Why Israel Still Matters in God's Plan

When someone professes faith in Christ and becomes a Christian, they enter in what the Scriptures calls the New Covenant.  This New Covenant is considered a greater covenant than the Old Covenant or Mosaic Covenant.  The Jewish people related to God through the Old Covenant for thousands of years.  Ultimately, this covenant pointed out one very important truth about life... Mankind naturally turns away from the living God and proves incapable of keeping the righteous demands of a Holy God.  As Biblical history unfolds, we find that Israel quickly abandon God and worshiped the gods of the surrounding nations.  They would have momentary bright spots, but even in those bright spots, the rebellious heart of man was on full display (King David anyone?).  The Law itself pointed out man's inability to keep the law and draws people to see that they need God's mercy.  Summary - Mankind needs a Savior because he sure can't save himself.   This is where Jesus comes in as a mediator of a new and greater covenant.  It is at the cross where God's love and mercy are on full display through the death of Jesus, the Christ.  Three days later God's power over death shook the world as the resurrection of Jesus changed everything.  There is a Savior, and His name is Jesus.  The Church under this New Covenant, but what about Israel?  Some believe that Israel was replaced by the Church as God's covenant people.  That is true to a point.  I say that with a bit of hesitation because I believe Scripture is clear that God is not done with Ethnic Israel.  I say this because of both Romans 11 and Revelation 7.  Let's start with Romans 11:25-27

I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.  And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins."

 Paul calls this a mystery, but it is a mystery that he doesn't want the believers in Rome to forget.  You have to understand that the letter was written because of conflicts between Christians who were ethnic Jews and those who were Gentiles.  Paul makes the argument that we are all sinners, are in need of God's grace through faith in Christ, and have equally become children of God through Christ.  Jewish Christians are not better than Gentile Christians and the same is true the other way as well.  However, Paul makes it clear to Gentile Christians that they were grafted into to Israel as covenant people.  In fact, Paul goes further to address this hardening that Israel has undergone, meaning that they have turned away from Jesus as the Christ and continue to seek after God through the Old Covenant.  Paul cautions the Gentiles about thinking too highly of themselves since Ethnic Israel are the people of the promise, and God is not done with them.  In fact, Paul says that this hardening of Israel will be a reality until the "the full number of the Gentiles has come in".  He follows that up speaking of all Israel being saved.  I think it is best understood as the fullness of Israel will be saved.  The one who will deliver them will be Jesus, the Christ, so their salvation will not be apart from faith in Jesus.  They will not be saved through the Old Covenant, as the Law cannot save anyone, it will come through faith in Christ.  So what happens when the full number of Gentiles come to Christ and are included as God's covenant people?  I believe Revelation 7 helps fill in the blanks for us.  In Revelation 7 after the sixth seal is open, we have two significant things take place.  

Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel. (Revelation 7:3-4)

First, there is the sealing of 144,000 people from the twelve tribes of Israel.  I believe that Revelation is referring to Ethnic Jews who will be sealed to go through the wrath of God as will be with Jesus as redeemed servants of God (Rev. 14).  I do not believe that the 144,000 number is literal, but rather expressing the fullness of Israel coming to Christ.  The second event is a great multitude of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation suddenly appearing before the throne.  I believe this is the fullness of the Gentiles.  Many believe that this multitude of people are those who were witnessed to during the tribulation by the 144,000 and died as a result of their faith in Jesus.  I do not think that is the case.  One, I do not see this or a hint of this in the text.  It makes more sense to me to see this multitude as the fullness of the Gentiles.  God's plan for including the Gentiles is finished and now He is keeping His covenant with Abraham.  There is so much more to this and perhaps I will write about it later.

What matters now is the implication of this reality.  Here it is... God is not finished with Ethnic Israel.  This is why Israel still matters to God and should matter to us.  This is in addition to the respect that Christians should have for the people God chose to make a covenant with and reveal His Son, Jesus, through.  

All throughout history different groups have tried to destroy Israel as a people, yet God has preserved them, and will continue to preserve them until their hardening has passed.  This is why I have respect and even love for Ethnic Israel.  This doesn't mean I agree with them, in fact on the most important issue I disagree greatly.  They (not all but most) reject Jesus, the resurrected Son of God, as the promised Messiah.  Their heart is hard for now, but God will one day open their eyes and they will be redeemed in Christ.  So while we are worlds apart on that issue, I know Ethnic Israel still has a place in God's plan and will have a place in my own heart.