Do you believe Genesis 12:3 applies to us in modern 2007?

[JerryNumbers]

Do you believe this still applies to us here in 2007?

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Gen 12:3 (KJV)

[Jerry]

Yes, it is a pretty definite statement. I don't see any other Scriptures indicating God later changed His mind - in fact, there are other verses reinforcing this. That is not a justification for their sin, but an exhortation for us to be a blessing to them.

[Lee-Anne]

Yes. I believe that Israel is still God's chosen nation and that He still hasn't finnished with them yet. Praise the Lord! Even so come Lord Jesus. :pray

[DaveW]

It seems that God put no conditions on this promise when He made it - it does not rely on Abraham's (or Israel's) performance.
I do not know of an "end date" put on it either, nor do I know if it has ever been revoked by God - I have not found it anyway.

However, I do not beleive it extends as far as not allowing justified Criticism of the nation.

Israel have done some wicked things in their history and I beleive that God would allow right criticism of those things.
That is different to cursing that nation though. :wink

[HappyChristian]

I voted yes, for the same reasons as already posted. I don't think it means we have to support their wrong decisions, but I do think it means we better not turn our backs on them! One of these days Israel will be standing alone, without even the US as a friend...and we know what will happen to the nations then!

[dwayner79]

I'd like to add this question: Is "Israel" the same as Israel? If not, then this promise is to the Jewish former, but not necessarily the latter.

[Anon]

I voted no possibly because I misunderstood the question. I think it applies to Jews but not to "us".

[zealyouthguy]

I'd like to add this question: Is "Israel" the same as Israel? If not' date=' then this promise is to the Jewish former, but not necessarily the latter.[/quote']
Thanks for adding it to the question.

Now what do you think about it?

In my opinion, if you differentiate between them, you better be sure God does.

Usually folks who follow this line of thinking are proponents of the "lost tribes" ideology... some are actually crazy enough to believe the 10 tribes went to England and we (America) are the true children of Israel. And as such are usually also proponents of antisemitism.

Of course the Mormons are big believers in the lost tribes fiction. The only problem with all this is that the jews of today can be connected genetically to jews of the past. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+pries ... a021213740

There is also the logical conclusions that they tend to not want to follow ie. that Israel MUST BE A NATION, for the world to be war with her and for the man of sin to broker a peace with her.


So short answer... yes, Israel is Israel is Israel... whether the reject God and sin, or not.

[dwayner79]

Frankly, I am not sure. I really have noting of merit to add to the topic, just wanted to see if anyone had light to shed on it.

[TheBibleSender]

I guess I have always been alittle fuzzy on that one also. Compare Gen 12:1-3 with Gal 3:6-9 Those who believe on Christ are the sons of Abraham. So doesn;t th is seem to imply that Christians are Jews? Or am I reading this wrong? God bless.

Gen 12:1

[pep_3000]

I think the passage still applies, but in a different way than many of you have said. In the New Testament is says several times that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, but all are the same in Jesus( Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11). Even if a person believes that the Jews are still God's chosen people, it would not necessarily follow that the modern, secular nation-state of Israel is God's chosen country. If I remember correctly, almost as many Jews live in the US as do in Israel.
Even during the Old Testament, the Jews only got to keep and prosper in the land when they followed the rules. Worship the one true God, help the poor and the orphans, do not oppress the weak, ect. The modern nation-state of Israel, does not follow those rules.

[HappyChristian]

But who does God protect during the Tribulation? Israel - the nation.

[John81]

Yes.

[JerryNumbers]

But who does God protect during the Tribulation? Israel - the nation.

Amen, that is true. But even among us Baptist all do not agree to this.

It surprises me, with what the Bible teaches about Israel, at the number of so called saved people who would not defend them at all, and claim that they are the problem, them stand with the Islams of this world against Israel.

I think the Bible made it right plain that the problem is the Islams, who follow a dead false god, who opposes the true living God.

[John81]

I agree Jerry. It's amazing how many Christians differ on areas where the Bible speaks clearly, or clearly as a whole. Even more amazing, is the differences in thought among Baptists of similar Baptist churches!