Chosen People 

Part Five: God’s gifts March 29, 2026 

Last Sunday, we learned that Jesus had to be Jewish to fulfill the covenants, the Law, and the lineage requirements to be the Messiah spoken about in the Old Testament (Luke 1:26–33). Today, I want to show you what God promised Israel in the past, what God is doing with Israel in the present, and what God is going to do with Israel in the future.   

What did God promise Israel in the past? 

• God promised Israel a parcel of land (Genesis 12:1-3; 15:12-21). 

Then the Lord told him, “I am the Lord who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land as your possession.”  But Abram replied, “O Sovereign Lord, how can I be sure that I will actually possess it?”  The Lord told him, “Bring me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”  So Abram presented all these to him and killed them.  Then he cut each animal down the middle and laid the halves side by side; he did not, however, cut the birds in half.  (Genesis 15:7–10 NLT)  

This ritual, called a blood covenant, was used to “seal” the promises made in a land deal.  The parties involved would walk between the slaughtered animals to say, “May this be done to me if I do not keep my oath.”  However, this land agreement was different because only God passed through the animals.   

After the sun went down and darkness fell, Abram saw a smoking firepot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses.  So the Lord made a covenant with Abram that day and said, “I have given this land to your descendants, all the way from the border of Egypt to the great Euphrates River—the land now occupied by the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites, and Jebusites.” (Genesis 15:17–21, NLT)  

God alone passed through the halves of the dead animals, signifying that this covenant was sealed by Him alone.  God bound Himself with an oath (Hebrews 6:13-18; 1 Chronicles 16:14-18; Psalm 105:8-11).   

• God promised Israel that their Messiah would rule over the earth from the throne of David. 

The prophet Nathan told David that his throne would be forever (2 Samuel 7:11-16; 1 Chronicles 17:20-27).  Isaiah also promised that the Messiah would someday rule the earth from the throne of David (Isa. 9:6-7; 11:1-5).  The angel Gabriel told Mary that God’s Son would rule on the throne of David forever (Luke 1:32-33).   

What is God doing with Israel in the present? 

• God has blinded and hardened Israel. 

After centuries of rebellion, culminating in their rejection of their own Messiah (Acts 2:36; 3:13–15), God has blinded much of Israel and hardened their hearts (Romans 9:6–33).  Israel is zealous for God but lacks true knowledge of God.  They attempt to establish their own righteousness by keeping the law, and they reject the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ (Romans 10:1–13, 21).   

“So this is the situation: Most of the people of Israel have not found the favor of God they are looking for so earnestly.  A few have—the ones God has chosen—but the hearts of the rest were hardened.  As the Scriptures say, “God has put them into a deep sleep.  To this day He has shut their eyes so they do not see, and closed their ears so they do not hear.” (Romans 11:7–8, NLT)  

“Did God’s people stumble and fall beyond recovery?  Of course not!  They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles.  But He wanted His own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves.  Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God’s offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share when they finally accept it.”  (Romans 11:11–12, NLT)  

Currently, Israel has experienced a hardening of heart due to their rejection of the Messiah (Romans 11:7).  They stumbled at the truth and have been set aside in God’s plan (Romans 11:16-24).  But the setting aside of Israel is partial and temporary.    

What is God going to do with Israel in the future? 

• God will save Israel. 

“…Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ.  And so all Israel will be saved.  As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness.  And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.”  Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles.  Yet they are still the people He loves because He chose their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  For God’s gifts and His call can never be withdrawn.”  (Romans 11:25–29, NLT)  

The nation of Israel will be saved during the Tribulation.  Then, when Christ returns to the earth, He will rule in Jerusalem on the throne of David during the Millennium and fulfill all the Old Testament prophecies and covenants concerning Israel (Isaiah 9:3–7; 11:1–10; 32:1; Matt. 19:28-30; Luke 1:32–33; Zechariah 8:3)   

Is Israel still God’s chosen people? 

• Yes!   

The nation of Israel has had and will continue to have a special relationship with God (Psalm 132:13-14; 135:4). Israel, in its current state of rebellion, has been temporarily set aside.  But God is faithful.  He will keep all His promises to Israel, for God’s gifts and His call cannot be withdrawn (Romans 11:29). 

Doesn’t the Bible say the church is God’s chosen people? 

• Yes, the Bible also refers to Christians as God’s chosen people. 

When Peter calls Christians a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, he is not saying Christians have replaced Israel (1 Peter 2:9).  He is stating that, like Israel, Christians are chosen by God, missionaries for God, called to be holy by God, and belong to God forever.   

Should you support the nation of Israel? 

• Yes.  You should support the nation of Israel and its people.   

This does not mean you should support Israel when it does wrong.  We should call out injustice whenever we see it.  But we should support Israel’s right to exist, for God has a special plan for His chosen people.   

It is important to remember three truths when you think about Israel: 

1.  The conflict in the Middle East between Israel and its Arab neighbors will continue until Jesus returns. 

2.  God promised to bless those who bless Israel and curse those who curse Israel (Genesis 12:3).   

3.  God is the Righteous Judge.  He will justly judge the nation of Israel.