The purpose behind this lesson on Israel is to help Gen Z grasp the Abrahamic Covenant and how it speaks to modern-day Israel both in the here and now and in the years to come. It follows the thread of promises given to God’s people, the Jews, and the land long linked with them. It also wrestles with how those promises relate to Jesus, the Church, and the bigger arc of biblical history.
A Promise Made to a People and a Land
The Abrahamic Covenant found in Genesis 12 and 15 centers on a clear historic claim. God chose a people, the Jews, and pledged a land for them: Jerusalem, Israel. These aren’t merely chapters in an ancient book; for many readers, they anchor identity, faith, and hope. The covenant is often discussed as having three strands — land, descendants, and blessing — and its relevance stretches beyond one generation to shaping how God’s people understand themselves across time.
When Will These Promises Be Fulfilled?
For some, the fulfillment of God’s promises is tied to a future moment in a divine timeline. One common perspective is that many or all of these promises will be realized at the second coming of Christ during a future 1,000-year reign. This view invites readers to hold together the tension between present-day experiences in Israel and a future grand fulfillment in God’s ultimate plan.
The Question of Supersession and Trust
A recurring thread in these conversations asks if the Church has superseded the Jews, replacing Israel in God’s plan. What does that say about God’s faithfulness? The argument follows that if God’s promises to Israel were reinterpreted or set aside, then the very reliability of God could be called into question.
From this concern emerges a practical question: If God hasn’t kept His promises in Genesis 15, or if His plan shifted when Jesus entered the story, how can anyone trust Him moving forward? For many, the integrity of God’s character hinges on how these promises are understood in light of Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection.
Romans 11: A Key to Understanding
For years, my own journey has hinged on Romans 11 in light of Genesis 12 and 15. This passage offers a nuanced picture of how Gentiles relate to Israel within God’s redemptive plan. It invites us to see that God’s mercy includes both Gentiles and Jews, and that the root of the olive tree— the promises and faithfulness God extends to His people — supplies life to all who are connected to it.
Why Do We Believe Jesus and What the Bible Teaches About Israel?
We are told to believe in Jesus, and many ask, Why? Christians believe in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus himself was a Jew, but Gentiles join this story not by replacing Israel but through a deep spiritual grafting into the people and promises God has always upheld. In this light, praying for the Jews and for Israel becomes an expression of recognizing that the two parts of the story — Israel and the Church — belong to one overarching plan of God.
Prophetic Glimpses and a Hopeful Future
Zechariah 12:10 speaks of a day when God’s people in Jerusalem will be drawn by grace and mercy to mourn for the one they pierced — a moment charged with both sorrow and recognition. It points to a future pivot in the relationship between God’s people and their Messiah. Romans 11:17-18 uses the olive tree metaphor to remind Gentile believers not to boast against the natural branches (the Jews). The message is one of humility; the strength and nourishment of faith come from God who sustains both branches. Romans 11:26-28 envisions a future where all Israel will be saved, a statement tied to the deliverer coming from Zion. It frames God’s covenant with Israel as integral to the gospel’s unfolding, even as the gospel reaches to all nations. Genesis 12:3 links Abrahamic faithfulness to a worldwide blessing. Those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who dishonor Israel will face judgment. This verse is often invoked in discussions about how nations relate to Israel today.
A Practical Present-Tense Faith
The call for us today is twofold: Honor the ongoing relationship between Israel and God’s promises, and hold fast to the central Christian message about Jesus while recognizing its roots in a Jewish story. The life of faith invites prayers, study, and thoughtful dialogue about how ancient covenants inform present realities and future hope.
The Abrahamic Covenant remains a central thread in the biblical narrative. By reading Genesis 12 and 15 alongside Romans 11, Zechariah 12, and other key texts, we can begin to see how God’s faithfulness to Israel informs the Church, shapes present events in Israel, and points toward a future fulfillment within God’s grand design. For Gen Z and beyond, the invitation is to approach these sacred conversations with humility, curiosity, and a longing to seek truth in a complex, unfolding story.
