If you are not horrified by what you see the past few days, you aren’t looking. The slaughter is utterly horrific. Yet go to a few YouTube videos and you’ll see Christians on both sides claiming the moral high ground for whoever they support. But what does the Bible say on this.
In case you don’t go very far into this post, I want to say this:
IMPORTANT: Support for Israel is not because they are a Godly nation but because they are God’s nation.
From the beginning God chose Israel as his own. So let’s rewind.
THE BROTHERS
Abraham was given the promise of a son as he and Sarah were barren. When it didn’t happen for a long time, Sarah gave Abraham Hagar and he slept with her. She had Ishmael. Eventually Sarah did get pregnant and had Isaac. How is this relevant today?
The Muslim world is the declared descendants of Ishmael. The Jewish world the descendants of Isaac. Just as the two brothers fought bitterly throughout their lives, all their descendants now fight bitterly to this day.
THE DIFFERENCES
What’s important is that God actually did bless Ishmael.
20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you: I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and will greatly increase his numbers. He will be the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation. Gen 17:20
17 God heard the boy crying, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What is the matter, Hagar? Do not be afraid; God has heard the boy crying as he lies there. 18 Lift the boy up and take him by the hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Gen 21:17-18
Twice we read that God promised that the descendants of Ishmael would be made into a great nation. They would be great in numbers and he would be the father of twelve rulers (fulfilled in Gen 25:16).
The difference was that while Ishmael and descendants would be blessed, the covenant was given to Isaac/Israel and descendants.
21 But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year.” Gen 17:21
Ishmael was to be blessed. Isaac and his son Jacob/Israel was to be of the covenant.
SO WHAT ABOUT ISRAEL?
God made a number of promises to Abraham about his descendants, the Israelites. And those promises included land.
1 – God would bless those who would bless Abraham and descendants and curse those who didn’t (Gen 12:3):
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed,
And whoever curses Israel will be cursed.” Numb 24:9)
2 – God gave the land of the Canaanites to Israel
On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying,
“To your offspring I give this land, Gen 15:18)
He made a promise to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
6 The Lord your God is giving you this good land to take as your own.
But you must understand that it isn’t because you are a godly nation. Deut 9:5-6
3 – Whoever tried to divide the land of Israel would be cursed (Joel 3)
I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people
and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among
the nations and have divided up my land, (Joel 3:2)
4 – God says that even though he scatters Israel, he will one day restore them to their land which he did in 1948
He gathered them out of all the countries where he had forced them to go.
And that’s just as sure as he is alive.’ I will bring them back
to the land I gave their people of long ago. Jer 16:14-15
5 – Those who do not treat Israel with respect, even though they do wicked, God will hold in judgment for speaking and acting against the apple of his eye.
- He brought judgment on Egypt and plundered the land
- He brought judgment on Babylon for taking captive Israel; he brought judgment on Edom, the cousins of Israel for doing nothing when Israel was taken away, and he brought judgment on all the nations that rejoiced or exploited Israel when they were taken into Babylon
6 – We are told to pray for the peace of Jerusalem
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Say,
“May those who love you be secure. (Ps 122:5-7)
7 – Those in Christ are “grafted in” to Israel.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot,
have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, 1
8 do not consider yourself to be superior to those other branches. If you do, consider this:
You do not support the root, but the root supports you. 19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off
so that I could be grafted in.” 20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
SO WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ISRAEL TODAY?
- Israel is being rooted in their homeland.
2. In Islam it calls for the death and annihilation of Jews on many occasions.
3. In the Iranian version of Muslim, they have “The Twelfth Imam” which is like their Messiah figure. He only comes though when there is complete and total world war. Which is kind of why they want world war so that their Messiah will come. Which is why they fund Hamas.
4 -There are other inhabitants of the land, the Palestinians, and they live in overcrowded, very difficult circumstances. God cares for them too.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?
There are some things that will be inevitable. Sadly enough.
- Right now the world is kind of split on who to support, Israel or Palestine, based on one’s geographical location and their respective media. But eventually we know that the world will be turning against Israel, including the US. Just wait and see. Wherever God’s purposes are in place, there is resistance.
2. God cares also for the Palestinian people. While the Israelites are in covenant with God and the land is their home, remember he also blessed Ishmael and descendants. He cares for them. He cares for the innocent lives lost among them as well.
3. We must continue to do as the Scriptures say and pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
4 – While recognizing that Israel is the covenant people of. God, remembering that God also loves and blessed the sons of Ishmael.
