God made several important promises to the Jewish people that are recorded in the Hebrew Bible, known to Christians as the Old Testament. These promises shaped the identity and faith of the Jews and laid the foundation for their special relationship with God.
The Promise of the Land
One of the most significant promises God made was to give the land of Canaan (later known as the Promised Land or Israel) to the Jews as their eternal inheritance. This promise begins in Genesis 12, when God calls Abram (later Abraham) to go the land of Canaan and says:
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
God repeats this promise many times to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, assuring them that their descendants would inherit the land indefinitely. Though the people went through cycles of possessing the land, being exiled, and returning, the promise still stands for the Jewish people.
The Promise of Descendants
In addition to land, God also promised Abraham an uncountable number of descendants. Though Abraham and his wife Sarah were old and childless, God told them:
“I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted.” (Genesis 13:16)
This promise was fulfilled as the Israelites multiplied greatly in number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17; 32:12). It confirms God’s intention to make Abraham into a great nation.
The Promise of Blessing and Redemption
Beyond land and descendants, God also promised Abraham that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him and his offspring (Genesis 12:3). This is later specified as a promise that through Abraham’s seed, all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18). Christians believe this promise is ultimately fulfilled through Jesus Christ as the Messiah who brings salvation to the world.
God also promised that the Jewish people would be His channel of blessing to the world. He promised to bless those who bless them and curse those who curse them (Genesis 12:3). This indicates God’s protection and redemption for the Jews.
The Promise of a New Covenant
The promise of blessing for God’s people culminates in the promise of a new covenant in the writings of the prophet Jeremiah:
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah… I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people… For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
This promise points to a time when God would renew and deepen His relationship with the Jewish people in a lasting way. God promises to forgive their sins, make his law internal rather than external, and be their God in an intimate way.
The Promise of a Future Messiah
Building on the promise of blessing, God also promised a personal deliverer—the Messiah—who would redeem Israel and save the world. Numerous prophecies point to the coming of this Anointed One who would bring spiritual and political deliverance:
“A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel… He will crush the foreheads of Moab, the skulls of all the people of Sheth. Edom will be conquered; Seir, his enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.” (Numbers 24:17-18)
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)
Christians believe these and many similar prophecies are fulfilled by Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of the world. But the Jewish people are still awaiting the fulfillment of the promise of a political and military deliverer who will restore Israel’s greatness.
The Promise of Preservation and Restoration
One other key promise God made to Israel was that no matter what happened, no matter how far they strayed, He would preserve them and eventually restore them to blessing. For example:
“Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God.” (Leviticus 26:44)
“I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,’ declares the Lord, ‘because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.” (Jeremiah 30:17)
This promise guaranteed Israel’s survival, even through exile and dispersion. God promised that one day, Israel would be restored fully to the land and to blessing.
Summary of God’s Main Promises to Israel
In summary, here are the key promises God made to the Jewish people, according to the Hebrew scriptures:
- The promise of the land of Canaan as an eternal possession
- The promise of countless descendants
- The promise that Israel would be a channel of blessing to all peoples on earth
- The promise of a new covenant
- The promise of a future Messiah/deliverer
- The promise of preservation and restoration of Israel
These promises formed the basis of Israel’s identity and hope. They demonstrated God’s love, faithfulness and commitment to using the Jewish people at the center of His plan to redeem and restore the world.
Fulfillment of the Promises
How and when God’s promises to Israel have been or will be fulfilled is understood differently by Jews and Christians:
- For Christians, Jesus Christ fulfilled the promises of blessing, redemption, and an eternal covenant between God and man. The promise of land was symbolic of a greater spiritual reality fulfilled in Christ. However, the physical promises to Israel remain important and still await ultimate fulfillment.
- For Jews, the promises remain physical realities to be fulfilled with the literal nation of Israel. Jesus did not satisfactorily fulfill these promises, and a Messiah is still awaited who will restore Israel’s land and glory.
Despite these differences, both groups agree that God made defining promises to the Jewish people that shaped their identity and destiny. The promises illustrate God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, which endures forever.
Conclusion
God’s irrevocable promises to the Jews in the Hebrew Bible demonstrate His eternal purposes for Israel. These promises included land, descendants, blessing, redemption, preservation, and ultimately, relationship with God. Though interpreted differently, these promises established Israel’s uniqueness and set the foundation for God’s relationship with His chosen people throughout history.