YEA Lesson Library
Israel Yesterday and Today
About This Lesson
This lesson differentiates between Israel today and Biblical Israel.
Scriptures
Genesis 12:1-3
Genesis 15:18
Genesis 18:14
Genesis 22:16-18
Genesis 35:9-12
Genesis 35:11
Genesis 49:1-33
Isaiah 41:21-23
Words to Know
FLAGRANTLY - so obviously inconsistent with what is right or proper as to appear to be a flouting of law or morality.
The Lesson
Have you ever looked in a concordance to see if you could find the United States, America, England, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, Scotland, or Ireland? Before you start looking, I'll tell you that none of these countries are in a Bible concordance with those names. Well then, did the Bible completely overlook the greatest nation on the earth, the USA, and not say a word about it? At the same time, the word "Israel" takes up more than two pages in my Cruden's Complete Concordance.
In Genesis 49, Jacob called his sons together and told them "I will tell you that which will befall you in the last days." He outlined what will happen to all 12 of his sons - the 12 tribes of Israel - in the last days. Is this scripture just talking about the nation of Israel as we know it today? It takes up 8,367 square miles of this planet called Earth. The nation of Israel is about the size of the state of New Jersey. At this nation's narrowest point, it's nine miles wide. According to President George W. Bush, "Driveways in Texas are longer than that.
Do you remember what God said to Abraham after he took Isaac up the mountain to offer him as a sacrifice? He said, “because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your beloved son from me, I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sand along the seashore. These descendants of yours will conquer their enemies, and be a blessing to al the nations of the earth - all because you have obeyed me" (Genesis 22:16b-18 TLB).
These blessings were passed on to Abraham's son, Isaac, in Genesis 26. They were enlarged as they were passed on to Isaac's son, Jacob in Genesis 28:14, "And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shall spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed."
Again, God appeared to Jacob and changed his name to Israel. In Genesis 35:11 "The Lord said to him, and I will cause you to be fertile and to multiply and to become a great nation, yes, many nations; many kings shall be among your descendants'" (TLB).
Okay, let's compare what we've read to the little nation of Israel on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Would you say that approximately 10 million people really fits the description in Genesis 22 that says, "I will bless you with incredible blessings and multiply your descendants into countless thousands and millions, like the stars above you in the sky, and like the sand along the seashore"? Probably not.
How about the promise given to Isaac in Genesis 28 that his descendants would spread to the north, south, east, and west? It would be a little difficult for Israel to spread to the west since the Mediterranean Sea borders on its west side. Jordan is a very unfriendly nation to the east of Israel. So it would be difficult to spread that direction. Egypt is to the south of Israel and Lebanon is to the north. Neither of these nations would look kindly to Israel spreading its territory into their borders. So the little nation of Israel doesn't seem to fit what the Bible says would “befall you in the last days.” But we still have another problem with the nation of Israel fitting the promises today that were made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In Genesis 35:11, “The Lord said to him, 'and I will cause you to be fertile and to multiply and to become a great nation, yes, many nations; many kings shall be among your descendants*" (TLB). How can you find a great nation and many nations in that 8,367 square miles of land area off the Mediterranean coast? The King James Bible says “a nation and a company of nations.”
We're left with yet another problem in Genesis 49. Jacob called his sons together and told them what would befall them "in the last days." He proceeded to list 12 tribes of Israel, not just Judea, which primarily makes up the nation of Israel today, off the coast of the Mediterranean in the Middle East. So where are those 12 tribes today? The nation of Israel today is only one of those tribes. The Bible tells us "in the last days" there will be 12 tribes of Israel - 12 nations on this earth that fit the types in the Bible. Are they all dwelling in that tiny nation of Israel in the Middle East?
Many have made the case that Ephraim and Manasseh, Joseph's two sons, are actually the ethnic descendants of Israel. In other words, they think the United States is included in Bible prophecy. Even the Royal Family of Great Britain claims they are descendants of King David of Israel. They claim that King Charles III sits on David’s throne. Unfortunately, as time has gone on, this belief has become identified with religions that are flagrantly racist.
What made this belief attractive to some people? They looked at what Israel would look like in the "latter days." What they saw in the Bible led them to feel that the United States and Great Britain are Israelite nations today. What do we learn when we look at Genesis 49 in context?
Would you agree that English-speaking peoples are the greatest nations on the earth today? Does it seem reasonable that the two greatest nations on earth today would be totally overlooked as end time players in world events? At least in type, the United States and Great Britain seem to more likely fit what it says in Genesis 35:11, "And God said unto him, I am God Almighty; be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.”
Let's throw one more scripture into this mix. In Genesis 12, when God told Abram to leave his own country, there was a promise with it that said, "and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." What nation or nations give more aid or help to nations in need than any other? Who helped Germany and Japan get back on their feet after World War I? Who went in and freed Afghanistan and Iraq of their oppressive dictators? What nation is usually first on the scene when a disaster, such as the Asian Tsunami, strikes? You have the evidence. Where do you think you will find the nation and company of nations today that are talked about in Genesis 35?
