As I am publishing this discussion, it is the 2nd day of the 4th Month 6025, which translates to June 28, 2025.

Today I am led to discuss a key passage of Torah that has lately received a good amount of attention from the American public on the heels of the Israel-Iran-Hamas-Hezbollah-Houthi conflicts. At question is whether America is commanded to stand with the nation state of Israel as she battles against her enemies in light of what Yehovah declared unto Avraham in Genesis 12:3: “I will bless them that bless thee — Yah speaking to Avram — and curse him that curseth thee…” (KJV).

The United States is already divided as it relates to what her position should be towards Israel as Israel wars with Iran and the various Arab factions challenging her right to exist; lay claim to the Land upon which she dwells, and her treatment of the so-called Palestinians and the various terrorist organizations that claim to have the Palestinians’ best interests at heart.

Recently, a well-known U.S. Senator in an interview with a well-known conservative reporter, declared that he supports the nation state of Israel from a moral, financial, and military standpoint, because he believes the Bible commands all believers to stand with Israel. The senator referenced Genesis/Beresheit 12:3a as the basis for his position. Needless to say, the senator’s declaration received much support from the pro-Israel community of the Conservative parties of this county. But his words also drew ire and criticism from not only from the anti-Israel, liberal people of this country, but even from some anti-Israel conservatives who criticized the senator’s interpretation of Genesis 12:3a.

I have been intrigued by this story since it aired last week. And despite my continued support for the modern state of Israel because I believe the state is home to true-remnant Israelites, I question the senator’s interpretation of Genesis 12:3a. I question whether, indeed, Genesis 12:3a is a commandment to God’s people to bless Israel and to not curse Israel; or is it something else?

I’ve chosen to title this discussion: Does “I Will Bless Those Who Bless and Curse Those Who Curse” Apply to the Modern Nation of Israel? This will be Part 6 of our “Israel’s Inextricable Link to our Salvation Series.”

The Scriptural Reference

As just mentioned, the scriptural reference the senator was referring in his response to a reporter’s question regarding why he supports Israel in their war against Iran is found in various places throughout scripture. But for our purposes today, I want to focus on Genesis/Beresheit 12: 3. For context, let’s read verses one, two, and three of this chapter:

(1) And Yehovah said to Avram, “Go yourself out of your land, from your relatives and from your father’s house, to a land which I show you. (2) And I shall make you a great nation, and bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing! (3) And I shall bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you. And in you all the clans of the earth shall be blessed.” (The Scriptures ISR)

Genesis 12:3a is not a commandment, but a prescription: a “chiastic” or “chiasmus.” Yah says to His covenant people that those who do good to them will be blessed by Him. And those that do evil to them will be cursed by Him. It’s a statement of reality, based on the covenant relationship Yehovah shares with Yisra’el.

“The structure of this verse is that of a “chiasmus”: I will bless (i.e. barak) they that bless you — they that curse (i.e. a’ror) you I shall curse” (Kenneth A. Matthews; New American Commentary). Thus, what we have here in this “chiasmus” or “chiastic” could be viewed as two sides of a single coin: “Those that do good toward you and your descendants will have good done to them. But also, those that mistreat you, I will mistreat them as well.

The Hebrew term “barak,” which we understand in English to be “bless” is the act of bestowing favor and goodness upon another. In the case of Yehovah, when He blesses an individual, He is enacting divine favor and fortune upon the object of His blessing.

Conversely, the Hebrew terms “key-lel” and “a-ror,” which we both understand to be a curse in English, is the act of bestowing harm or evil upon someone or something. Of course, as it relates to Ahlohim, it is the actions taken by Abba Yah that will result in harm or evil upon the object of His ire or anger.

The Hebraic concepts of blessings and curses is a whole in-depth study in and of itself, much less that which we’re discussing here today regarding Genesis/Beresheit 12:3. But for our purposes today, suffice to understand blessing as honoring another; showing another support; or showing and giving favor to another. Conversely, let us understand curse or “key-lel” as to disrespect, dishonor, and belittle another, while curse as “a-ror” denotes Yehovah invoking divine judgment or misfortune upon the object of His anger.

So, instead of the senator understanding or calling Genesis/Beresheit 12:3 (and all the parallel verses to this chiastic) a commandment that he has chosen to follow because he’s a Christian or believer in Jesus, he would have been better served to have said that he has chosen to be on the right side — the blessing side — of this covenant-based equation. For history has indeed shown this prescriptive covenant provision to be reliable and accurate. The United States’ (and certain other nations’) support of Yisra’el has no doubt contributed to their wellbeing and blessing since Yisra’el became a nation state in 1948.

What is Covenant and What Role Does Covenant Play in Yah’s Declaration to Avraham?

