- May 19, 2015
- 125,492
- 28,588
- 73
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Single
- Politics
- US-Libertarian
Upvote
0
Who here has cursed themI'm not sure what this thread is about.
The title says Israel is cursed. The bible also says we are all cursed and have been so since Adam the first man. Jesus breaks this curse when we follow him i believe because all things work for the good of those that love God and following Jesus fulfills the law. I'm not a bible scholar but i do follow its simple meaning. The whole law can be summed up by the meaning of the word love. So i start there. God has many things he has said concerning his people Israel, one of which is that they are his forever and he loves them and we are not to curse them but bless them, and a curse is upon them that curses Israel. This is all i know.
That would appear to be a correct accessmentThe nation of Israel or more properly all those Jews who have rejected Christ Jesus as their Messiah are certainly under a curse and are no longer the Covenental people of God. For 2000 years the Lord has certainly kept a remnant of Israel so that his promises to the Patriarchs can be kept which is why we see the mighty nation of Israel now in existence.
Are they a blessed people, well it does seem that God has given them certain blessings at least so they can survive but in my view they are more cursed than blessed. We will certainly see all of Israel repenting before the Lord and acknowledging that they indeed did murder their Messiah 2000 years ago.
Israel certainly deserves our support but I do not think that we should be praying for Israel as they will only come to repentance after a time of intense persecution.
But more than Abraham (his progeny) wasn't considered in this verse...was it? Isn't it just Abraham that the LORD was addressing and not his progeny? The end of 12.3 doen't say something like 'from generation to generation' nor is it repeated to any of his sons, grandsons, like some of the other promises were (as far as i checked).
Even if it was to be considered to continue to his progeny, doesn't it apply to all the sons of Abraham (Ishmaelites, sons of Keturah) wherever they are, including all the sons who are sons by faith?Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the sons of Abraham. (Gal 3:7)
Genesis 21:12 (KJV)
12 And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
Matt. 23
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
The conjunction "till" makes it clear that they will see Him again once they repent nationally. Here we see that national Israel will repent.
When will Israel repent? When the "time of the gentiles" is fulfilled.
Again, if Israel is cursed forever, as you propose, then why are the gates of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21) named after the 12 tribes of Israel?
The last part of this promise unquestionably refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. But the first part refers to Abraham himself, and through him his natural offspring.Is this blessing tied directly with the nation of Israel, or Jesus Christ? I believe the latter..all the nations have been blessed through the seed of Abraham, that is, the Messiah.
And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’ When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways.” Acts 3:25-26
The last part of this promise unquestionably refers to the Lord Jesus Christ. But the first part refers to Abraham himself, and through him his natural offspring.
Is it about ethnicity though? Are we not called to bless everyone, including our enemies?
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45
This is completely correct, but has zero bearing on the subject at hand. Abraham was told, "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:" (genesis 12:3) The fact that we are to bless all has no bearing on what others do or do not do. So God has promised blessing for those who bless Abraham, and a curse for whoever curses him.