Conditional Promises
God always intended to fulfill His promises to ancient Israel, however, the blessings of the Lord were conditional, dependent upon Israel’s faithfulness and obedience to His law. “if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.” “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you” (Deuteronomy 28:1,15). Had the people of Israel been faithful to God, the Land of Promise would have been restored to its glory and beauty (Isaiah 35;1-2).
The Lord promised that even sickness and disease would disappear from among them. “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb sing” (Isaiah 35:5,6; Psalm 103:3).
The Creator will make Israel a land of truth and light. From all nations sincere seekers for truth would travel “the way of holiness” up to Jerusalem to learn of the true God. All those who sincerely seek the truth will find it. And all “the ransomed of the Lord” would eventually “come to Zion” along this highway “with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads” (Isaiah 35:10; 52:1; Joel 3:17).
Israel’s Unfaithfulness
Sadly, Israel proved unfaithful, and accordingly lost the glorious calling that might have been hers, and the promises of the Lord’s covenant (Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Instead of worshiping the Creator, they worshiped idols of stone and wood. This was a state of complete apostasy, corruption and rebellion.
Therefore, the Lord had no choice but to respect their decisions. And the nation was abandoned to the destiny it chose. And it received the curses of the Lord, “Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you…” (Deuteronomy 28:47,48,60).
Consequently, Israel’s enemies conquered them. Their kings were taken into exile with the people (Jeremiah 9:15, 16; 16:13). And finally, the ancient nation of Israel laid in desolation and ruin by the Romans in 70 AD. It boggles the mind how a nation once so blessed by God, should fall so deep in sin as Israel did (1 Kings 9:7–9; Jeremiah 18:15–17; 19:8). This is the malignity of sin (Isaiah 44:18).
God’s Promises to Spiritual Israel
The “kingdom of God” was taken from literal Israel and was “given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof” (Matthew 21:43) which is “spiritual Israel” or the church. God will extend His promises to the church. As individuals all (Jews and Gentiles) may be saved by accepting Christ and get to spend life eternal with Him in Heaven (Romans 11:23, 24).
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26, 29).
Every one regardless of race can be saved through faith in Christ. “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4 also John 1:12, 13; 3:3). God’s grace makes the believers “sons of God” (1 John 3:1), and so “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17), and receivers of grace and of all the family privileges (Galatians 4:6, 7).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
