How Should We Think About Israel? - Abner Chou

Main message: God chose Israel by his sovereign love to play a key role in his worldwide redemptive plan; studying Israel’s past, prophesied future, and present condition should deepen our worship of Christ and drive us to proclaim the gospel to Israel rather than curse or arrogantly dismiss them.

Key points:

• Israel was chosen not for merit but because God set his love on them (sovereign election; Deut. 7) and was raised to have international impact as a "kingdom of priests" (Exod. 19).
• Israel’s history displays God’s power, holiness, judgment for sin, and ongoing preservation—showing both the reality of sin and the endurance of God’s mercy (Examples from Genesis–Kings, Jeremiah).
• The prophetic future centers on the Messiah’s return, reign from Jerusalem, worldwide peace and worship, and Israel’s repentance and recognition of the pierced One (Isaiah, Psalm 22, Zechariah 12–14).
• Sacrificial/temple language in the millennium is portrayed as worshipful and commemorative, not as overturning Christ’s once-for-all atonement (Hebrews referenced).
• Present application (Romans 11): recognize Israel’s current disobedience without boasting; do not curse Israel; our calling is to proclaim the gospel to Jews and Gentiles—that is how we bless Israel and participate in God’s plan.

Scriptures mentioned: Deuteronomy 7, Genesis 1–12 (Genesis 1–11, Genesis 12), Genesis 3, Genesis 8, Genesis 11 (Tower of Babel), Exodus 19, Exodus (golden calf), Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, Jeremiah 31, Isaiah 2, Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Zechariah 12:10, Zechariah 14, Hosea 3, Romans 11, Romans 1:16, Hebrews (book of Hebrews)