Understanding Israel

One Name, Many Meanings

Prologue: Before reading this blog please read my previous blog on “Nations and Nation-States”.

This helps inform more clarified thinking as we move forward. Many will jump to conclusions before reading what is a fairly long topic. Please don’t.

If you don’t like what you read, take time to consider it theologically. This is a long blog post, nearly 5000 words. I was tempted to post a TOO LONG DIDN'T READ TDLR summary at the beginning but I think this topic deserves a bit of time and patience.

To my Messianic Jewish and Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters in Christ.

I feel like I might upset you both, I truly value your place in the body of Christ and believe that Christ himself tears down the walls between us. I don’t unpackage my personal experiences or injustices that have been committed in this blog. I firstly address my understanding of what our Holy Scriptures teach. Please be patient with me and assume the best about my intentions for your communities despite differences.

Additional note, I may add to and develop this blog rather than add new blogs for clarity or additional support. I reserve this right.

Now down to it.

Speaking about Israel

I have always unfortunately been wary of speaking too loudly about Israel. I live in the Middle East and tensions, cultural conflict, religion and history here are held far more emotionally than even the west where this discussion also incites significant response.

In this blog I wish to navigate a topic I think far too many treat too simplistically, a topic many treat too politically rather than historically, theologically and covenantally.

This blog is primarily theological and historical not aimed at making Political preference arguments or justifications for Political decisions. I will address the pragmatics in a later blog at some point.

The theology, for me is the first thing we must get correct.

It is a topic where the two broad positions I feel simply dismiss the other rather than walk in some tensions and even some questions. At parts in this blog I will acknowledge I have questions that are still unanswered and ask some questions I think many are unwilling to normally even consider because it would make something so clear in their mind a little more difficult. This blog is not the last word by any means however I do hope it leads each person to consider their positions even with a little nuance and care.

Our theology, whatever it is, should be handled with pastoral consideration when we bring truth to bear in the lives of people. Often people need time to process, even grieve loss.

With all that said, lets dive in.

ISRAEL

"Israel" is a word that carries weight — theologically, historically, and politically. It's a name that means different things to different people, and even in Scripture, it carries multiple layers of meaning.

As followers of Jesus, we need to engage these layers with biblical wisdom, pastoral sensitivity, and moral clarity.

There are atleast five or six ‘Israel’s’ we can speak of and whilst they most certainly have overlaps and connection they are not the same and we must treat language with wise stewardship.

1. Israel – The Person

2. Israel – The people

3. Israel – The land

4. Israel – The Northern Kingdom

5. Israel - of faith – Jew and Gentile united in Christ, grafted in.

6. Israel – the Modern state – made up of Arab, Jewish, Atheists, Druze, Christian citizens.

Let’s take a step back and ask: What does “Israel” mean, in Scripture, in history, and in our modern world? 

More importantly, how should we, as Christians, understand and relate to these different Israels?

A note, I won’t specifically address the Northern Kingdom. It existed, it was separate from Judah in terms of rulership, but joined in God’s promises to it’s people. 

1. Israel – The Person

The Story Begins

The first "Israel" is a man, Jacob, whose name is changed after an encounter with God.

“Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Genesis 32:28 (NIV)

In Genesis 35:10. God said to him, ‘Your name is Jacob, but you will no longer be called Jacob; your name will be Israel.’ So he named him Israel.”

From this moment, "Israel" becomes more than just a name, it’s a symbol of wrestling, covenant, and transformation.

The story of Israel begins not with a nation-state or a people group, but with one man and his encounter with God.

2. Israel – The People

Covenant, call and the Messiah

The twelve sons of Jacob become the twelve tribes of Israel. They are chosen not because of their size, strength, or morality, but because of God’s promise, purposes and love.

“The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples... not because you were more numerous... but because the Lord loved you.”  Deuteronomy 7:6–8 (NIV)

Israel, the physical descendants of Jacob / Israel (Romans 9:3–5) were chosen for a purpose.

• Firstly: to bring the Messiah into the world (Romans 9:5).

