Brothers, my heart's desire and my prayer to God
is for Israel, that they may be saved. Rom. 10:1
Financially Blessing Abraham
Lovingkindness and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Yeshua Messiah/Jesus Christ!
I've just had a conversation yesterday with a brother about the giving and use of many large donors/donation to Israel, and it seemed appropriate to pass on some of our thinking together regarding big-time financial support from believers abroad, based on experience we have all had over the last 20 years or more:
--First of all, it is important to stand with the existence of the State of Israel for the sake of the testimony of YHVH God, who said/says that He would bring His Israeli/Jewish people back to this land which He had promised in covenant. That we as a people are still unrepentant and in unbelief does not justify Israel, but demonstrates the faithfulness of God to keep His Word, since He can not lie. If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He can not deny Himself. (2Tim 2:13)
He will save Israel by mercy and grace through His righteousness just as He saves any one of us.
--Secondly, the gospel must be preached to Israel and to Israelis/Jewish people, as well to any and all other people and nation-groups. The cross, which is a stumbling to Israel, can not be removed, nor can the righteous judgment(s) of our God against and upon Israel for her continued opposition to His good news in Messiah Yeshua.
--The promise of 'blessing those who bless Abraham, and cursing him who curses (makes light) of you', if it means what evangelical Christians have given it to mean, then it also applies to how God treats and relates to Israel and Jews who make light of and disrespect Christians -- whether Jewish or Gentile, the seed of Abraham through faith in His God. It is here that evangelical Christian Zionists (or by whatever other label) have failed to hold the Israeli government and Jewish religious institutions and movements which they support accountable-- in humility but with salt--for the manner in which they treat publicly and legislatively the local Messianic/Christian community in the State of Israel. Too many times Christians have given support 'to bless Abraham' which has wound up in the hands of those who actively oppose the gospel and make trouble for the community of believers in Israel, both against citizens and also against volunteers who are here to bless.
--Evangelical supporters who want to bless Israel financially would find it in their best interests and (I say) better support the interests of the Kingdom of God in Israel at this time by first giving to local believers in Yeshua/Jesus and to the local congregations and other legitimate ministries operating out from those congregations to enable them to at least make ends meet, and also to live out their lives and carry out these ministries in a manner which would testify of God's hand and His family's hands upon them -- provoking the Jewish/Israeli people to jealousy while showing them mercy. This love within the family would speak loudly to those whose families are shattered and dysfunctional. It is Christ/Messiah who heals.
--Christians who want to give support to settlements would find their gift more effective by giving to believers who live in such settlements, and should there be some worthy project within such a settlement that can promote and honor the name of the Lord Jesus through such support, then to give through the believers living there would also honor them in the unbelievers' sight.
--There are some worthy Israeli/Jewish organizations which would appreciate and benefit from Christian financial support, such as Magen David Adom (the equivalent of the American Red Cross) and Yad Sarah, an organization aiding the disabled, elderly, house-bound people and which serves the entire Israeli population when medical equipment such as crutches and wheelchairs are needed. These are non-political and non-religious in providing their help. In any case, what would strengthen such Christian support at the local level is to make these donations through local believers -- both Jewish and Arab -- who could then pass on the donation with a local face. This cooperation would show local Israelis -- whether Jewish or Arab -- that we who live here are a means of blessing to them both at the personal and also at the state level.
We are to do good to all as we have opportunity, especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Gal 6:10)
God bless you, and may the Lord continue to train us up in the way we should go,
Howard
The above article was written by Howard Bass of Nachalat Yeshua (Yeshua's Inheritance), a Messianic congregation in Beer Sheva, Israel.
It is reproduced here with permission.