God's Purpose for Israel - A study from the Scriptures about the people, the land and the promises of Israel.
MLD & JGM


God's ultimate purpose is to bless the world, to recover the human race from the effects of the fall, and to fill the earth with His glory. This purpose is clearly revealed in His word. Psalm 72:17; Isaiah 11:9; 40:5; Habakkuk 2:14. Universal blessing is guaranteed by Him whose purpose cannot be frustrated. The same certainty applies to the channel for the diffusion of universal blessing. Hence the unconditional election of Abram, and of the nation which sprang from his loins. Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:8-16.

God's purpose for choosing Israel as His peculiar treasure is stated throughout the Bible. Israel was called to be an example and a channel of blessing to the rest of the world. While followers of Jesus were commanded to be His witnesses by carrying the Gospel to the ends of the earth, Israel was to be a witness to God by being obedient in the Land He had given them. Thus all nations would see and understand the blessing that He showers on those who obey Him. The Gentiles would also consider the curse that accompanies disobedience. Exodus 19:5-6; Deuteronomy 28; 29:24-29;I Kings 8:41-43; 9:4-9; 10:24; Isaiah 41:20; 42:6; 43:10-12, 21; 44:8; 60:3; Jeremiah 22:8-9; Zechariah 8:23; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; I Corinthians 10:11.

"The nation of Israel was chosen to be the trustee of the divine self-revelation, culminating in the Messiah."-Max I. Reich, The Messianic Hope of Israel.


  1. ISRAEL'S NATIONAL ELECTION
    1. Definitions
      1. What is meant by the term "Israel?"
        By the term "Israel" we do not mean the Anglo-Saxons; nor do we mean the Christian Church; but simply and exclusively the natural descendants of one man, Jacob, whom God named "Israel." II Kings 17:34.
      2. What is meant by the term "Election?" Election is simply choice, or the act of choosing by voluntary preference to any office or mission. Israel's election is a matter of Divine choice. Isaiah 43:21.

    2. Promises
      1. Given to Abraham. Genesis 12:1-3.
        1. Blessing for Abraham himself.
        2. Blessing on all who bless him.
        3. Blessing through him and through his seed on all nations.

      2. Renewed to Isaac. Genesis 26:3-4.
      3. Confirmed to Jacob. Genesis 28:13-14; 49.

    3. Gift
      In order that this "great and mighty nation" may fulfill its high destiny, Jehovah makes a grant of land to Abraham, secured to him and to his seed by a perpetual covenant (Abrahamic) for an everlasting possession. Genesis 12:7:15:18; 17:7-8.

    4. Designation
      1. Children of Israel. Exodus 2:24-25.
        In the changing of Jacob's name to "Israel," his Sons became "children of Israel" and their descendants "Israelites?" We have now in Jacob's sons, as heads of tribes, a broad foundation laid for the development of the nation, the line no longer being confined to one single family.
      2. A People. Exodus 6:6-8.
        1. Chosen. Deuteronomy 14:2.
        2. Redeemed. Deuteronomy 15:15.
        3. Separated, holy. Leviticus 20:26.
        4. Forever. II Samuel 7:23-24.
        5. God's inheritance. Deuteronomy 4:20-21.

    5. Characteristics of Israel's National Election

      1. Unconditional. Romans 11:29.
        1. Not because they were numerous. Deuteronomy 7:6-8.
        2. Not because they were righteous. Deuteronomy 9:4-6.

      2. Perpetual. Jeremiah 31 :35-37; 33:24-26; Isaiah 66:22.

    6. Reason Why Israel Is Dispossessed
      It may be asked if the covenant confirming the election and mission of Israel be an everlasting covenant, and guaranteeing the land as an everlasting possession, why has the elect nation been dispossessed of the land for so many ages? The answer is plain. The nation was brought under another covenant (Mosaic), a conditional one, at Mount Sinai: obedience to the law then given was made the condition of continued possession. Deuteronomy 5:2-3. The disobedience of the elect nation has interrupted the possession and enjoyment of their inheritance, but has not deprived them of their right to the land as an unconditional gift from God.
    7. Reunion of the Nation
      Before the original purpose of God through Israel in the blessing of all nations can be realized, the scattered tribes of Israel must become one united people and nation in the possession of their ancient inheritance. Ezekiel 37:21-22, 25-28.