  
  

• Secondarily: to be “a light to the nations” (Isaiah 49:6) showing God's justice and mercy.

Paul unpackages this powerfully in Romans 9:2 – 5, which people should realise is not primarily about individual election to salvation but God’s choice of his people.

“I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.” Romans 9:2 – 5

UNCONDITIONAL AND CONDITIONAL

Note a couple key points relevant to this discussion.

Romans 9 is about how God chooses his people. 

Firstly, he chose a people of the flesh, through the forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Rom 9:10 – 13, Genesis, 28:13 – 15, Deut 7:6 – 8. 2 Kings 13:23, Romans 11:28 – 29).

This people of the flesh, however, were given far more, they were given divine glory, covenants, the law, the temple, they were the vessel through which Messiah would come.

Corporate language is important in scripture and often Western Christians in particular make the mistake of reading corporate language individually.

“…in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls—she was told, (in Gen 25:23) “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Romans 9:13

Many are quick to misplace this election as individual election to salvation but that is not what is being referenced.

Paul is talking about Israel, how do we know this? Because God specifically told us so.

God makes this clear in Genesis 25:23

“The Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” Gen 25:23

God had sovereignly chosen the people of Israel in the loins of Israel, in the same way ‘the Church’ (Jew and Gentile united’) is chosen “in Christ” (Eph 1:4)

In context of the Church of Rome at the time, the pastoral issue pushing this was the expulsion of Jews from Rome and their later return causing all sorts of questions from the Jews regarding their place in God’s plan and the Gentiles in terms of how they were to relate to the Jewish people.

I will write a fuller blog on Romans sometime as I believe it is often view narrowly through a western individualist perspective and that leads to seriously problematic conclusions.

The short answer for both Jew and Gentiles alike was an attitude of humility.

For the Gentiles, Paul uses this imagery.

“Do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches... You do not support the root, but the root supports you.” Romans 11:18 (NIV)

Unfortunately, the Gentile part of the Church of Christ has not only ignored its Jewish roots but often acted in terribly destructive ways toward it cutting off it own supply of goodness from the roots, creating a faith that lacks the depth and richness it is supposed to have.

However, a wake-up call is also given to the Jewish people in the Church of Rome.

Paul says,

“It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”[b] 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” Romans 9:2 – 8

This would have been shocking to many reading, who had assumed that the promises of God given to Israel, the people would be applied to them personally without condition.

Before even moving on, it is important to note God, throughout the Old Covenant gave promise after promise with one constant condition, faith, evidenced through their obedience.

God, in Deuteronomy 6 outlines his central confession and conditions that ensured one would walk into the promises.

This promise of deliverance was given to the community of Israel.

God would fulfill his promise to his people.

However, the individual would have to walk in the conditions of the promise, otherwise they would walk in the punishment ascribed to those who rejected his sovereignty, rule and reign.

I want you to imagine, a young man, let’s call him Joab, from the tribe of Levi.

He hears these promises, he is excited for them, even strives for a period to walk in them but later, he forsakes the worship of Yahweh.

Israel is at the foot of Sinai.

“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” Exodus 19:5

A holy nation, a kingdom of Priests (1 Peter 2:9)

“So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the Lord had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.” Exodus 19:7– 8

They were to consecrate themselves, to be ready to receive not only the law itself, but more importantly the presence of God as husband to Israel.

Exodus 20 continues with what many scholars consider the Ketubah, the marriage ceremony.

Now, I want you to see in these passages two emerging realities, which should inform our understanding of Salvation theology in general.

1. God has an unconditional covenant with Jacob / Israel, the corporate entity.

HOWEVER, that covenant is not applied unconditionally to those within.

2. The Covenant with all it’s promises only has effect for those who choose to participate in it.

“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” Exodus 32:1

However, God obviously sees this.

“I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” Exodus 32:9

God in this moment actually expresses his willingness to destroy all of Israel except Moses as the vessel of his promise.

