You are a part of Israel’s story…

I love putting together puzzles. It’s so satisfying to start with a pile of pieces that seem to have no meaning and see as each finds its place in the big picture! A mystery is revealed…a beautiful picture emerges! However, it’s so much harder to complete the puzzle if you don’t have the picture on the front of the box. Without the big picture, the pieces seem to have no meaning and the work is much harder.

We are each a part of Israel’s story – we’re pieces of the large puzzle God is assembling. However, until we understand the mystery, seeing the big puzzle picture, we can feel like Israel doesn’t really matter to us. And we may fail to see why it matters if we pray for Israel or not.

Israel is a picture of God’s sovereign plan to redeem the entire earth. It is through the Jewish people that we received the Messiah, Jesus. And it’s through us, the Gentiles, that the blessing comes back to the Jewish people! So those who are blessed with salvation are blessed through Israel and become part of Israel.

“I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”” ‭‭(see the Bible, Genesis‬ ‭12:3, ‭NLT)

The mystery of Israel, and the world, has been revealed to us. We’re just so close to the picture, and such a small individual part of the puzzle, that we often miss the big picture. Even those of us who have read the Bible most of our lives can miss the bigger picture of how God loves Israel and wants to include us in the love story.

So, no matter who you are or where you live, Israel is part of your story!

Let’s pray together…“Lord, I ask You to awaken me to Your story…the story of the world! Please give me Your perspective on Israel, the Jewish people, and my role in praying for them. In Jesus’s name, amen.”

Scripture references: ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:27, Genesis‬ ‭12:3‬