Blessing Modern Israel

Blessing Modern Israel

Should Christians Bless the Modern State of Israel Because of Genesis 12?

Many Christians have heard the claim that supporting the modern state of Israel guarantees God’s blessing, based on Genesis 12:3—“I will bless those who bless you.” But is this really what the Bible teaches? This article takes a careful look at that assumption and shows why it oversimplifies both Scripture and history.

We’ll see that Genesis 12 was a promise to Abraham and his descendants, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The New Testament makes clear that true heirs of Abraham are those who trust in Christ, not merely those with ethnic or political ties to Israel (Romans 2, Galatians 3).

We also explore how modern Israel, founded in 1948 as a secular democracy, is not the same as biblical Israel, and its leaders include secular Jews, Muslims, and atheists—something ancient Israel’s prophets would have condemned if it claimed divine mandate while ignoring God’s standards.

The Old Testament itself shows God repeatedly judged Israel’s governments for injustice and idolatry. Simply occupying the land or claiming a covenant identity never exempted them from accountability.

Finally, Romans 11 affirms God still has a purpose for ethnic Israel, but that purpose is rooted in faith, not nationalism. In Christ, there is no longer Jew or Gentile—our ultimate allegiance is to His kingdom, not any earthly nation.

This article will help you understand why blessing Abraham’s offspring doesn’t mean endorsing every action of a modern government—and why the highest blessing you can give the Jewish people is to point them to their Messiah.

The Claim

If you’ve been around evangelical circles for any time, you’ve probably heard this claim:

“God said to Abraham, ‘I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.’ So if we bless Israel as a nation today, God will bless us.”

It sounds simple. But is that actually what Genesis 12 teaches? Let’s take a closer look, because the stakes are high—this verse is often used to justify blind political allegiance, big donations, and even the idea that Christians must automatically endorse all policies of a modern government.

Spoiler: the Bible’s teaching is richer—and more challenging—than bumper-sticker slogans.

The Original Promise in Genesis 12

Here’s what God actually said to Abram (Abraham) in Genesis 12:2–3:

“I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

This is the foundational covenant promise: God chose Abraham and his descendants to become a people who would bring His blessing to the nations.

Notice:

• The promise was made to Abraham personally and to his offspring.

• It involved the creation of a covenant people—Israel in the Old Testament.

• It pointed forward to a blessing for all nations.

This is where many stop reading and start applying it wholesale to the modern state of Israel. That’s a mistake.

Why This Isn’t a Political Blank Check

The promise was to Abraham’s line—not a modern secular government.

The state of Israel was established in 1948, long after these promises were given. It’s a geopolitical entity with secular leadership and a wide variety of beliefs (from Orthodox Judaism to atheism).

What exactly is modern Israel?

Modern Israel is a parliamentary democracy, founded by a United Nations resolution after World War II. While it has a Jewish majority population, its government is not a theocracy and is not run exclusively by religious Jews.

• The Knesset (parliament) includes Arab Muslim representatives, secular Jewish politicians, and others.

• Notable examples:

  • Ayman Odeh – an Arab Muslim who has led the Joint List, the main Arab party.

  • Ahmad Tibi – a Muslim Arab politician and longtime member of the Knesset.

  • Avigdor Lieberman – a secular Jew and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, known for nationalist and non-religious stances.

  • Many leaders in major parties, including Yair Lapid, identify as secular or agnostic.

• This means the modern State of Israel is not a continuation of King David’s throne or an Old Testament theocracy.

What would the Old Testament say about this?Under the Mosaic covenant, leaders who did not follow Yahweh or who led the nation into sin were judged severely. God did not hesitate to depose or destroy governments—even of His own chosen people—when they rebelled against Him:

• Saul lost his kingship for disobedience (1 Samuel 15).

• The Northern Kingdom was obliterated by Assyria for idolatry (2 Kings 17).

• Judah was exiled to Babylon for rejecting God’s covenant (2 Chronicles 36).

This is a crucial point: being ethnically Jewish or occupying the land did not protect ancient Israel from God’s judgment when they were unfaithful. The same principle applies to any nation today.

The New Testament redefines who Abraham’s true descendants are.

Here’s where it gets deeper—and more controversial for some:

Romans 2:28–29:

“For you are not a true Jew just because you were born of Jewish parents or because you have gone through the ceremony of circumcision. No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God...”

