This is not an exclusive club, it is open to everyone who believes. If you do not believe, then you should not feel rejected or disgruntled by those who do believe. Moreover, we all are capable of having a change of heart. From time to time we hear of the benefits and blessings of being a member of God’s family and it may cause one to be jealous, that’s ok. It is God’s people who bring blessing and favor or curses and distress by our response to God’s direction and will.

God said to Israel, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” (2 Chronicles 7: 14-16). Some will point out that this refers to the Temple, which was destroyed in 70 AD. God knew it would happen, but said this anyway, using the words forever and always and the exact place is still known in Jerusalem even though the temple was destroyed.

Some may say these words were given to the Israelites, who rejected their Messiah, therefore God has rejected and replaced Israel with the Church. This same reasoning is used to ignore or reinterpret much of the Bible, old and new covenants. It is true that the new covenant of life in Yeshua Messiah is far better than the first covenant based on the law which God gave through Moses, because the people could not keep the law. The new covenant established by Yeshua Messiah is different as God said, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Heb. 8: 8-10).

God is unchangeable and it is impossible for him to lie. He knows all things before they happen. (1 Sam. 15: 29; Heb. 6: 17-18). Therefore, when He says forever and always, He means it. The Apostle Paul, explains completely in Romans that God has not rejected Israel, nor replaced them with the Church. He says, “I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.” (Rom. 11: 1). He cautions the Church, “I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable.” (Rom. 11: 25-29).

Do not get conceited or try to nullify the word and promises of God. All Israel will be saved and we Believers have been grafted into Israel. We Gentile believers in Yeshua have become citizens of Israel, to whom the promise of salvation was given. “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2: 12-13). “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3: 29). Before you get out your Yamaka, understand that all Believers from every nationality and ethnicity are one in Yeshua.  “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3: 28).

As God’s people we must surrender to His leading and be separate from the ways of this fallen world. As we humble ourselves, pray and seek His face, we will experience favor, blessing, protection, and grace. Yeshua said, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (Matt. 16: 18). Hades is gated in, but the gates of Heaven are different. “On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” (Revelation 21: 25-27). “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21: 3).