He will be entreated by them and heal them.
23 In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will serve with the Assyrians.
24 In that day Israel will be one of three with Egypt and Assyria--a blessing in the midst of the land,
25 whom the Lord of hosts shall bless, saying, "Blessed is Egypt My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance."