As I watched Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the United Nations this week, I was reminded of just what a strong leader he has been for Israel for over 15 years.

Like him or hate him, he stands up for Israel. Why is that important to me? Because as a Christian my whole spiritual being is indebted to God through His promises to redeem both Jew and Gentile.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.

Romans 1:16 NIV

I love the fact that Netanyahu quotes from the Bible at the start of his speech. This is his nation’s history, it’s our history as Christians.

It is important for Christians to understand that the nation of Israel is important to God. There is no replacement of the Jews by the Gentiles, God has a plan to redeem and restore His children through the death of Christ, just as He did for us. See what the Apostle Paul said about this:

²⁵ I do not want you, believers, to be unaware of this mystery [God’s previously hidden plan]—so that you will not be wise in your own opinion—that a partial hardening has [temporarily] happened to Israel [to last] until the full number of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so [at that time] all Israel [that is, all Jews who have a personal faith in Jesus as Messiah] will be saved; just as it is written [in Scripture]…

Romans 11:25-26

Did you read what I just read? A temporary hardening!!! Wow! Did you see that? For me it couldn’t be any clearer. And it clearly shows that God has not forgotten His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to make a great nation for Himself which came after the Towel of Babel incident in Genesis 11:1-9. With regards to the timing (temporarily), let us not forget that the Bible tell us that 1000 years is like a day to God (2 Peter 3:8, Psalm 90:4).

Jeremiah 29:11 is also a famous verse where God openly states that He has plans and thoughts for peace and wellbeing – for Israel!!

¹⁰ “For thus says the Lord, ‘When seventy years [of exile] have been completed for Babylon, I will visit (inspect) you and keep My good promise to you, to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² Then you will call on Me and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear [your voice] and I will listen to you. ¹³ Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and I will [free you and] gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’

Jeremiah 29:10-14

I personally believe what the Bible says and that God gave the land of Israel and the disputed territories to the Nation of Israel. I therefore also believe that they have a right to the land and to defend themselves against aggressors and threats. I don’t believe that Israel gets everything right (as no nation’s leadership does), but I know that I am called to pray for them and their neighbours, that God’s peace will be able to end conflicts and bring healing and comfort to those who are mourning the loss of loved ones.

I would encourage you to have a watch of the speech if you get the chance.

May God bless you all,

‘But test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.’

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NLT)