  2. THE PROMISES TO THE FATHERS, NEITHER ANNULLED NOR TRANSFERRED, BUT CONFIRMED BY CHRIST

    It has been hastily thought by many devout and intelligent Christians, and even by entire sections of the Christian Church, that the purpose of God to bless the world through Abraham's natural seed has been changed in consequence of Israel's national rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah. They believe that Israel's position is lost, her privileges forfeited, and her mission transferred to the Church, commonly but unscripturally designated a Spiritual Israel - in short, that this so-called spiritual Israel has superseded the national Israel as in instrumentality for blessing the world. Let us see how this looks in the light of the Word of God.
    1. "The promises to the fathers"-What are they? The promises given in the twelfth chapter of Genesis are confirmed by solemn oath after Abraham's obedience to God in offering his son Isaac. Anything instituted by God for a temporary purpose had no oath attached to it, and could thus be set aside or abolished when its purpose had been fulfilled, but anything confirmed by an oath remains unaltered. So then the oath of God added to promise not only strengthens our faith in the fulfillment of His bare word, but also teaches us nothing can be altered or fail that is sworn to.
      For example:
      1. The Oath of God in regard to Abraham. Genesis 22:15-18; Hebrews 6:13-18.
      2. The Oath of God in regard to the Priesthood. Hebrews 7:12, 21.
      3. The Oath of God in regard to David. Psalm 89:35-36, 3-4.

    2. The Seed of Abraham
      1. Christ, "The Messiah" Galatians 3:16.
      2. All Believers in Christ. Galatians 3:29.
        1. Believing Gentiles. Romans 4:8-13.
        2. Believing Jews-Spiritual Israelites. John 1:47; Galatians 6:16; Romans 2:28-29.
      3. Abraham's natural descendants. Isaiah 41:8.

    3. The Transgression of Israel
      1. Unbelief.
        Have not the Jews forfeited the promises by their unbelief? No, certainly not! Romans 3:3-4.
      2. Disobedience.
        Has not the Jews' breaking of the law annulled the promises? Paul answers again. Galatians 3:17-18.

    4. Additional Scriptures
      Romans 15:8-9; Acts 3:25; Romans 9:4.


  3. THE REJECTION OF ISRAEL: ITS CAUSES, CONSEQUENCES, AND DURATION

    1. Meaning of Rejection
      In the study of the Jewish question, it is most important to distinguish between that which is national and temporal on the one hand, and that which is individual and spiritual on the other. The eleventh chapter to the Romans speaks of the Jews as "fallen" and as "cast away," and yet as distinctly states that they are not fallen and are not cast away. These two statements cannot possibly be understood in one and the same sense, or we should have a contradiction from which there would be no escape. The fall and casting away refer to the nation as such; while the statement "God hath not cast away His people" refers to their individual and spiritual interests.
      Romans 11:11-12, 15, 1-2; 9:6; 11:5, 26.
    2. Prophecies of Rejection Deuteronomy 28:15, 62-64; Luke 19: 41-44; 21:20-24.
    3. Causes of Rejection
      1. Idolatry. Deuteronomy 29:24-28; Leviticus 26:1, 30-33; Psalm 78:55-61.
      2. Rejection of Christ. Luke 19:41-44 cf. Luke 1:68-78; Matthew 23:37-39.
      3. Forbidding the Gospel to the Gentiles. Acts 22:21-22; 26:19-21; I Thessalonians 2:14-16.

    4. Consequences of Rejection
      1. To the Jews. Hosea 3:4-5; Matthew 21:43.
        1. No longer in the land.
        2. No longer religious teachers of the world.
        3. No longer in idolatry.

      2. To the Gentiles.
        Partial blessing, as occasioned by their national rejection; in contra-distinction from the universal blessing their national conversion will instrumentally cause. Romans 11:11-12, 15, 25; Ephesians 3:1-11; Colossians 1:24-28; Romans 16:25-26; Acts 10:44-45; 11:1-3, 15-18; 15:2-3, 6,12-14.

