Israel? What I Really Think

Do I support Israel? Give me a straight explanation of what that question means and I'll give you a straight answer.

To support Israel has essentially become a litmus test to be a bona-fide card carrying Evangelical. Somehow faith in Jesus Christ, and perhaps even being born again, is no longer enough. There is a list of political positions you must seemingly also embrace and near (if not at) the top is support for Israel. Let's examine this together and perhaps you can help me determine how I might best answer that question.

First, here is what I do believe regarding the people of Israel. (By this I mean the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel, and not just those who are citizens of the nation in the Middle East.)

• I believe they are God's chosen people. They were not chosen as the only ones to be saved but rather as the nation through which God would reveal Himself to the world. Being chosen is not an easy thing. They have been through much and the enemy of mankind hates them because of their position with God. Nevertheless, they have endured because God's hand is on them and He will fulfill all of His promises to them because of His love for the patriarchs.
• I believe that the land of Canaan belongs to them because God gave it to them. In Genesis 17 God promised the land of Canaan to Abraham and his descendants. In Genesis 26 God made the same promise to Abraham's son Isaac. In Genesis 35 He made the same promise to Isaac's son Jacob. Still, this issue is not so clear cut as most would have us believe. Isaac's descendants included not only the children of Jacob but also those of Esau. And while Esau's descendants are essentially extinct there is still the matter of Abraham. I know the blessing and promise passed through Isaac but Ishmael was also Abraham's son and his descendants are very much alive today. And God promised to bless them as well. Do they have a share in Canaan? It can be argued either way. My position is to simply wait and let God sort it out because He's the only One who really knows.
• I believe that Israel will be saved by turning to Jesus as their Messiah. Romans 9-11 makes this point about as clearly as it can be made. I believe it will happen and that it is one of the most significant events to take place in human history.
• I believe that those who bless Abraham (and his descendants) will be blessed and those who curse them will be cursed. (Genesis 12:3) Therefore, it is important to bless Israel, but I can't help but think it's not a good idea to curse any of Abraham's descendants - even those not through Jacob.
• I believe that in the last days the armies of the nations will come against Israel only to be destroyed by God Himself. This event seems to be spoken of in Ezekiel 38-39 and in Revelation 19. It's not a good idea to be one of the nations in this coalition.

So far, so good. Where I tend to stray from the doctrinaire position is when I start to wonder what all this has to do with the policy decisions of the Knesset (Israel's legislature) and the political government of that nation? The truth is that the political government of Israel has a long history of being no better (and often worse) than any other nation. In Jesus' day the nation's local rule was incumbent upon the Sanhedrin. This ruling body was made up of the nation's religious leaders claiming to follow the law of Moses. It was this body that rejected Jesus and forced Pilate's hand to crucify Christ. In that day many would claim that to oppose the Sanhedrin was to oppose the will of God. I don't think so.

Today the Knesset is a mostly secular institution with little regard for God except for when there seems to be some political advantage from playing the "God card." While I can understand their preoccupation with security I find it very difficult to justify the brutal extremes to which they often go in dealing with the Palestinian population. In fact, I would argue that some of their policies have the adverse effect of making their nation less secure.

Let's say that someone perpetrated a terrorist attack and it was determined by your government that they might now be hiding in your neighborhood. You didn't do it. You may not even support the cause for which the attack was carried out, but it's your neighborhood. You awake to find heavy equipment moving down your street demolishing all the houses including yours. You rush to get your children out just in time. Everything else is lost. Where are you to live? How will you rebuild? That's your problem. How do you feel about the government now? Perhaps you weren't able to get all of your children out. Now how do you feel?

By the way, estimates of the number of Christians in the Palestinian population range from 3% to 9%. Clearly some of these people being attacked by this government are my brothers and sisters. How am I supposed to feel about this?

Do I support the people of Israel and their unique place in God's economy? Absolutely. Do I support the government of the present nation of Israel? Not really very much. I don't think God is going to send out Thank You cards to all those who supported the secular efforts of this secular government saying, "I couldn't have done it without you." God's promises concerning Israel will be accomplished not by human might, nor by human power, but by His Spirit.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.