At issue here is the foundational element of “covenant.” In Hebrew it is “b’rit;” in Greek it is “dia-the-ken.”

The prescription that Yah places before Avraham and Moshe’s readers here must be understood within the framework of the “covenant” He establishes or cuts with Avraham. For it is only with a firm grasp of what the Almighty was working out through Avram here in this story that begins in verse 1 of this chapter that we can truly understand or interpret this “chiastic” (i.e. the literary mirrored concepts and actions) relating to blessings resulting in blessings and curses bringing forth curses in relation to Avraham and his descendants.

A covenant/b’rit is “a solemn agreement between two parties providing sanctions in the event of non-compliance” (Speiser, E.A.; Genesis: Introduction, Translation and Notes). A fancy way of saying that a covenant is a legally binding agreement between two parties. And so, as it relates to our focus passage of Genesis/Beresheit 12:1-3, we’re talking about the provisions of a binding, legal agreement between Yehovah, Creator of the Universe, and Abraham and his descendants.

Generally, the concept of covenant is specific to a relationship between the Creator of the Universe and His human creation. Yes, covenants were quite common between men. But from the perspective of Genesis/Beresheit 12:1-3, and throughout most of the remainder of Torah, covenant is about the relationship that exists between Yehovah and His “chosen ones.” And of course, who the said “chosen ones” are today is up for debate and interpretation, depending upon one’s religious or doctrinal orientation. Some see the expansive covenant contained in Torah as involving Yehovah and the Jewish people, while others see it as involving Christians, who see themselves as “spiritual Israelites.” But if we simply stick to the context scripture here, the covenant Yehovah is establishing/cutting is between Himself and Avram/Avraham, and the tenets or terms of that covenant or agreement extend to Avram’s/Avraham’s descendants. And we will touch upon who those descendants include later on in our discussion.

The covenant relationship Avraham enjoyed with Yehovah would be passed down and perpetuated to and through Avraham’s descendants. That same covenant relationship is still in effect today. But through the Person and ministries of Yeshua Messiah, the binding tenets and benefits of the covenant that Yah established with Avraham is not only a birthright of every biological Jew and Hebrew (i.e. of the 10-tribes), but is also accessible to every non-Jew and non-Hebrew who enters a covenant relationship with Yehovah and who abide by the tenets of the covenant as spelled out in the Moshe and Yeshua extensions of the Original Avrahamic covenant.

Indeed, the Hebraic concept of covenant is extremely broad. It not only identifies the relationship Yah has with certain groups of individuals, but it also determines the make-up or composition of the rules that govern Yah’s relationship with His chosen ones.

But because the concept of covenant is such a massive topic and subject that cannot receive the full attention it deserves in just this single post, Abba willing, I will do a teaching on it at a later date. But for our purposes today, specific to Genesis 12:3, I simply want us to recognize that without a modicum of understanding of covenant — the relationship agreement Yah established with the patriarchs and their descendants, we cannot truly — accurately — understand Genesis/Beresheit 12:3. For the blessings and curses Yah mentions here are governed by the covenant relationship He established/cut with Yisra’el/Yasharal.

To Whom Is Yah Addressing this Prescriptive Provision, If Anyone?

Here in these covenant provisions, Avram is informed by Yah that He, Yah, will be the One taking action on his, Avram’s, behalf. For “Yah is the dispenser of blessing for the nations” (Kenneth A. Matthews; New American Commentary). Avram, therefore, cannot lay exclusive claim to Yah’s [covenant] blessings. Why? Because Avram, and the covenant Yah establishes/cuts with him, belongs to Yah. And the simple byproduct of this unique relationship that exists between Yehovah and Avram is that Yah blesses His beloved, including any who would come after Avram and enter into the same faithful-obedient relationship with His Ahlohim Yehovah.

This is the framework by which things work in the Kingdom economy: We enter into a special relationship with Yah (i.e. a covenant relationship). And by virtue of being in that special relationship with Yehovah, He blesses and curses wherever and whenever He deems is appropriate and necessary.

The principle of blessings and curses that Yehovah levies upon individuals and nations/groups is illustrated and explained through the covenant relationship that exists between Yah and Avram — and by extension Avram’s descendants. Curses come to those who transgress Yah’s Torah — Yah’s “loving instructions.” Blessings, on the other hand, are lavished upon and maintained upon those who operate — walk — within the boundaries of Yah’s Torah. Thus, as it relates to Avraham, blessings or favor come to those who treat Avraham — Yisra’el — according to the provisions that are outlined in Torah. Curses, on the other hand, fall upon those that choose to treat Avraham contrary to the principles Yah outlined in His Torah. The blessings and curses prescription that come upon the nations are not based upon the person of Avraham, and by extension the whole of Yasharal/Yisra’el that bears the name and possesses Avraham’s heritage. But rather, the blessings and curses prescription are brought upon the nations in response to how they treat the relationship that exists between Avraham — and by extension Yisra’el — and Yehovah. Why? Because Avraham — Yisra’el — belongs to Yehovah. Thus, those that treat Yisra’el properly, in accordance with the principles spelled out in Yah’s Torah for the proper treatment of Yah’s people, they honor Avraham’s God, Yehovah. And Yah will bless such individuals and nations. Conversely, those that mistreat Yisra’el in contradiction to the principles of proper treatment of Yah’s people as outlined/spelled out in Torah, they offend Yah and bring curses upon themselves.