        "This is not the dispensation for converting the world, but for gathering the Church. There are four steps in the conversion of the world."1

        1. Some Jews. "Remnant according to..." Romans 11:5.
        2. Some Gentiles. "A people taken out..." Acts 15:14.
        3. The nation of Israel. Romans 11:26.
        4. The nations of the Gentiles. Isaiah 25:7.

    5. Duration of Israel's Rejection

      1. Until the Times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Luke 21:23-24.
      2. Until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. Romans 11:25-27.
        "Until" = not eternally "In part" = not totally
      3. Until the return of the Lord. Isaiah 59:19-21. The Jewish nation as such is shunted to a siding until the times of the Gentiles run out, to allow the express train to pass, stopping here and there to pick up the Church, and then the Jewish nation will take her place on the main line of the Divine plan, stop at all stations and pick up the world.



  4. THE RESTORATION OF ISRAEL, AND THE TIME OF JACOB'S TROUBLE

    1. Certainty of Restoration
      Will the elect nation of Israel ever return to the land of their fathers? Those who deny the future restoration of the nation contend that all the prophecies relating to restoration were fulfilled on the return from Babylon, or that they are to be spiritualized and referred to the Church.

      We will cite predictions of restoration to the land, which were not fulfilled on restoration from Babylon; and we insist that such predictions must be as literally fulfilled as were those relating to relating to restoration from Babylon. We encourage very earnestly the gathering of spiritual lessons from every part of the Word of God, II Timothy 3:16-17. It is one thing to draw spiritual lessons from God's dealings with His elect nation, and quite another to spiritualize or allegorize the terms, which describe that nation and their land. Jeremiah 31:10.

      1. A restoration is predicted as a second one. Isaiah 11:11.
      2. A restoration is predicted "from the four corners of the earth!" Isaiah 11:12.
      3. A restoration is predicted after which there shall never be another dispersion.
        Isaiah 60:21-22; Jeremiah 24:6; Joel 3:20.
      4. The promised land has never yet been possessed in all its promised length and breadth. Exodus 3:8; Genesis 15:18. Israel has possessed only about one-tenth of that which God has promised.
      5. The tribes are to be differently located, and the land differently distributed, from any previous possession of the land. Ezekiel 48.
      6. The Jews are to be restored in unbelief. Ezekiel 36:24-28; 39:25-29; Jeremiah 32:37-41; 33:7-9.

    2. The Time of Jacob's Trouble
      Between national restoration to the land and national blessing we are to have the "Time of Jacob's Trouble." God's heaviest chastisement on the nation of Israel will be administered in the land itself, in the very place where the national sins were committed which caused the national rejection. Ezekiel 20:33-34; 22:18-22; 36:16-38; 37:1-14; Leviticus 26:25; Jeremiah 30:4-7; Isaiah 31:9; Daniel 12:1 of. Revelation 12:7-13; Matthew 24:21.

      God chastises Israel through the instrumentality of Gentiles, II Samuel 7:14; Isaiah 47:6; but chastises the Gentiles Himself, Zechariah 1:15. God blesses the Gentiles through the instrumentality of the Jews, John 4:22; but nationally blesses Israel Himself, Isaiah 45:17.

    3. End of the Tribulation: Zechariah 12:9-13:1; 14:1-5,9.

  5. ISRAEL IN THE MILLENNIAL AGE

    1. Israel's Position

      1. In relation to man-geographical center of the earth. Deuteronomy 32:8-9; Acts 17:24-27; Ezekiel 5:5.
      2. In relation to God-in the midst of Israel. Ezekiel 43:1-7; Isaiah 12:1-6; Joel 2:26-27; Zephaniah 3:14-17.

    2. Israel's Mission-A blessing to all nations Psalm 102:13-16; Isaiah 27:6; Zechariah 8:13, 20-23; 2:11-12; Isaiah 2:1-3; Micah 4:1-4; Psalm 67; Zephaniah 3:19-20.

