by Ester yusufu | 12 August 2019 08:46 am08
God’s covenant with Israel is not cancelled, but paused
Some people believe that under the New Covenant, God no longer deals with specific nations or people groups. They often quote Galatians 3:28
“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.”
This verse indeed teaches that in terms of salvation and spiritual identity, all believers are equal before God. However, this does not mean God has abandoned His covenant promises to Israel as a nation. The Bible shows that while salvation is now available to all, God still honors His promises to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:7–8, Romans 11:1–2).
Romans 11:11says:
“Through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.”
God temporarily allowed Israel to be blinded so that salvation could come to the Gentile nations. Their rejection opened the door for the gospel to be preached worldwide. Without that divine interruption, the gospel would have remained a Jewish message.
This shows God’s sovereignty in salvation history. He used Israel’s disobedience to fulfill His larger plan of bringing salvation to all nations (Romans 11:32).
Though the message of salvation was given to all (Matthew 28:19–20), its impact has moved geographically over time:
This movement reflects Acts 1:8
“And you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Like a wave, the grace of God has swept across regions—and now it is preparing to return to its starting point: Israel.
In Jeremiah 33:23–26, God responds to those who claim He has rejected Israel:
“If My covenant is not with day and night… then I will cast away the descendants of Jacob…”
God compares His covenant with Israel to the certainty of day and night. Just as the sun continues to rise and set, His covenant with Israel remains unbroken. The restoration of Israel as a nation in 1948 is a direct fulfillment of this prophecy and many others (Ezekiel 37:21–22, Isaiah 11:11–12).
In Romans 11:17–24, Paul explains that Gentiles were grafted into the spiritual root of Israel, like wild branches grafted onto an olive tree:
“If you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted… into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” (v. 24)
God warns us not to boast, because if He didn’t spare the natural branches, He won’t spare us if we fall into unbelief (v. 21). But He also gives hope that the Jews, once broken off, can and will be grafted back in when they turn back in faith (v. 23).
Paul continues:
“Blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved…”
(Romans 11:25–26)
This doesn’t mean every Jewish person in history will be saved, but that a future generation of Israel will experience a massive national awakening when Jesus returns.
This is confirmed in Zechariah 12:10
“I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced.”
The entire city will mourn and repent—recognizing Jesus, whom they once rejected, as their Lord and Messiah.
Once the full number of Gentiles has received the gospel, grace will return to Israel in full. That shift will mark the final season of redemption and judgment.
Jesus will use Israel as His instrument of judgment during the end times. Revelation 16:16 describes the Battle of Armageddon, which will take place in Israel, after the rapture of the Church.
Despite its small size, Israel remains central in world politics, military tension, and prophecy. This is not random—it is divine. Zechariah 12:3 even prophesies:
“I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples…”
Israel matters because God’s hand is on it, and His plan involves it until the end of the age.
The signs are clear. The window of grace is closing for the Gentile world. Soon, God will turn His full attention back to Israel. The rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17) and the tribulation will follow.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.”
(Isaiah 55:6)
If you haven’t repented, do so today. If you’ve grown lukewarm, return to God with all your heart. Strengthen your walk with Him now—before the days of judgment begin.
God has not forgotten Israel. He has not replaced them. Rather, He has opened a door for all nations to receive salvation—but only for a time. When that time is up, He will fulfill every promise made to Israel, just as Scripture foretold. Be watchful. Be ready.
May the Lord bless you and guide you in these prophetic days.
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