In Exodus 32:25 – 28 God brings judgement, causing the death of 3000 people (more about that later)

This reality of necessary faith in all of God’s covenants is crucial.

Not only did the person descended from Abraham need to remain faithful to the covenant to receive the blessing but foreigners could actually become Israel (of the flesh ultimately) through faithfulness to the covenant given to Israel. (Deut 23:7–8)

The descendants of this person would be considered to have joined Israel, even if not originally of the flesh.

As a wider note, this also makes DNA disputes surrounding Israel and Jewish identity redundant for the believer in the scriptures.

God would fulfill his promise to Israel, even if it meant destroying all of unfaithful Israel.

Those who had heard the covenant and promise, to whom it was spoken, three thousand of them were now lying dead. Joab, our earlier friend, dead by the hand of God.

Why?

Because God is faithful to his word, he is not faithful to those who reject him for other gods. 

God would deliver Israel into the promise land even if it meant destroying all Israel except Moses.

For this very reason, Paul makes it clear

“Not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.” Romans 9:6 (NIV)

There is a deeper "Israel", one not defined by ethnicity or lineage, but by faith. This leads us to a crucial distinction.

This Israel has always existed, and those from outside of it could ALWAYS join by faith in God’s good covenant.

Paul’s conclusion of Romans 9 is not unconditional election of individuals without consideration but rather his unconditional election of Jesus, and we enter through the condition of faith, not works. (Eph 2:8-10)

“What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone (Jesus).” Romans 9:30 – 32

This leads us to the Israel that is Israel, those of faith.

“Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, ‘It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.’ In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring.” Romans 9:7–8 (NIV)

So, Paul defines the true heirs of Abraham, not primarily as biological descendants but as those who receive the promise through faith.

3. Israel - of Faith

Jews and Gentiles united in Christ

This ecclesia, community or nation is an extension of, not replacement of the Old Ecclesia of faith. In the Old Covenant, a foreigner could already join Israel through faith in the Covenant (Deut 23:7–8), in the New Covenant, the same remains (Eph 1:13).

This is not departure, rather a continuation of God’s good promises.

In Matt 16:18, Jesus says,

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (contextually his confession) I will build my church (Ecclesia), and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

This word is used of Israel gathered in faith in Deuteronomy 18:16 (helpful switched reference) in the Greek Septuagint.

“For this is what you asked of the Lord your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly ( ἐκκλησία // Ekklēsia) when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the Lord our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” Duet 18:16

“If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29 (NIV)

The promise?

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you... and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:2–3 (NIV

This is the foundational promise, often referred to as the Abrahamic covenant and it’s reaffirmed and expanded in

Genesis 15:5–6, the promise of numerous descendants

Genesis 17:4–8, a covenant of land and nations

Genesis 22:17–18, blessing to all nations through Abraham’s offspring

Paul reads this promise theologically and Christologically, seeing its fulfilment not through the Law, but through faith in Christ, who is the true seed (Gal 3:16).

Jesus is the seed

“The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say ‘and to seeds,’ meaning many people, but ‘and to your seed,’ meaning one person, who is Christ.” Galatians 3:16 (NIV)

“He redeemed us... so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” Galatians 3:14

The promise brings inclusion in God’s covenant people.

Through faith in Christ we receive the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:13), being justified by faith (Gal 3:6–9) and share in the life of Christ (Heb 3:14)

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” 1 Corinthians 12:13

This does not erase God's love for the Jewish people. It adds to the covenant story by showing that in Christ, the Gentiles are grafted in to the olive tree of Israel (Romans 11:17–24).

This "Israel of faith" is not about replacing Jews, it’s about fulfilling the promise that through Abraham’s seed all nations would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). Together with Jews of faith in Messiah, Gentiles who place their faith in Jesus are now “Abraham’s seed” (Galatians 3:29), “fellow citizens with God’s people” (Ephesians 2:19), and “the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:3).

It is consistent with the prophetic line of the OT (e.g. Isaiah 56, Zechariah 2:11), the inclusion of Gentiles into God’s people, but not only alongside God’s people, but into the identity of God’s covenant community.