  6. DAVID'S THRONE OCCUPIED BY DAVID'S SON AND LORD

    1. David's Throne Guaranteed

      1. In Perpetuity. II Samuel 7:11-16; Psalm 89:3-4, 27-37.
      2. In Power and Righteousness. Isaiah 9:6; Jeremiah 23:5-6;

    2. Jesus' Right Proved

      1. Through Joseph. Matthew 1:1-16.
      2. Through Mary. Luke 3:23-38; 1:32-33.

  7. THE TEN "LOST" TRIBES OF ISRAEL

    1. Where They Are Not. They are not the Anglo-Saxons

      1. Numbers 23:9.
      2. Hosea 3:4-5.
      3. Deuteronomy 4:26-27; 28:62-66;
        Jeremiah 30:3-4, 19; Zechariah 8:13.
      4. Genesis 17:10, 14.
      5. Galatians 3:10,13, 28.

    2. Where They Are

      1. Before the Babylonian Captivity.
        Large numbers of the Ten Tribes fell away to Judah. II Chronicles 11:13-17; 15:9; 19:8; 23:2; 30:1,5,10-11,18,25; 31:6.
      2. During the Babylonian Captivity.
        Great numbers mingled with Judah. II Kings 17:24; II Chronicles 33:11; 34:9; 35:17-18.
      3. During the Restoration from Babylon. Persia, Assyria and Babylon were identical, so Israel was as free to return as Judah. II Kings 23:29; Ezra 4:5 cf. 5:13; 4:5 cf. 6:22; 4:7 cf. Nehemiah 13:6; Ezra 2:70; 7:28; 6:16-17; Luke 1:5; 2:36.
      4. During the Present Dispersion.
        At the beginning of the 21st century, Hebrew people, whether from Judah or the ten "lost" tribes of Israel, could be found on every continent and in most countries of the world. The best estimates of Jewish population and distribution today are as follows:

        • WORLD Total: 13,683,800
        • ISRAEL: 4,900,000
        • NORTH AMERICA:
          US: 5,700,000
          Canada: 360,000

        • CENTRAL AMERICA:
          Costa Rica: 2,500
          Guatemala: 1,000
          Mexico: 40,700
          Panama: 5,000
          Puerto Rico: 1,500
          Other: 2,300

        • SOUTH AMERICA:
          Argentina: 200,000
          Brazil: 100,000
          Chili: 21,000
          Colombia: 4,000
          Peru: 2,900
          Uruguay: 23,000
          Venezuela: 19,000
          Other: 5,000

        • WESTERN EUROPE:
          Austria: 9,000
          Belgium: 31,000
          Denmark: 6,500
          Finland: 1,000
          France: 600,000
          Germany: 70,000
          Greece: 4,500
          Italy: 35,000
          Netherlands: 26000
          Norway: 1,200
          Spain: 12,000
          Sweden: 15,000
          Switzerland: 18,000
          UK: 290,000
          Other: 3,000

        • EASTERN EUROPE & BALKANS:
          Belarus: 23,000
          Bulgaria: 3,000
          Czech Republic: 2,400
          Estonia: 2,600
          Hungary: 53,000
          Latvia: 13,000
          Lithuania: 5,000
          Moldova: 8,000
          Poland: 3,500
          Romania: 13,000
          Russia: 350,000
          Slovakia: 3,500
          Turkey: 19,000
          Ukraine: 400,000
          Other: 3,000

        • ASIAN TO IRANIAN AREAS:
          China: 1,000
          CIS republics outside of Russia: 48,000
          India: 4,000
          Iran: 12,500
          Japan: 1,000
          Other: 1,000

        • AFRICA:
          Morocco: 6,000
          South Africa: 94,000
          Tunisia: 1,600
          Other: 2,000

        • OCEANIA:
          Australia: 95,000
          New Zealand: 4,500
          Other: 100


      5. In the Future.
        Ezekiel 37:15-22; Isaiah 11:10-16.

    3. Satan's Errors His purpose is to divert attention from the elect nation destined in the revealed purpose of God to be the channel of blessing to the world.

