Perhaps you’ve wondered like I’ve wondered, how can it be that we are God’s chosen people, the royal seed of Abraham? Me, a Black child of African descent? Me, whose ancestors were enslaved and who continue to suffer oppression daily? I could hardly believe it myself. But it’s true. Let me help you understand as I came to understand.

God’s original plan was thwarted in Heaven when lucifer waged war against Him and His Creation (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:11 -17). From duping one-third of the heavenly angels to rebel, to successfully causing Adam and Eve to sin, Satan has been on a mission of destruction ever since (Revelation 12:4, Genesis 3:1-7). But God knew that with sin in the world and an enemy relentlessly pursuing us, we, on our own accord, could never be redeemed (Jeremiah 10:23, John 15:4-5). Left to our own devices, we would destroy ourselves (Romans 1:24, II Timothy 4:3-4). And because God is all-knowing and has seen and orchestrated our future (I John 3:20, Psalm 33:11), Satan’s debauchery simply enacted God’s plan for our salvation and restoration (Genesis 3:15). 

In the Garden of Eden, God made a promise that from the seed of the woman would come One who would bring about man’s deliverance and Satan’s destruction (Genesis 3:15). Even though Satan worked hard to thwart God’s plan (and we humans didn’t help much either), God pursued us relentlessly, and despite the numerous times humans deviated from the plan, God’s purposes prevailed!

Initially, the Messiah was believed to come through Abel (Genesis 4:25), Adam and Eve’s eldest son. But Satan planted jealousy and anger in the heart of Cain, Abel’s brother, causing Cain to murder Abel (Genesis 4:8). Adam and Eve were distraught, and the hope of the coming Messiah was dashed. But not for long. Adam and Eve’s hope was renewed with the birth of their son, Seth. Surely he would be the promised forefather of the coming Messiah (Genesis 4:25). Did I mention that Satan is unrelenting in his pursuit (I Peter 5:8) of us? The next time he stepped up his game, serving as the orchestrator of humankind’s utter and total wickedness and depravity, causing God to wipe out every living thing from upon the earth, save Noah, his family and select animals and fowl (Genesis 7:1-3) lest evil reign and there be no chance for a holy people to thrive (Genesis 6:1-8). 

Praise God for being all-powerful (Psalm 147:5)! Yes, Satan was working, but God’s plan for our salvation persisted. The earth was repopulated by Noah’s three sons and their descendants. God told humans again to spread out and fill the earth (Genesis9:1). But what is man’s response? Humans chose to stay together and build a great tower that would reach unto the heavens to make a name for themselves (Genesis 11:4). The disobedience and pride of man raised its ugly head again, causing God to intervene, resulting in confused languages and a forced scattering (Genesis 11:7). And while many turned away from God by worshipping false idols and choosing to live outside of God’s will, God had a faithful servant in mind to serve as the next promise of a saving Seed. 

This righteous servant Abraham (Genesis 22:18, Galatians 3:16) journeyed with God for many years, during which time God outlined His promises and blessings to be bestowed upon Abraham and his descendants. Abraham’s descendants were to be the recipient of God’s blessings as well as an instrument by which others, including all the families upon the earth, would be blessed (Genesis 12:2-3). Abraham’s blessing was to become a great nation, have an excellent reputation, and possess a land God would give to him and his descendants (Genesis 12:1-3). As a part of the plan for our salvation, God’s desire was for The Children of Israel to be a light unto the world (Isaiah 42:6, 60:3), reflecting God’s glory, love, blessing and power (Deuteronomy 7:7-8, Isaiah 41:8). God desired that others would be drawn to this mighty nation and would long to follow and serve Him (Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 4:5-7, Isaiah 49:3). 

The Bible records how God’s promises were fulfilled and how the blessing of Abraham advanced. Abraham did indeed gain a great reputation, and his descendants multiplied, even though, at the time the promise was made, Abraham believed that there was no hope of ever having any children (Genesis 15:2-3). The descendants of Abraham, the Israelites, became a mighty people with their own land and law(Exodus 1:7), as recorded in Exodus through Joshua. The books of Judges and Samuel I and II address the kingship of the nation with the establishment of the dynasty of David. 

