Why Can't the Arabs and Palestinians Claim the Covenant Promises Given to Abraham?

Direct Answer

No — the covenant promises were given to the nation of Israel, not to the Arabs or Palestinians.

Les Feldick teaches that the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob belong exclusively to the nation of Israel. This is not based on hostility: God loves the Arab just as much and offers salvation to Arab and Jew alike. The distinction is Scriptural, and God will fulfill His covenant with Israel.

Key Scriptures

Genesis 12:3 — Shows that the blessing of all families was to flow through Abraham, but does not make Arabs or Palestinians co-heirs of the covenant promises.

Jeremiah 31:35-36 — Uses the fixed ordinances of creation to guarantee that the seed of Israel will not cease to be a nation before God.

What Does the Bible Say?

The Bible gives the covenant promises to Abraham and connects them to the seed of Israel. In Genesis 12:3, God says, "in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed" — the blessing comes through Abraham, but the covenant itself is not given to every family that descends from him. Jeremiah 31:35-36 reinforces the permanent place of Israel. God says that if the ordinances of the sun, moon, and stars depart from before Him, then "the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever." Since those ordinances remain, Israel remains the nation connected to the covenant promises.

What Does Les Feldick Teach About the Covenant Promises and the Arabs?

Les Feldick is direct: "the covenant promises belong to the nation of Israel." He addressed an Arab caller who was angry over the claim that the land of Palestine belongs to the Jew, and he assured Arab listeners that God loves them just as much as He loves anyone, and that salvation is offered to the Arab just as much as to the Jew. But the covenant promises are not shared with the Arabs or Palestinians. Les grounds this in the permanence of the Abrahamic covenant. He says the Bible plainly teaches that no matter what the Israelite or the Jew may do, God will still maintain the covenant He made with Abraham. The present-day Jew is still the offspring of Abraham, and everything in the Middle East is setting the stage for God to resume His dealings with Israel. Les calls the land promise the "Palestinian covenant," saying the land of Palestine/Canaan will still go back to the Jew because God has mandated it. At the same time, Les explains that Israel has been set aside for the present age. The Gentile system has been brought into the place Israel once enjoyed. Yet Israel has not been rejected forever. She is still God's covenant people, and God will come back and fulfill the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Does God Love Arabs and Palestinians Too?

Yes. Les directly addresses an Arab caller who was furious over the claim that the land of Palestine belongs to the Jew. He says, "God loves them just as much as He loves me, or as He loves you." He adds that God's offer of salvation goes to the Arab just as much as to the Jew. The reason Arabs and Palestinians cannot claim the covenant promises is not that God loves them less, but that "the covenant promises belong to the nation of Israel".

What Does Les Feldick Mean by the Palestinian Covenant?

Les uses the term "Palestinian covenant" for the land part of the Abrahamic promise. He says "the area of Palestine, the land of Canaan, is still going to go back to the Jew." In his words, "God has mandated that one day the Jew is going to have her land back." He tells politicians that regardless of how they try to pacify the other nations of the Middle East, they might as well accept the biblical mandate.

Do Jews Have a Saving Advantage Because of the Covenant?

No. Les teaches that being part of Israel's national covenant does not make a Jew a true believer. Though the Israelites had the Word of God and everything going for them, most were not true believers. He also calls the fact that "Jews and Gentiles would be brought into the Body on equal ground" a mystery revealed through Paul. National Israel has a covenant position before God, but personal salvation is on the same basis for Jew and Gentile.

Is God Finished with Israel?

No. Les says people who claim God is all through with the Jew "don't know their Bible." Scripture is adamant that God will come back and fulfill the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He quotes Jeremiah 31 to show that Israel will not cease to be a nation as long as the created order remains. In fact, "that little nation of Israel is still God's covenant people," even though God has set it aside for now.

From the Teaching

Jews and Gentiles Equal in the Body

Paul revealed a mystery that Jews and Gentiles are brought into the Body on equal ground, showing Israelite descent does not give a personal saving advantage.

Covenant Promises Belong to the Nation of Israel

Les tells Arab listeners that God loves them and offers them the same salvation, but the covenant promises made to Abraham belong to the nation of Israel.

God Maintains the Abrahamic Covenant

God will still maintain the covenant He made with Abraham even if Israel fails, and the present-day Jew is still Abraham's offspring.

The Purpose of the Abrahamic Covenant

The purpose of the Abrahamic covenant was that all the families of the earth would be blessed through the crucified Messiah, not through Israel's own national status.

The Land Promise to Israel

The land of Palestine, or Canaan, is still going back to the Jew because God has mandated it, regardless of political efforts in the Middle East.

Israel Set Aside, Not Replaced

Israel was in the promises to Abraham, but God set them aside and brought the Gentile system into that place; most Israelites were not true believers.

Israel Will Not Cease as a Nation

By quoting Jeremiah 31, Les shows that Israel cannot cease to be a nation any more than the sun, moon, and stars can depart from their ordinances.

Israel Is Still God's Covenant People

Even though Israel is set aside and the world sees no biblical connection, Israel remains God's covenant people and is connected to the Bible.

Bible Verses

Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Les cites this statement from the Abrahamic covenant to show that the blessing of all families comes through Abraham, not that all families inherit the covenant.

Jeremiah 31:35: Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:

This verse identifies God as the Creator and sustainer of the fixed orders of creation, the same certainty used to guarantee Israel's future.

Jeremiah 31:36: If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.

This is the verse Les quotes to prove that Israel's national existence cannot be removed while the created order still stands.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do the Arabs and Palestinians have a claim to the land of Israel?

Les Feldick teaches that the covenant promises, including the land, belong to the nation of Israel. The land of Palestine/Canaan is still going to go back to the Jew. Arabs and Palestinians are not excluded from God's love or the offer of salvation, but the covenant promises were given to Israel.

Does God hate the Arabs?

No. Les says God loves Arabs just as much as He loves me or you. The reason they cannot claim the covenant promises is not hatred but a Scriptural distinction in the promises.

Can a Jewish person be saved the same way as an Arab?

Yes. Jews and Gentiles are brought into the Body on equal ground, and not all Israelites were true believers. Being part of God's national covenant does not make a Jewish person personally saved.

Why can't politicians stop Israel from receiving the land?

Because God has mandated that one day the Jew will have her land back. Les says regardless of what politicians may try to do, the land promise is part of the Abrahamic covenant and will be fulfilled.

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