The Chiasmus of Genesis 12:3 is a Tenet of Abba’s Plan of Salvation, Redemption, and Restoration

The covenant that Yah presents to Avram here in Genesis 12 is described by Torah Resource’s Tim Hegg as “the unfolding revelation of Yah’s plan to bless mankind through the family of Avraham” (Studies in the Torah — Genesis, p. 81). The blessings and curses element of this passage is a stark reality of what happens to those individuals who get on-board with the covenant Yah establishes with Avraham, and those who for whatever reason choose to challenge or harm the covenant relationship along with the Will and Plans of Yah.

Within this ever-expanding covenant that Abba Yah establishes/cuts with Yisrael are the essential provisions for humanity’s salvation. Unbeknown to millions of self-professing Christians around the world, however, is this seldom mentioned reality that anyone who truly desires to receive the salvation that Yah is offering humanity, and enter into His coming Kingdom, they themselves must enter an obedient, faith-based covenant relationship with Yehovah alongside their Hebrew cousins. For Yah made just one covenant with humanity. And that one covenant is the one He cut with Avraham and Avraham’s descendants.

Shaul, Paul, fully recognized the reality of this in his correspondences to the Messianic Assemblies in Galatia and Rome:

Romans 4:11-12. (11) And he (i.e. Avraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them, (12) and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Avraham which he had while uncircumcised. (LSB).

Galatians 3:29. “And if you belong to Messiah, then you are Avraham’s seed, heirs according to promise” (LSB).

Thus, we are justified and imputed righteousness by the Court of Heaven, by virtue of Yahoshua’s atoning sacrifice and our faith in His Person and ministries. And so, we are blessed of Yah out of all of humanity, not just because we are being saved, but also because we have been grafted into the commonwealth of Yisra’el/Yasharal and are in a covenant relationship with the Creator of the Universe. In every sense, this is Good News and the fulfillment of the last sentence of Genesis/Beresheit 12:3: “And all families of the earth will be blessed in you” (LEB).

In accordance with Yah’s plan and will, Yah took the promise of a Messiah Who would undo what the enemy and Adam did in the Garden — known by scholars as the “Protoevangelion” in Genesis 3:15 — and chose Avraham and his seed to bring this promise to fruition. For indeed it would be that in you, Avraham, “All the families of the earth shall be blessed” (12:3b).

Now, I’ve sought over the course of many discussions/teachings on this platform to hammer home the stark reality that Yah chose just the one man and his descendants from all of humanity throughout human history to establish/cut a covenant with. And this covenant would not only be about a people and their relationship with the Creator of the Universe, and the Land that Creator promised His covenant people, but also would also result in many sons and daughters coming into a relationship with their Creator and receiving His glorious Kingdom. And that one man is none other than Avraham. Furthermore, Yah chose one Man to facilitate or mediate the covenant’s redemptive, salvific, restorative promises through. And that one Man is none other than Yahoshua Messiah.

The “chiasmus”/”chiastic” of Genesis 12:3 can be viewed as sort of an insurance policy or security system for the maintenance and integrity of the covenant Yah established with Avraham and his descendants. And we, of course, are included in that covenant. For indeed, Yah is zealous for His elect and will do whatever it takes to back and perpetuate the covenant, His Plan, and His Will in the earth. In other words, the world is wise to respect the covenant, plan and will of the Almighty, for those that do so will be favored of Yah. But those that disrespect the covenant, plan and will of the Almighty will find themselves on the wrong side of history.

So What is the Bottom-line when it Comes to This Prescriptive Covenant Provision? How Should We Interpret It and What Should We Make of It?

People who have personal issues regarding the modern state of Israel or even the Jewish people of this world, in all reality, have an adverse personal issue with the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov.

