Who Is Israel?

In one paragraph

Brian opened by walking the congregation through the recovery of Ran Gavili, the last hostage taken on October 7, whose remains were brought home by the IDF on January 26. That moment led into week three of the Unbreakable series, which took on a single direct question: who is Israel? The sermon argued that the answer is more layered than a map, a bloodline, or a religion can capture on its own....

Read together

1. Jeremiah 31:3 God declaring everlasting love and unfailing kindness toward Israel
2. Zechariah 2:8 God warning nations that harming Israel harms his most precious possession
3. Deuteronomy 14:2 God declaring Israel a holy people chosen as his special treasure
4. Ezekiel 16:4-6 God describing how he passed by Israel lying helpless and commanded it to live
5. Genesis 17:7-8 God confirming his everlasting covenant with Abraham and his descendants and promising the land of Canaan
6. Exodus 19:5-6 God telling Israel that obedience to the covenant makes them his special treasure and a kingdom of priests
7. Galatians 3:7 Paul saying the real children of Abraham are those who put their faith in God
8. Galatians 3:29 Paul saying those who belong to Christ are true children of Abraham and heirs of God's promise
9. John 4:22 Jesus identifying himself with the Jews and saying salvation comes through the Jews

Talk about it

1. The IDF soldiers spontaneously sang 'I believe in the coming of the Messiah, and even if he tarries, I will wait for him' when Ran's body was identified. What do you think moved them to that particular song in that moment, and has there been a moment in your own life where hope for something future got you through something hard right now?
2. Brian said that when God used other nations to discipline Israel, those nations sometimes went too far and God held them accountable for it. What does that tell you about how God balances discipline and protection when it comes to people he loves?
3. Brian described three facets of Israel's identity: sovereign election, genealogical descent, and covenantal faithfulness. Which of those three was most surprising or challenging to you, and why?
4. The group discussed how Ruth, a Moabite woman, is in King David's family tree, which creates a problem if you define a Jew by bloodline alone. How does that complicate or sharpen the way you think about who belongs to God's covenant community?
5. Steve closed by saying that if God keeps his promise to Israel even through centuries of unfaithfulness, that tells us something about the kind of promise-keeper God is toward us. How does Israel's story actually change the way you think about God's faithfulness to you personally?