Galatians 3:7–9:

“The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.”

Galatians 3:16:

“God gave the promises to Abraham and his child. And notice that the Scripture doesn’t say ‘to his children,’ as if it meant many descendants. Rather, it says ‘to his child’—and that, of course, means Christ.”

And critically:

Galatians 3:28:

“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This verse makes it crystal clear: in Christ, ethnic distinctions no longer define covenant standing. The dividing wall has been broken down. God’s people are now made up of every nation and tribe, united in faith in Jesus.

According to Paul, Abraham’s promises ultimately find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ and all who belong to Him by faith—not simply in ethnic descent or political borders.

Romans 9 reinforces that belonging to ethnic Israel does not automatically make someone part of God’s true people.

Romans 9:6–8:

“Well then, has God failed to fulfill his promise to Israel? No, for not all who are born into the nation of Israel are truly members of God’s people! Being descendants of Abraham doesn’t make them truly Abraham’s children.”

This is a crucial distinction:

• There is a difference between ethnic Israel and the remnant of faith who trust God.

• God’s plan for ethnic Israel isn’t erased (see Romans 11), but covenant membership requires faith in Christ.

Blessing Abraham’s offspring isn’t the same as endorsing any nation’s government.

If you take Genesis 12 as a timeless foreign policy manual, you end up with absurd conclusions:

• You’d have to bless every political action, no matter how unjust.

• You’d have to ignore the prophets who called out Israel’s sins.

• You’d have to pretend Jesus never came and fulfilled the covenant.

Instead, blessing Abraham’s line means:

• Loving the Jewish people as people made in God’s image.

• Opposing antisemitism in all forms.

• Recognizing that salvation came through Israel (John 4:22).

• And above all, pointing to Christ, the true heir of the promises.

Even in the Old Testament, God destroyed Israel’s government when it was corrupt.

Some people imagine that simply being “God’s people” meant permanent protection. But over and over again, the prophets warned that God would tear down Israel’s leadership if they persisted in sin:

• Amos thundered that God hated their assemblies and sacrifices because of injustice (Amos 5:21–24).

• Micah declared that Zion would be plowed like a field (Micah 3:12).

• Jeremiah called out kings, priests, and prophets alike and predicted Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah 7).

Lesson: God has never rubber-stamped governments simply because they claimed a covenant identity. He expects righteousness, justice, and faithfulness.

Romans 11 and God’s plan for ethnic Israel

It’s true: Paul says God is not finished with ethnic Israel:

Romans 11:1–2:

“I ask, then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not!”

Romans 11:25–26:

“Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved...”

This means:

• God still has a future purpose for the Jewish people.

• But that purpose is ultimately fulfilled in their coming to faith in Christ.

• It does not mean the modern state is beyond critique or has a perpetual divine endorsement.

What About Modern Israel?

Should we love and support Jewish people? Yes.

Should we oppose antisemitism? Absolutely.

Should we bless them by pointing them to Jesus? That’s the highest blessing you can give.

Does Genesis 12 mean we must uncritically support every policy of the Israeli government? No. That’s a conflation of biblical covenant promises with modern nationalism.

Remember: Galatians 3:28 teaches that in Christ there is neither Jew nor Gentile—our highest allegiance is to the kingdom of God, not any earthly nation.

Summing It Up: The Clear Picture

When you hear “Bless Israel and God will bless you,” remember:

✅ Genesis 12 is about Abraham and his seed, ultimately fulfilled in Christ.

✅ Romans 2 says true covenant identity is about a transformed heart.

✅ Galatians 3 says all who belong to Christ are Abraham’s offspring.

✅ Galatians 3:28 says there is no longer Jew or Gentile in God’s family.

✅ Romans 9 reminds us ethnic descent alone doesn’t make someone part of God’s people.

✅ Even in the Old Testament, God judged Israel’s leadership for sin and idolatry.

✅ Modern Israel is a secular democracy, not a theocracy or a fulfillment of all prophecies.

✅ Romans 11 affirms God’s continuing plan for ethnic Israel—rooted in faith, not politics.

A Final Encouragement

If you want to bless Abraham’s descendants:

• Love Jewish people sincerely.

• Share the gospel of their Messiah.

• Support justice and peace in the Middle East for all who live there.

• Don’t confuse ancient covenants with modern political endorsements.

That’s a blessing worth giving—and one God Himself will honor.