Musing over “bless Israel, and you will be blessed.” What does the Scripture says?

Interesting response I received from Chat GPT and my response to it: 

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The idea that blessing Israel leads to blessings comes from a biblical promise originally given to Abraham. The key verse often referenced is Genesis 12:3, where God says to Abraham:


“*I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.*” (NIV)


This promise was given *specifically to Abraham*, but it extends to his descendants, which later include the nation of Israel. Some interpret this verse as a broader principle that those who support Israel (as Abraham’s descendants) will be blessed. *However, the direct wording of the Bible speaks about blessing Abraham, not specifically Israel as a nation.*


Later in the Bible, similar themes appear in verses like Numbers 24:9, where Balaam speaks about Israel:


“Blessed is everyone who blesses you, and cursed is everyone who curses you.”


This strengthens the idea that blessing Israel (at least in the Old Testament context) brings blessings. However, the broader biblical narrative shifts focus to Christ in the New Testament, where the ultimate fulfillment of the promise to Abraham is seen in Jesus (Galatians 3:8,16).


So, while the Bible explicitly says “*bless Abraham*,” some extend the principle to Israel, and others see it as fulfilled in Christ, meaning blessings come through faith in Him rather than a specific nation.

———-


1. Genesis 12:3 is made specifically to Abraham. Abraham is not only the father of Isaac and Jacob, through whom we have Israel but also those who believe in Christ. We are also children of Abraham because of our faith in God, which brought about the righteousness of God upon us. We are justified (made righteous before God) by faith in Christ cf Romans 5:1

2. ⁠The wrong teacher has turned Christians to condone anything and everything that is done by secular Israel. They have forgotten that there are Judaisers out there to entrap them with everything Jewish as though it is holy to God. God destroyed even the Temple and before it was razed down by the Babylonians, God showed Ezekiel what was happening in the secret chambers in the temple. 

3. Was the destruction of the temple not a form of divine judgement, or was it a blessing from God? Therefore it is absolutely nonsensical to me to interpret Gen 12:3 to say those who bless Israel will be blessed and those who curse Israel will be cursed. With God there is no partiality.

4. ⁠References are made to Balaam’s oracle in Numbers 24:9. The context draws us to a greater truth which is the central theme in the entire Bible: The coming of the Messiah (cf Numbers 24:17-19). 

5. ⁠Although Balaam’s context was the people of Israel, Paul later explained to us that with God, there is no partiality: the ‘children of Abraham’ are not only referring to the modern nation of Israel; but referring specifically to us, Jew or Gentile who, like Abraham are positionally “righteous” before God because we responded to His grace initiative to reach out to us first. Romans 5:8 speaks this very clearly. 

6. ⁠Modern Israel is like any other nations in the world. They are not always right or wrong. We have to understand the context of the Abrahamic covenant, instead of being lied to. 

7. ⁠I pray for the peace of Jerusalem, which has always been the centre of conflict in the Middle East. Hence, I also pray for peace in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, etc, where we have many believers who live there too!

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