      1. Thus Satan succeeded in persuading the Christian Church, in early times, that she was a spiritual Israel, to whom all blessings promised to the national Israel exclusively belonged; and that to the literal and national Israel belonged only the curses, literally understood. (Embodied in some Bibles and commentaries, taught from some pulpits.)
      2. A determined struggle is going on to get the Anglo-Saxons to believe that they are the ten "lost" tribes, natural Israel, to whom all the promises are made, and promises only; and then by a hard and arbitrary line drawn between Judah and Israel, as though Jews were not Israelites, to hand over all the curses, and curses only, to the Jews. This is known as British lsraelism.

  8. JEWS IN THE PRESENT DISPENSATION

    1. Whole Nation Not To Be Converted

      1. It is not the revealed purpose of God to convert the world during the present dispensation. Luke 18:8; II Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24; II Thessalonians 1:7-8.
      2. If Israel were converted in the present dispensation, then the Jews would lose their distinctive nationality, and become, with believing Gentiles, members of the Church of Christ in whom there is neither Jew nor Greek. Galatians 3:26-28; Romans 11:5.

    2. Whole World To Be Evangelized
      1. God's Standard: Romans 10:12-13; Mark 16:15.
      2. God's Pattern:

        1. In The Past.
          1. The Lord Jesus Himself. Matthew 15:24.
          2. The Lord's Commands.

            • Before the Resurrection. Matthew 10:5-6.
            • After the Resurrection. Luke 24:46-49.

          3. Results. Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7.

        2. A New Departure.
          1. Peter's Vision. Acts 10:36, 43-45; 11:17-18.
          2. Paul's Call. Acts 9:15; Galatians 2:8-9.

      3. God's Method.
        1. Apostolic Example.
          1. Wait till sent. Wait till filled with power. Then go where sent by Master, and do as told. Acts 1:8.
          2. Paul always went first to the Jews. Acts 9:15; 9:20, 22; 13:2-5, 13-16, 42-47; 14:1:17:1-4, 10-12, 16-17; 18:1-8, 19; 19:8, 10; 20:21:28:17, 23-24.

        2. Apostolic Teaching.
          1. Romans 9:2-3.
          2. Romans 1:16; 2:9-11.
          3. Romans 11:25-26.

      4. God's Order.
        1. "To the Jew first" is simply a matter of order, not pre-eminence. Acts 3:25-26. Israel is God's firstborn among the family of nations, Exodus 4:22. The firstborn has had greater privileges than the Gentiles, and consequently higher responsibilities. Responsibility is measured by privilege and chastisement by privilege abused.
        2. Chastisement first is not only punishment for privilege abused, but is a warning to Gentiles. Romans 11:20-21.
        3. Out of Mercy. Romans 11:23, 30-31. Shown on the ground of the cruelties and idolatries inflicted on the Jews for ages by a spurious Christianity. It is not by your cruelty, it is not by your neglect, but by the mercy shown to you, they also may now obtain mercy.
        4. Out of Gratitude. Romans 11:28.
          1. For the Bible. Romans 3:1-2.
          2. For the Saviour. John 4:22: Romans 9:5.

        5. Out of Love for our Saviour. Luke 23:34; Acts 5:31.


    "Wherever Jews are found in towns and cities to which missionaries are sent, let the apostolic order be observed, 'To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.'"


    "I have faithfully delivered my testimony whatever be its destiny; and I now affectionately and earnestly implore all true Christians to give thoughtful, prayerful, unbiased attention to the subject of Jewish evangelization. In the conversion of Jews we annihilate the most powerful opposition to the Gospel that exists, and secure the ablest auxiliaries in evangelizing the Gentiles.

    Let us then, for the sake of the Jews, who gave us the Gospel, and who need it themselves; and beyond this, for the sake of the Gentiles, to whom the Jews have access everywhere; but above all, for Christ's sake, let us obey the Scripture precept, and follow apostolic precedent, 'To the Jew first, and also to the Gentile.'" -John Wilkinson2

    1 Dr. Hugh McNeil, 1852
    2A condensation of the book Israel, My Glory by John Wilkinson, 1889. Used by permission of Mildmay Mission To The Jews, London, England.

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