Why should Christians be Friends of Israel?
Because God has made an everlasting covenant with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
"When Abram was ninety-nine years old the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless. And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly'.
"And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
"And I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.'"
Genesis 17:1-8
Because God has demonstrated His faithfulness to this covenant by preserving the Jews as an identifiable people before Him.
"Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for light by day and fixed the order of the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar - the Lord of Hosts is His name: 'If this fixed order departs from before me, says the Lord, then shall the descendants of Israel cease from being a nation before me for ever.'"
"Thus says the Lord: 'If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be explored, then I will cast off all the descendants of Israel for all that they have done', says the Lord."
Jeremiah 31:35-37
Because our salvation has come through the Jewish people
"You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews."
John 4:22
The Bible, which tells of our salvation, was written by Jews. The Messiah, who brought us salvation, came into the world and lived as a Jew.
Because Jews have been shamefully treated during the time of their dispersion, mainly by people who called themselves Christian.
"I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Genesis 12:3
"And I am very angry with the nations that are at ease; for while I was angry but a little they furthered the disaster."
Zechariah 1:15
Because the Jews have been restored to their land in fulfilment of Prophecy.
"But you, o mountains of Israel, shall shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people Israel; for they will soon come home."
Ezekiel 36:8
"For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land."
Ezekiel 36:24
Because the restored Jewish state with Jerusalem as its capital, will be the seat of government of the Messiah at His return.
"…and many peoples shall come, and say, 'Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.' For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
Isaiah 2:3
Because God plans to make Israel a blessing to the Arabs for whom we also pray.
"In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.
"In that day Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth, whom the Lord of Hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed be Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my heritage."
Isaiah 19:23-25
(All quotations are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible).
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