Biblical Requirement of Repentance Before Blessing
Introduction
Among many evangelical circles a simple maxim is often repeated: “Bless Israel and God will bless you; curse Israel and God will curse you.” Genesis 12 is invoked as an unconditional promise that obligates Christians—and even entire nations—to lend blanket, uncritical support to the modern State of Israel. Yet Scripture itself flatly contradicts that reading. From Moses through the prophets and into the New Testament, covenant blessing is always contingent on repentance and faithful obedience to God’s revealed will. When that obedience is absent, those who claim the covenant name are warned that judgment, not blessing, awaits them. Demanding that believers “bless” an unrepentant nation or be cursed not only reverses the biblical order; it also misunderstands who Israel truly is according to the gospel.
Challenging the False Dichotomy
The slogan “Bless Israel or be cursed” is built on a false dichotomy: either believers offer total, unquestioning support to the modern State of Israel, or they stand under God’s curse. Scripture never teaches that God’s people should excuse unrighteousness for the sake of national identity. In fact, the prophets addressed Israel itself with severe warnings because Israel had broken covenant. Christians are not faced with the simplistic choice of support-or-curse; they are called to walk in truth, test all things by Scripture, and recognize that the true people of God are defined by faith in Christ (Gal 3:28-29).
The Biblical Prerequisite of Repentance
Deuteronomy 30 : 1-3
“And it shall come to pass… if thou shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice… then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee…”
At Sinai the LORD made clear that Israel’s enjoyment of the land, peace, and prosperity would stand or fall on covenant fidelity (Deut 28). Obedience first, blessing second; disobedience first, cursing second. The prophets echo the pattern:
Leviticus 26 : 40-42
“If they shall confess their iniquity… then will I remember my covenant with Jacob… Isaac… and Abraham, and I will remember the land.”
Jeremiah 18 : 7-10
“If that nation… turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.”
Matthew 3 : 8-10
“Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance… Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father…”
Even the promise of future restoration is strictly conditioned on heartfelt turning. Lineage alone cannot shield anyone from judgment; God looks for genuine repentance.
Israel’s National Rejection of Messiah
When the promised Messiah arrived, the majority of first-century Jewish leadership rejected Him (John 1:11; Acts 2:36). Jesus wept over Jerusalem because it “knew not the time of thy visitation” (Luke 19:41-44). By crucifying the Lord of glory they sealed the old-covenant curse upon themselves until they repent (Matt 23:37-38). To this day the official posture of the modern State of Israel remains unbelief in Jesus as Christ. By the covenant’s own standards the nation stands outside its promised blessing; prayer and evangelism for Jewish repentance are biblically mandated, but automatic political or financial support is not.
Who Is Israel Now?
Paul explains that “they are not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Rom 9:6). True covenant membership is defined by promise, fulfilled in Christ and shared with all who believe—Jew or Gentile alike (Gal 3:7-29). Because the northern tribes were dispersed and intermixed long ago, no modern group can demonstrate the pure tribal lineage old-covenant land tenure required. The only unimpeachable “Israel of God” is the body of believers united to the true Son called out of Egypt (Hos 11:1; Matt 2:15; Gal 6:16).
The Moral Inversion of Uncritical Support
Psalm 51 : 17
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
To insist that Christians must bless a politically defined nation—regardless of its moral posture—or face divine curse turns the covenant upside-down. Scripture never teaches that God’s people should aid wickedness for fear of being cursed; the prophets denounce those who “strengthen the hands of evildoers” (Jer 23:14) and alliances that ignore righteousness (Isa 31:1-3). While believers should pray for peace in the region (Jer 29:7), it is a serious error to give uncritical support to any nation—including modern Israel—when its actions violate God’s moral law. Supporting wickedness under the banner of “blessing Israel” is compromise that invites judgment, not blessing.
Isaiah 55 : 6-7
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found… Let the wicked forsake his way… and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him.”
Closing
The idea that Christians must bless Israel or be cursed springs from a misreading of Genesis 12 and a false dichotomy that demands unthinking allegiance. Scripture, however, teaches that God’s blessings always follow repentance and faithfulness. The modern State of Israel, though bearing a biblical name, does not meet those covenant qualifications, having rejected Christ. Moreover, without the verifiable presence of all twelve tribes, its claim to represent biblical Israel is historically incomplete. The true Israel of God consists of all who are in Christ, the promised Seed (Gal 3:16). Therefore believers must measure every belief—not by tradition or political pressure—but by the Word of God. In doing so, we stand not against any people, but for truth, righteousness, and the fullest realization of God’s promises in Jesus Christ.
Psalm 32 (KJV) – A Final Meditation on Repentance and Blessing
1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered…
5 I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin…
11 Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.