In the midst of all of this, Paul mourns for his fellow Jews who do not yet recognise Jesus as Messiah (Romans 9:2–3), and he holds hope for their salvation.

“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.” Romans 11:25–26 (NIV)

Importantly, we must consider that God retains his promises for Israel of the flesh as promises for his own words sake and his own purposes as connected to but different from the salvific promises of those of faith. 

4. Israel – The Land

Gift, Identity, and Symbol

It is most accurate to speak of “The Land of Israel, the people. (Hebrew: אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל, Éretz Yisra'él.

As noted earlier, Israel exists without the land, it is primarily a people.

From the time of Abraham, the land of Canaan was promised as a gift.

“To your offspring I will give this land.” — Genesis 12:7 (NIV)

 “On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, ‘To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.’” Genesis 15:18

 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries...’ Numbers 34:2

Ezekiel 47:13-23 lays out borders and the future allocation of land to the tribes of Israel.

The land matters, not just as real estate, but as a sign of God’s covenant. It was to be a place of holiness, justice, and dependence on God. However, Scripture is also clear, possession of the land was conditional on obedience (see Deuteronomy 28).

Even in exile, the land remained part of the promise:

“I will bring them back to this land I gave their ancestors.” Jeremiah 16:15 (NIV)

All covenants are based on God’s mercy and grace but each has conditions.

“Just as it pleased the Lord to make you prosper... so it will please him to ruin and destroy you. You will be uprooted... and scattered among all nations.” Deuteronomy 28:63–64

“I will scatter you among the nations... your land will be laid waste.” Leviticus 26:33

Note, even here there is a constant hope of restoration.

“I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land.” Leviticus 26:42

Again, to Abraham,

"The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” Gen 17:8

Now, to slow this down, I don’t think many Westerners ever understand the attachment to land. Only now are we trying to understand such with indigenous people.

Only now are we truly trying to understand what this may mean for both Jews and non-Jews in the land who feel dislocated from that which defines them (more on this later).

With the destruction of the Temple, the scattering of the people of Israel, the Jews, sent many earlier Christian teachers into a place whereby they often concluded the disconnect must be final and unconditional.

An extreme I believe is more informed by context and culture rather than the scriptures with both the sense of unconditional choice (corporately) and conditional participation (individually)

I have even attempted on one level or another to read the texts that promise a return of Israel, the people, to the land as more metaphorical, yet I don’t believe that the scriptures give us that option. Spiritualising these texts entirely, without considering their context and intent is a slippery slope in terrible hermeneutics. I do believe that the prophetic often has dual fulfilment, but the fulfilment remains.

5. Israel - the modern Nation-State

A Political and Diverse Reality

Even if one does acknowledge the prophetic return of the people of Israel (the Jews) to the land, and the right of a modern state to exist, even if one strongly believes that the State of Israel is a vastly better political entity to alternatives, this does not mean every political or military claim to the land is automatically endorsed by God.

If we do not support what God supports (godly action) and condemn what God condemns (ungodly action) we have crossed into idolatry.

God is faithful to his word, not to unfaithful adulterous people.

“The Lord detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.” — Proverbs 20:23

Prophetic critique of Israel’s injustice fills the Old Testament, and we must not ignore it today and I will get to that.

The modern State of Israel, established in 1948, is a democratic, political entity with a complex population, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, and others.

Many who make political arguments, argue that constitutionally Jews and non-Jews alike have the same rights under the Israeli constitution, they are together Israeli Citizens. The application of this is another matter, however such is often argued.

This is important Theologically.

Biblical Israel did not include unbelieving foreigners that dwelt among them, even though they were given certain rights and responsibilities.

A foreigner could ultimately join Israel but only through participation in the covenant, such may take generations (Deut 23:7–8)

While many Christians see its establishment as a fulfilment of prophecy, we must be careful not to equate the modern Nation-State of Israel wholesale with biblical Israel entirely.

