Monday, May 7, 2012

He Who Blesses Israel is Blessed?

This is a really good summary from Steve regarding a common misconception many Christians world-wide have about Israel,  which has been blinded until the time of the gentiles is fulfilled. Thanks Steve for the accurate and succinct summary...

Steve B
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He Who Blesses Israel is Blessed?

by Steve WohlbergAcross America the line is heard, "He who blesses Israel will be blessed and he who curses Israel will be cursed." This line, supposedly from the Bible, is even quoted as a Divine, behind-the-scenes reason for the present prosperity of the United States. The idea is, America has become the most powerful nation o­n earth because she supports Israel.
First of all, America was en route to becoming a great nation long before she began to support Israel (the nation was reborn in 1948).
Secondly, the line, "He who blesses Israel will be blessed and he who curses Israel will be cursed" is really not in the Bible at all. That oft-repeated phrase is really a misinterpretation of o­ne verse, Genesis 12:3.
In Genesis 12:3, God said to Abraham,
I will bless them that bless you, and curse him that curses you, and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed.
Notice, the direct "bless-curse" line concerned Abraham alone, not Israel, and "all the families of the earth" were to be blessed in Abraham, which meant through "his seed," which was Jesus Christ (see Galatians 3:16). In order to receive that very blessing, individuals must be willing to be "turned away" from their sins by God's grace (see Acts 3:25,26).
In Deuteronomy 28, God said if Israel followed Him she would be "blessed," but if she strayed, she would be "cursed." Throughout the Old Testament, God's blessing or curse upon the Israelites was connected to their faith and obedience to His will. In the Bible, there is NO UNCONDITIONAL BLESSING upon any individual or nation that chooses to reject faith and disobey God. Paul said that "glory, honor, and peace" would come upon "the Jew first, and also the Gentile," if they do what is right, whereas "indignation and wrath" would come "upon every soul of man that doeth evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile … for there is no respecter of persons with God" (Romans 2:8-11).
If Jews respond to God's love, repent of their sins, trust in Jesus Christ as their promised Messiah, and do good, they will be blessed. If they don't, they will be cursed. The same is true for every human being inside Jerusalem, America, Russia, Europe, China, or Japan.
There is no UNCONDITIONAL BLESSING in the Bible upon any man or nation, including America or the modern nation of Israel.
God pleads with us now,
I call heaven and earth to record against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live. Deuteronomy 30:19.


Steve Wohlberg is the Speaker/Director of White Horse Media. With B.A. and M-Div. degrees in Theology, he has been a guest on over 500 radio and television shows, produced numerous TV series, hosted the nationally syndicated radio show World News and the Bible (2004-2006), and has authored 21 books. An international speaker, Steve has conducted Bible seminars in Russia, South Africa, Canada, Pakistan, New Zealand, Australia, and in cities throughout the U.S. 1-800-78-BIBLE.

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