However, things soon began to unravel for the Children of Israel as they began to break God’s law and worship false gods (Exodus 32, Jeremiah 3:6-9, Ezekiel 16:38, Hosea 1:2, I Kings 18). Often, the kings and the priests did not reign or serve as a reflection of God’s glory or leadership. Instead, they followed their own heart’s pleasures and desires (Jeremiah 5:31, Ezekiel 22:26, I Kings 16:33). And the people became arrogant, taking God’s blessings for granted, rather than receiving them humbly and with gratitude (Hosea 5:5). They began to think of themselves as superior to the Gentiles (Jonah), exalting their name over the name of God. Despite the numerous prophecies of the resulting destruction that would occur (Leviticus 26:33, Deuteronomy 28:16-28, 32:26) or of the coming Messiah (Isaiah 42:1-4, 49:5-13, 52:13-15, Hosea 1:1), Israel continued to concern itself with their desires. They were not looking for the Messiah because they were steeped in sin and self-absorption. God’s prophets tried to warn the Nation that His judgment was coming (II Chronicles 36:15-16), but Satan was able to lure them away with the enticing practices of the world.  Israel’s waywardness (Psalm 78, Ezekiel 16) and continued disobedience led to their removal from the land and being scattered among the nations of the earth (Leviticus 26:33, Deuteronomy 4:23-27). 

Assyria conquered the ten tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel (II Kings 15:29, 17:6), and the southern kingdom of Judah was conquered and scattered by Babylon (II Kings 25:1, 7, 11). And as was the pattern of the Children of Israel when defeated or oppressed, they sought God, promising to turn back from their wicked ways. While in captivity, the Children of Israel wondered if this was to be their lot in life, and they prayed to God, asking for deliverance. And because of God’s love and grace, He gave them a final chance to turn back and obey Him. God promised to bring them back into Jerusalem, hoping that this would be the “epicenter” of His glory as intended. Through two of God’s faithful servants (Ezra and Nehemiah) and the faithfulness of three kings (Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes), the decrees went forth for God’s temple and city to be rebuilt (Ezra 1:1-11, 6:1-12, 7:7-26 and Nehemiah 2:1-8). And although the Children of Israel rebuilt the temple and the city of Jerusalem, their overzealousness for the law caused them to disregard the heart of the law (Matthew 23). 

Despite God’s faithfulness, The Children of Israel proved that the promised Seed had to be dependent upon His extraordinary and non-human ways (Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 42:1-3, Psalm 2:9, 110:1-6). The blessing of Abraham ultimately found its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16, John 8:54-58), the Redeemer of the World (John 1:29, II Corinthians 5:19). Because of God’s immeasurable love for us, He sacrificed His only son (John 3:16), and it would be through the shed blood of His son, Jesus Christ (I John 4:9), that we would be saved. The Son of God took on the nature of a servant and humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross out of His great love for us.

Despite the prophecies, the miracles, and the testimony of Jesus, the Messiah Himself, the Israelites or Jews continued to reject Him (Romans 2, 11:1-10). So God gave His message to the Gentiles (Acts 2, Acts 13:46-49, Romans 11:11-36). He established a spiritual Jerusalem (Galatians 4:25-26). And now anyone who believes in Jesus and keeps His commandments are considered Children of The Promise, the seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:7, 4:28), not by the circumcision of the flesh, but of the heart (Romans 2:28)! 

Although Satan worked really hard to thwart God’s plan (and we humans didn’t help much either), God pursued us relentlessly, and despite the numerous times humans deviated from the plan, God’s purposes prevailed! The genealogical and biological Jewish nation is no longer God’s representative (Romans 9:1-8). We are spiritual Jews and spiritual Israel of the last days (Galatians 3:29, 4:5-7, I Peter 2:9). Therefore, all promises made for the fulfillment through Israel remain true for all who believe today (Ephesians 2:12-13, Romans 10:12, 11:23, 11:26).  Jesus did not die for nor is He returning for a nation, a kingdom, a tribe, a particular religion, or a denomination.     

Christ is returning for YOU (Romans 2:6-8, Hebrews 9:28).