Is it important to stand with Israel and why should we do so? In a series of 10 blogs, Benjamin Kroese who lives in Israel, will share about the importance of developing a love for God’s people Israel. This week part 6: ‘we have roots in Israel!’
‘Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.’ (Romans 11:1)
What a powerful statement from Paul!
Romans 11 contains an interesting miracle. A botanical miracle you might say. Paul identifies a natural or noble, cultivated olive tree and a wild olive tree. Wild olive trees are thickets that bear inedible fruit.
Paul then describes God doing something that no farmer would ever do. He cuts off limbs from the noble tree and grafts wild olive branches in its place. Normally this happens the other way around: noble branches are grafted onto wild trees.
‘Botany experiment’
But Paul tells Israel and the gentile nations about this strange “botany experiment”. The wild gentile nations, are grafted onto the noble Jewish olive tree by faith in Jesus and are nourished by the rich sap that rises from their prophets, patriarchs and kings.
That is why Paul tells the gentile church in Rome: ‘…do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you’ (Romans 11:18). We must always keep in mind that our spiritual roots are not in Rome, Geneva or America.
Our spiritual roots are in Jerusalem, with Hebrew prophets, Jewish apostles, a Jewish Savior and a Bible written by Jews (see also Ephesians 2:11-13). So let’s honor our spiritual roots, knowing that Paul also declares that one day the original natural, noble branches will be grafted back into their own tree.
I have the honor to travel extensively for my work in Israel. Every time I am amazed by the rich, biblical, history of this nation. There is no other piece of real estate on earth where you will find this. God chose Israel as the place He wanted to display His Glory and He chose Israel to be the homeland of His Son. Think about that for a moment.
This blog is written by Benjamin Kroese. Benjamin is married to Rebecca and together with their three sons they live in Israel. They have their own video production company ‘Frontline Media’ and are founders of ‘Until He Returns Ministries’. Benjamin and Rebecca have a passion for revival in Israel and have a desire to reach other nations to stand with Israel.