Some casually refer to both Ancient Israelites and Modern Israelis in the same breath, even arguing that the word in Hebrew in modern terms is entirely interchangeable.

However, the simple fact is the conditions of inclusion in the modern state to be an “Israeli Citizen” and to be a citizen of Ethnic Jewish / Israelite people as an ancient covenant people are not the same.

One can be an Arab Druze or Muslim and be a citizen of Israel, they are Israeli. If this person is not descended from Jacob, this person is not part of the Biblical people of Israel.

Herein, lies a real tension as well.

It is nearly certain many Christians who embrace the identity of Palestinian can find their lineage back to the earliest Jewish believers in Messiah in the region. Many are physical descendants of Jacob, not just spiritually grafted in Gentiles.

They are, to use Messianic Jewish terminology, fulfilled Jews, even if they do not embrace such an ethnic identity. Their father is Jacob as well.

This is important, Israel will continue, as will all ethnic peoples of the world in some regard into eternity (Rev 7:9-12). The Secular state of Israel, with the Knesset, inclusion of unbelievers will not, it will have an end date.

The Nation-State and Nation (people) are connected but not the same.

I believe God still has purposes for ethnic Israel. I believe that the preservation of the Jewish people is a profound act of God’s faithfulness. However, we should not blindly support any and every action of a secular government. As Christians, we are called to speak truth and justice, not blind nationalism.

God has called us not as agents of restoration of Kingdoms of this earth, but rather the declaration, the demonstration of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus’ very disciples were confronted with this, because of the injustice of Roman İmperial rule

“Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8

Whatever your position, it is the Father’s role, in his authority to do as he wills in regard to any restoration of “the Kingdom to Israel”, ours is the declaration and demonstration of the Kingdom of Heaven (John 18:36)

God's Ongoing Purposes for Israel

Mystery and Mercy

In considering this topic, Romans 11 stands as a critical chapter.

Paul makes three things clear:

1. Israel has stumbled, but not beyond recovery (Romans 11:11).

2. Gentile believers should not boast over Israel (Romans 11:18).

3. God’s gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).

That means God's plans for the Jewish people are not over.

Yet, this is essential — salvation is only through Jesus. No one, Jew or Gentile is saved apart from faith in Him (Acts 4:12; John 14:6). If you truly want to bless Jewish people, bless them in the way the Gentile was blessed, by introducing them to the Jewish Messiah, the saviour of the world. (Isaiah 43:11, John 4:42)

Conclusion

In a separate blog I will write on Israel and Palestinians in a more subjective and personal regard with consideration of personal experience and history.

However, what do we do with all this?

• We honour Israel as a people chosen by God for a unique purpose, especially as the people through whom Jesus came. Don’t disconnect from the root (Romans 11:18)

  
  

• We affirm that only in Christ is salvation found, for Jew and Gentile alike. (Acts 4:12) Anything other is heresy

  
  

• We recognise that the modern state is not a blank cheque for uncritical support. It is a modern structure with modern issues, strengths and weakness, advantages and abuses. You and I, like the Godly men and women who have gone before must hold those in authority to account, especially those who claim divine right (2 Samuel 12:1–14, 1 Kings 21, Amos 2:6–7, Amos 5:11–15, Isaiah 1:23, Isaiah 10:1–3, Jeremiah 22:1–5, Jeremiah 22:13–19, Micah 3:1–12, Luke 3:19–20, Mark 6:17–20, Matthew 23, Luke 11:37–54)

  
  

• We pray and work for peace and justice in the region, especially for the vulnerable on all sides.

  
  

• We especially love our brothers and sisters in Christ, whether Jew, Arab Palestinian or otherwise. In Christ, there is no division (1 Peter 4:8)

  
  

• We remember that God is faithful and His plan includes a future hope for the Jewish people (Romans 11:25–26).

  
  

• We pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6)

Let’s be people who speak with nuance, not slogans.

People who love the Jewish people, not flatter them, people who keep Jesus, Yeshua, the Jewish Messiah and Lord of all at the centre of the story.