Did God actually say, “Those who bless Israel, I will bless, and those who curse Israel, I will curse.”?
Yes and no. Let me explain.
Genesis 12:1-2 actually says, Now the Lord said to Abram, (who was later renamed as Abraham), “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.”
Then, Genesis 12:3 actually says, “I will bless those who bless you (referring to Abram, a.k.a., Abraham), and him who dishonors you (that is, Abram, a.k.a., Abraham) I will curse, and in you (referring to Abram, a.k.a., Abraham), all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
God said He would bless those who would bless Abram (who is also known as Abraham). It could be said that since Jacob was later renamed Israel, that Genesis 12:3 may have been referring to the nation of Israel.
This should lead us to ask who, or which, would God have us bless? Abraham? Jacob? Or, the nation of Israel? And in which of these are we to be blessed?
Read the prophetic verse from Hosea 11:1, to find the answer: “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”
The meaning of “When Israel was a child”:
This phrase refers to the early stages of the nation of Israel, particularly during the time of the patriarchs and the Exodus. The imagery of Israel as a child highlights the nation’s infancy and dependence on God. In biblical context, this period includes the covenant with Abraham and the formative experiences of the Israelites in Egypt. The metaphor of a child is used to emphasize innocence and the nurturing relationship God had with Israel.
The meaning of “I loved him”:
God’s love for Israel is a central theme throughout the Old Testament. This love is covenantal, rooted in the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It is an unconditional love that persists despite Israel’s frequent disobedience. The love mentioned here is not just emotional, but also involves God’s actions in history, such as delivering Israel from slavery and guiding them through the wilderness.
The meaning of “and out of Egypt I called My son”:
This phrase directly references the Exodus, when God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is a foundational event in Israel’s history, symbolizing liberation and the beginning of their identity as God’s chosen people.
The term “My son” signifies a special relationship, echoing the language used in Exodus 4:22-23, where God calls Israel His firstborn son. This phrase is also seen as a typological prophecy, later applied to Jesus Christ in Matthew 2:15, where it is fulfilled in the return of Jesus from Egypt, drawing a parallel between Israel’s history and the life of Christ.
Matthew 2:14-15, “And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”
The meaning of “This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet”:
This phrase emphasizes the fulfillment of prophecy, a common theme in Matthew’s Gospel, which seeks to demonstrate that Jesus is the promised Messiah. The use of prophecy here underscores the divine orchestration of events, showing that Jesus’ life was in accordance with God’s predetermined plan. The reference to prophecy also serves to connect Jesus’ story with the larger narrative of Israel’s history. (BibleHub.com).
The meaning of “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”:
This quotation is from Hosea 11:1, originally referring to Israel’s exodus from Egypt. In the context of Matthew, it is typologically applied to Jesus, drawing a parallel between Israel as God’s “son” and Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of this role. This typology highlights Jesus as the true Israel, who embodies and completes the mission that Israel was meant to fulfill. The calling “out of Egypt” signifies deliverance and the beginning of a new covenant, with Jesus as the central figure in God’s redemptive plan. (BibleHub.com).
Although Jacob was named “Israel”; and although Israel was the name of the Nation of the Jews; In these prophetic verses, “Israel” is referring to the coming Christ, Jesus.
The Abrahamic Covenant, in which God promises Abraham that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3), is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, who brings salvation to all nations.
Thus:
“I will bless those who bless you (referring to Jesus the Christ), and him who dishonors you (referring to Jesus the Christ), I will curse; And in You, (Jesus the Christ), all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
We can learn that by putting verses into a personal biased view, or by taking one verse out of context can lead to differing and incomplete conclusions which can bring division, disagreement, strife and even conflict. (see “Is Israel today the Israel of the Bible?”).
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
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