How so, you may ask. Well, Yah loves Yisra’el. Yehovah has and continues to be, for the better part of four-millennia, been in an unbreakable covenant-relationship with her. Be it the Jewish people who live and operate in ha-e-retz Yisra’el; Jews, be they secular or religious, living throughout the world; Messianic Jews; Nazarene Yisra’elites; or what have you — Yah maintains the same covenant relationship with them that He established with Avraham and his descendants back in Genesis 12. And despite Yisra’el’s many faults and her rejection of Yeshua as her Messiah, as in the case of secular and religious Jews, and of which scripture informs us they will ultimately accept Yeshua as their King and Mashiyach, they remain beloved of Yehovah (1 Kin 10:9; 2 Chr 9:8 Hos 3:1; 11:1; Rom 11:26). And Yah has always maintained His love for Yisra’el because of His covenant relationship with Avraham, who Yah referred to as His friend forever (2 Chr 20:7; Isa 41:8; Jas 2:23). Yet today we have a great many “newspaper eschatologists” (to borrow this title from Messianic Apologetics’ J.K. McKee) and not a few armchair, self-righteous, secularists who’ve made it their business to interpret and teach scripture to we who are Yah’s chosen ones, insisting that the Jews of today are not the descendants of the Jews and Hebrews of our bibles. These naysayers have no covenant relationship with the God of Avraham, Yitschaq, and Ya’achov. Nor is Yah’s indwelling Spirit/Ruach operating within them. Thus, these lost souls have nothing of any value to say to us. We are therefore best served to place our trust upon the sure foundation of Yeshua Messiah and Yah’s eternal and holy Word of Truth.

As disciples of Yahoshua, we are to love what Yehovah loves, and hate what Yehovah hates (Amo 5:15; Heb 1:9). And if Yah loves Israel or Judah as scripture clearly denotes, we as well must love Judah. Now, how that love is manifested by us is certainly debatable. One could certainly argue that loving or blessing Yisra’el means standing by and supporting the nation state of Yisra’el morally, financially, prayerfully, and even militarily. Conversely, one could argue that loving Yisra’el, while remaining within the realm of the covenant Yisra’el has with Yehovah, could mean simply interceding, financially supporting, and spiritually backing our Jewish cousins who are either living in Yisra’el proper or anywhere else in the world.

Now, loving and supporting Yisra’el/Yasharal doesn’t have to mean that we must agree with and morally support everything Yisra’eli PM Netanyahu and his secular government do and say. But our love and support of Yisra’el must, at the very least, be done in accordance with Yah’s Torah instructions and the teachings and example of Yeshua our Messiah. For it all comes down to loving our Ahlohim/Elohim with our whole being and loving our neighbor, in this case Yisra’el/Yasharal, as much as we love ourselves. Master stated that “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Mat 22:40).

So, we as the elect of Yah must approach our blessing of Yisra’el through the paradigm of covenant; the specifics of which are contained in Torah and the teachings of our Master Yeshua. Yah and Yeshua instruct us on how we are to treat our neighbor, even Yisra’el.

Concluding Thoughts and Reflections

In conclusion: Genesis/Beresheit 12:3 is so much more than pro-Israel conservatives standing in support of the modern nation of Israel; whether that support comes in the form of prayers/intercessions on Yisra’el’s behalf; verbal, moral affirmations in their existential struggles against the enemies of Yah and of His people; and or sending financial and material support to Yisra’el by America’s government or supportive individuals and non-profit organizations. These are certainly noble efforts and actions. And such supportive actions may indeed be deemed acts of “blessing” or “barak” Yisra’el by the court of heaven. But this prescriptive covenant principle/provision of Genesis/Beresheit 12:3 is more about treating all of Yah’s chosen and loved ones in accordance with Yah’s Torah instructions. Yah, in His Torah, instructs His people how they are to treat — bless — one another. And so, it comes down to doing the right thing and doing that which Yehovah expects us to do.

But at the end of the day, beloved, Genesis 12:3 is not in and of itself a commandment to support the modern state of Israel as some have stated. Genesis 12:3 is simply a prescriptive reality of the covenant relationship Yisra’el — Judah — Nazarenes — any who belong to Yah via the auspices of the Avrahamic, Mosaic, Davidic, and Renewed Covenants, possess and walk in. Simply put: Obey Yah’s Torah and be blessed… disobey Yah’s Torah and be cursed (Deu 28-30). This prescription applies to those operating within Yah’s covenant, and those outside the covenant. Again, history bears out that all who have come against the covenant Yah has with His chosen ones ultimately come to a bitter end.

So, does the prescriptive covenant provision of Genesis 12:3 apply to the modern nation state of Israel? Yes. But, it’s the bigger picture involving covenant, Torah, salvation, redemption, and restoration that Yah wants us to grasp here. It not only applies to the modern nation state of Yisra’el, but to every soul who is of the commonwealth of Yisra’el. These all come under the provision of Yah’s covenant with Avraham, and most importantly, are all beloved of Yehovah.

Shabbat Shalom — Shavu’atov — Until next time, beloved, take care.