As I write this article, reports are coming in from Israel about more missiles being launched from Iran in retaliation for the massive air strikes by the Israelis. Things are escalating quickly and the United States is considering how to respond. As one Senator was being interviewed, a reference was made to the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12:2-3 where God said to Abraham: “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” The question came up as to whether the blessing applied to those who bless the current government of Israel. The Senator’s answer to that helps explain a policy of allying the U.S. with Israel across the board in conflicts such as the one happening now with Iran.
I would like to focus, however, on the last phrase of the covenant—“all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” There were many empires that overcame Israel, but learned about the One True God through servants of God. The Egyptians learned from Moses and Joseph. The Assyrians learned through Jonah. The Babylonians learned through Daniel. But the biggest blessing to people came through Jesus Christ, whom Matthew 1:1 calls, “the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Jesus was the ultimate fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. All people who believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of God who died on the cross for our sins and rose again after three days receive the blessing of salvation, reconciliation with God and the promise of eternal life with God. On the other hand, those who reject Jesus as the promised Messiah will experience judgment from God for their sins and ultimately their death will bring eternal separation from God.
Whatever happens in the coming days and weeks in the Middle East, we can be confident that God is sovereign and is giving those in Israel and Iran, and the rest of the peoples of the earth, a chance to repent and turn to His Son Jesus and be saved.