Student Prayer
God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
Thank you for showing us the blessings you will pour out on the tribes of Israel in the last days. Help me to understand your Word better and follow it each day of my life.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Genesis 12:1-3
Monday - Genesis 15:18
Tuesday - Genesis 35: 9-12
Wednesday - Genesis 49: 1-13
Thursday - Genesis 49: 14-21
Friday - Genesis 49:22-33
Saturday - Isaiah 41:21-23
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Give three reasons why they feel modern day Israel can't be the entire 12 tribes of Israel.
Topics & Themes
Blessings
God’s Promises
Israel
Prophecy
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students’ and Teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, songbook, newsprint pad or chalk board, marker or chalk, eraser, prize
How to Teach This Lesson
Greet the students warmly as they arrive. Have them sit in chairs arranged in a semicircle. After opening the class with prayer, explain that for today's lesson we will be playing the game Pictionary. Have the students draw one, or more (depending on the size of your class), of the straws you made before class. Tell them that as you call out the number on their straw, they are to go to the board and draw a picture representing what Genesis 49 says shall befall this person in the latter days. Students are to guess which one of the 12 Israelite brothers’ picture is being drawn on the board until they get the right person. Call on them in the order given under Background. Students can use the Activity in their book to help them guess who the brothers are. If they haven't done their Activity, let them use their Bibles and Genesis 49 to do this. After the game, give the person who gets the most correct answers a prize.
Debrief - Ask: How did you feel about this game as a way of learning what shall befall the different Israelite nations in the last days? How was this experience like or unlike other things you have done? Which person was the easiest to identify? Why?Which brothers' picture was the hardest to draw? Which brother's lineage would Christ come from? Ask a student to read Genesis 49:10.
The Nation of Israel doesn't work - Ask: What makes you think that the modern day nation of Israel in the Middle East is not comprised of the 12 tribes of Israel? How many kings has the modern day nation of Israel had? Ask a student to read Genesis 35:11. Who can think of another reason why modern day Israel couldn't be the 12 tribes of Israel? Ask another student to read Genesis 22:16-18. Ask another student to read Genesis 28:14. What nations usually go first to help another nation that has had a disaster? How do you see this as backup support for that nation being part of Israel today?
Background - Go over Background with the class.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Go over the students' Activity with the class.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight: Genesis 35:11
Look up the word “fruitful.” Write down the Hebrew word and its meaning. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used.
We tend to believe that God meant this command literally. But could you also apply it spiritually? Write down your answer to this question. Then read Galatians 5:22-24; Luke 10:2; Matthew 28:19; and Daniel 12:3. How could you be fruitful spiritually? Could you contribute to others being fruitful?
Where in the World? The Twelve Tribes of Israel
If you started some research on where the Twelve Tribes of Israel are today for the previous lesson, continue it. There is lots of information out there. But be careful; some information you will find is very racist and violent. If you have started reading any of Steven M. Collins’ books, this is a great excuse to continue reading them.
Write down what you find and share it with your family.
They Did What Back Then? British Monarchy
Research the ancestry of the British monarchy. How do they claim King David as one of their ancestors? And is it true that the monarchs in Europe today are all related to one another? This is a fascinating study. Write down what you find. Organize it into a family tree or some other way to show all of the connections. Share what you find with your family.
Making It Mine: Ancestry
Read 1 Timothy 1:4. What do you do with this verse? Does this mean that it doesn’t really matter who your physical ancestors were? Does it mean that God isn’t blessing the physical descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh? What part does your obedience to God play in whether you are blessed or not? Can you coast on the coattails, as it were, of your ancestors? If our nation has been blessed (and I very much believe it has been), was it because our Founding Fathers were God-fearing Christians or because they were descendants of Abraham? Or was it both? Can you find any scriptures to support your beliefs either way? Write down what you find about God’s blessings and then have a serious discussion with your parents about this topic.
Worldview Collisions: Ancestry
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Some people can claim a direct line back to the monarchy of England. The Pharisees claimed that Abraham was their father. Other people have famous ancestors in their lineage, of which they are very proud. It is very cool to have famous ancestors and you would be right to be proud of them. You might even be receiving blessings because they are your ancestors. (God said that He would show love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Exodus 20:6) So this worldview says that your ancestry matters more than your day-to-day actions.
A Biblical worldview says that God will judge each man according to his works - that the children are not responsible for the actions of their father. (Jeremiah 31:30) Jesus said that his mother and brothers and sisters were those who do the will of His Father in heaven (Matthew 12:48-50).
Is there ever a case where both are true? Could you serve God will all of your heart and receive blessings because of that relationship, in addition to having ancestors who loved and served God wholeheartedly?
Write about this whole topic in your Bible notebook.
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
"Hear, O Israel" is on page 100 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Ask the students to form a circle and join hands. Go around the circle and let each student give the name of one of the 12 tribes of Israel and what they will be like in the latter days. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer, thanking God for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob's obedience and the blessings He poured out on them and their descendants because of their obedience.
Printable Pages
